Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 15-16; 2 Chronicles 13 – 17:19

Abijam began to rule over Judah in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam’s reign in Israel. He reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother was Maacah, the granddaughter of Absalom.
He committed the same sins as his father before him, and he was not faithful to the Lord his God, as his ancestor David had been. But for David’s sake, the Lord his God allowed his descendants to continue ruling, shining like a lamp, and he gave Abijam a son to rule after him in Jerusalem. – 1 Kings 15:1-4

The chronicles of the succession of kings in both Israel and Judah give us a great example of how our decisions today can impact the choices of the next generations. All Abijam had ever known was the culture set by his father. King Rehoboam had lusted after the things of this world, leading his country and his family in the worship of false gods. And so often our kids value what we teach them to value — money, sports, alcohol, music, cars, hobbies, etc. So, when we do not live our lives out of a faith relationship with God, why would our kids?

Nadab son of Jeroboam began to rule over Israel in the second year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Israel two years. But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his father, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit. – 1 Kings 15:25-26

HE FOLLOWED THE EXAMPLE OF HIS FATHER.

But King David’s great-grandson, Asa, had a heart for God. The decisions he made and the manner in which he led the people of Judah were pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He got rid of the idols and banished the male and female shrine prostitutes. Because his grandmother made an Asherah pole, he even removed her from the honored position of queen mother. Asa’s heart remained completely faithful to the Lord throughout his life (1 Kings 14b).

There was constant war between King Asa of Judah and King Baasha of Israel. Baasha son of Ahijah began to rule over all Israel in the third year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. Baasha reigned in Tirzah twenty-four years. But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of Jeroboam, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit. – 1 Kings 15:32-34

HE CONTINUED THE SINS OF HIS FATHER.

Zimri began to rule over Israel in the twenty-seventh year of King Asa’s reign in Judah, but his reign in Tirzah lasted only seven days. The army of Israel was then attacking the Philistine town of Gibbethon. When they heard that Zimri had committed treason and had assassinated the king, that very day they chose Omri, commander of the army, as the new king of Israel. So Omri led the entire army of Israel up from Gibbethon to attack Tirzah, Israel’s capital. When Zimri saw that the city had been taken, he went into the citadel of the palace and burned it down over himself and died in the flames. For he, too, had done what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He followed the example of Jeroboam in all the sins he had committed and led Israel to commit. – 1 Kings 16:15-19

When the influence of a father leads to the sinful behavior of the son, it strips both father and son of joy. There are consequences to sin, all of which could have been avoided if the father had chosen to lead the son in the ways of the Lord. But when a father leads his family into a covenant relationship with God, teaching them how to see after God with all their heart, soul, and mind, they will find a life filled with joy.

Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. They agreed that anyone who refused to seek the Lord, the God of Israel, would be put to death—whether young or old, man or woman. They shouted out their oath of loyalty to the Lord with trumpets blaring and rams’ horns sounding. All in Judah were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with all their heart. They earnestly sought after God, and they found him. And the Lord gave them rest from their enemies on every side. – 2 Chronicles 15:12-15

HE LED THEM INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND THEY FOLLOWED WITH ALL THEIR HEART.

Many of us have our own story of the influence of our father on our spiritual journey. As I spend another Father’s Day without my dad, my heart is grateful for the example he set for me and for my children. His willingness to do whatever God asked Him to do taught me how to fully surrender my life to Christ. And my prayer today is that my girls will always have the example of their parents and grandparents to encourage them to remain strong in their faith.

What legacy are you passing down to others? What impact are you having on the lives of those around you — those who are watching how you respond to life’s challenges and blessings? May God equip you to be a great example of a life surrendered and fully devoted to God.