2 Chronicles 24:1-2

Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.

Bible Reading

Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoiada the priest.

– 2 Chronicles 24:1-2

Devotion

Often, we find in the summaries of the kings’ reigns clues to the key theme of their lives. So it is with the summary of Joash. He followed the Lord “all the days of Jehoiada the priest.” While there was godly supervision and influence over his life, Joash appeared to be faithful to God. Yet, the moment the godly people were gone, he turned back to worshipping Baal.

The Big Question

Like Joash, our spiritual journey is impacted by the godly or ungodly influences that are at work in our lives. Solomon wrote, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” God places godly people in our lives to influence our thought life and the decisions that we make. We are significantly shaped by the people who exercise influence in our lives. Who do you allow to influence you? Do you have a Jehoiada in your life? Is your most intimate fellowship with others who choose to honor God with their lives? Are their adjustments that you need to make regarding close friendships in your life?

Spend some time in prayer meditating on what God revealed to you today.