RTW 2022

All his life Joash did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight because Jehoiada the priest instructed him
2 Kings 12:2

I will be disappointed and subjected to being faith reversal when my faith is in:

• anyone other than my Creator and His Son.
• anything man-made (systems, denomination etc.).

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“All that Joash had done was to give his heart to Jehoiada, not to Jehovah. It is very easy to be outwardly religious by giving your heart to your mother, or your father, or your aunt, or your uncle, or some good person who helps you to do what is right. You are doing all this out of love to them, which is at best but a very secondary motive. God says, ‘My son, give me thine heart.” – Charles Spurgeon

As soon as Jehoiada died, so did the faith and allegiance of Judah.

Who am I following the Lord for… because of?

• Mother.
• Father.
• Bible study teacher.
• Podcast.
• Preacher.
• Spouse.
• Child.

Every one of these will fail at some point. My faith journey can begin because of one of these, but eventually, it has to be my very own.

• Shallow faith will not sustain me.
• Borrowed faith will abandon me.

How do I have my own faith?

• Learn the Bible for yourself. (Find a Bible translation you can understand.)
• Put in the time.
• Pray for understanding.
• Obey what is revealed.
• Praise Him for what He has done.

The Lord sent warnings to them through prophets (2 Chronicles 24:19), but they didn’t heed the warnings. In fact, they kill Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah. WOW!

Is today’s lesson a warning for you?

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Build my own faith on the solid Rock of my Savior, so when the storms of life come my way, my strong faith will hold me up, rather than sink in the shallowness of borrowed faith.