In 2 Chronicles 24 King Joash was very young when he became king. The priest Jehoida influences him and Joash walks with the Lord. Joash and Jehoida restore the temple getting rid of all the items Athaliah put in the temple for Baal worship. After Jehoida’s death, Joash and his advisors abandon the house of the Lord and return to worshiping at the high places and sacred poles. God sends prophets to them to change their hearts but they do not listen. Zechariah, Jehoida’s son, comes to the king and tells them of their sins. Joash has him stoned to death. God is angry. He sends the army of Aram to take Judah and Jerusalem. They wound Joash and his servants conspire against him, killing him.

Even though Joash was raised in the faith, he strayed from it when he grew up. God gave him many chances to turn back to Him but Joash refused. His wrong decisions led to his destruction. Those of us who have grown up in the faith may stray as we become adults. God gives us many chances to turn back to Him. We need to heed his invitations or our wrong decisions may lead us down destructive paths.

2 Chronicles 25 tells of Amaziah who succeeds Joash as king of Judah. Amaziah followed the Lord, but not with a true heart. Amaziah gathers troops for war. These troops include some from Israel. A prophet comes to him and says that God does not want him to include those from Israel. Amaziah lets them go. Amaziah’s army defeats its enemies. The army from Israel is angry with the king and attacks the northern cities of Judah.

Amaziah take the gods of his enemy, sets them up and worships them. A prophet warns Amaziah that God will punish him for his actions but he does not listen. Judah and Israel go to war and Israel wins the battle. The king of Israel takes Jerusalem and seizes the treasures of the temple and the king’s house. Amaziah flees but later is killed.

Ephesians 5 encourages us to be imitators of God and to live as children of light. This means giving up those things we know to be against God’s will and instead being filled with God’s Spirit. We should fill our minds with the scriptures and listen to music that uplifts instead of destroys. We need to live lives of thanksgiving to god for what he has done for us.

We are encouraged to relate to one another as Christ has loved us. This means that we should build one another up and be encouraging of one another in faith.