2 Chronicles 21-24

Oh, Joash. Every time I read your story I secretly hope it turns out differently. Why, Joash? How? You did such great things for the Lord as long as Jehoiada was there to guide you. Was it just religion to you? How could you not see the connection between blessing and obedience? How could you be so easily led astray?

Hold on!

Parents, let this be a warning. Are you raising a Joash? Do your kids do the church thing, go to Awana’s, learn to pray at meals? Can they recite John 3:16 and tell you what happened the third day after Jesus died? I hope so.

But you do know raising good kids isn’t enough, right? They might be able to do and say the right things, but you aren’t raising robots. There will come a time when voices, sometimes subtle and sometime loud and strong will try to lure your children away from everything you know is true.

Talk to your kids about spiritual things. Read the Bible together and ask them what they believe. Guide them to internalize the truth. Answer their questions and show them where those answers are in the Bible.

Your precious children, those dear ones God has entrusted to you, can’t live on your faith. It has to be their’s.