learning from kings & others

I have spent more time since writing last with the kings of the Bible, and it is so unreal to see how things can change and do change from one king to the next.  It reminds me of how important it is to build the next generation.

Think about it this way: when we build up our children and those we have influence on, we are pouring great things into the next generation.  We must do this.  We really are responsible for teaching our children about character and about God, as well as much more.  By building the people we influence, we influence things and people for years and decades and generations to come.

Take a different look like this: but there are those who don’t have a godly generation behind them.  That is when a person has a choice to break the cycle and change what will be handed down to the next generation.  This is very hard.  It is something that happens only with confidence, hard work and much determination.  Through my years I have talked to many people who wanted to make a difference, yet some of them didn’t make it.

You are either in one camp or the other.  You either had someone teach you about God or you didn’t.  Now the choice is yours to do something great for the generations to come.  The kings of the Bible bring great lessons to us.  Many of them who disregarded God shortened their lives, brought curses rather than blessings on themselves and those around them and missed great things that God could have provided them.

Daniel 3:28  NLT

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

Proverbs 21:3  NLT

The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.

Colossians 2:7  NLT

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

1 Kings 15:11  NLT

Asa did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, as his ancestor David had done.

1 Kings 16:30  NLT

But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him.

May our lives instruct others about our great God and not led people to do more wrong.  We are accountable for our actions, and we must remember that all we say, all we do and even our motives teach the people about us.

The choice is ours.  Either please God or don’t please Him.  The choice is ours.  Grow in God and His trust or do our own thing.  The choice is ours.  We can either worship God and build His kingdom or build our own kingdom.  Our kingdoms will fad away and fast.  God’s kingdom will last forever.

What did we learn from the people we’ve been around?  What are people learning from us?  May we learn what is right and please God just as I am learning from studying the kings of the Bible.  Each had a choice just as we do.  We have a choice.

NOTE:

Pray for the We H.O.P.E. Saturday evening feeding ministry at our church and the Zumbathon Fund raiser this Saturday morning at 10.  Go here for more info https://www.facebook.com/events/407948332646482/?fref=ts