2nd Chronicles chapter 24. I would never do that!
What a great spiritual mentor Jehoiada the priest was for Joash the king. So much good was done for the Lord while Jehoiada was alive. Sadly, when he died, Joash the king did not hold to the ways of the Lord.
We see that in families. Parents teach their kids the ways of the Lord only to see them walk away when they reach the age to leave the home. Their new influences over power the truth they received growing up. Once one begins down a path of evil, there's no telling what one would do. Joash had Jehoiada's son, Zechariah, killed. As a young king, I'm sure he wood never had seen himself doing that.
But once power came to his head he began compromising Truth, and such evil became easy and inviting.
Many of teens swore they'd never have sex before marriage, or they'd never drink alcohol, or they'd never do drugs, or they'd never walk away from the Lord. But they do. It's called free will.
So let us decide who we will follow, and let us surround ourselves with men and women who will encourage us in our walk versus surrounding ourselves with those whose influence will distract us from the Lord and his way.
What are we doing now, that we once said we'd never do? What are we doing today to stop it and get right with God?
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What are we allowing ourselves to be influenced by?
Joash was influenced by Jehoiada for many years. After Jehoiada died, Joash was influenced by the wrong crowd and turned away from following God. He even went so far as killing Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah. What a sad decision!
I was reminded of a couple of Scriptures.
Galatians 5:7-9
“You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.”
1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”