God’s Young Guns
“Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left. 2 Kings 22:1-2 (ESV
In 2Kings we can find the stories of two young men who were used by God to do mighty things.
2Kings 12 gives us an account of a young man who became king at age 7. Jehoash was given charge to repair The Temple. I don’t know about you, but I doubt a seven year olds ability to remodel my home let alone God’s Home. But over the years of King Ahaziah reign the house of God had been neglected and the high places popped up around Israel like Dunkin’ Donuts in Cape Cod (anyone who’s been there has to agree with me). By the time Jehoash was in his 23rd year as king enough was enough and the task was under way and it is a sad thing to say that Jehoash was done in by his own servants.
2Kings 22 gives us an account of another young man, Josiah, who became king at age 8. He also had charge of repairing The Temple. But in his case The Book of the Law had been uncovered and brought to him. He was 26 at the time and when he heard what was read to him, King Josiah said, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” (2 Kings 22:13)
Jehoash was to start restoring God’s House and Josiah was to start restoring worship in God’s house.
These were the two stories my closest brother-in-Christ, Mark Fisher, shared with our church youth group before we broke for the summer. He told them about other young people God used. Young people like Joseph, Timothy, Mary, and of course a young man after God’s own heart, David. He made this statement to them at the beginning, “How many times have you heard someone say to you, “you’re too young”, “you’re too little”, “you’re too small”, “you’re not big enough”, “you’re not old enough”, and so on.” And by the time he was done we all agreed God uses anybody to do His will. It doesn’t matter what age so never let anyone ever tell you you’re not old enough.
As our Sunday service was coming up after this night I was informed that I was to give a sorta going away speech to those in the youth group who were graduating high school and moving on with the summer. I didn’t think I could do brother Marks message justice until I found this statement in a book we were reading as a youth group. I will end this Freedom Fighter with what I shared from that morning.
In his book “Live to Give” author Austin Gutwein wrote this; “God has prepared miracles to use you for—miracles just as amazing as fire falling from heaven. So walk the road and watch the results. The results that day by the Sea of Galilee were stunning; thousands of people were fed and praising God. And why did this miracle happen that way? Because a little boy used what he had been given to change the world. He walked the 19.3 miles, gave his lunch to the One who could do something with it, and wasn’t intimidated by the ratio between his small snack and the number of hungry people. One boy decided to just do something…and God in the flesh decided to use a small boy that day to show His glory to the world.” – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is a regular Freedom Fighter blogger
Daily Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 25-27; Acts 6
Quote of the day: “God doesn’t need you, God didn’t need that boy. God doesn’t need me. If God wanted to, He could have fed those five thousand hungry people just by thinking the thought.”—Austin Gutwein
Verse to Memorize: “Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of your word gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:129-130 ESV
Freedom Fighters 