Home is Where the Heart Is- The Cleansing- THURSDAY

In 2 Kings 22, we read about King Josiah who became king when he was only eight years old.  His father and his grandfather both had lived wicked lives, worshipping other gods, sacrificing sons, practicing sorcery and all kinds of evil.  That is all Josiah knew as he became king at such a young age.  Ten years later, when he became 18, he ordered for some repairs to be made to the temple.  While they were doing repairs, they discovered the Book of the Law.  As Josiah heard the words of the book, he realized how disobedient his people had been toward God.  He was convicted, and he tore his robes and wept.  He sought counsel from a prophetess who confirmed the Lord's anger toward His people.  However, the Lord wanted Josiah to know that He saw his repentance and would relent from His anger.

Josiah gathered all the people and read the Book of the Law.  He renewed the covenant with the Lord to follow Him and keep His commands written in the book.  He then proceeded to destroy all the articles which the people had created to worship other gods.  He demolished all the altars that had been used for child sacrifice.  He destroyed the quarters for the male shrine prostitutes.  He got rid of the mediums and spiritists.  He removed anything and everything that did not line up with the Book of the Law and worshiping the one, true God.  I'm sure he was not very popular with the people at this time.

It says, "Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did- with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with the Law of Moses." 2 Kings 23:25 NIV

I believe as we begin to read God's Word in our homes and begin inviting the Holy Spirit with our prayers, God will start to show us things we need to see.  We will start to look at our homes with new eyes.  There may be practices and influencers in your home that have been passed down from previous generations.  We may have idols and altars to false gods without even realizing it.  Consider this...what things in your home have become so important in your home that they are interfering with your family's relationship with God?  What things are influencing your family away from the values of God's Word?  TV shows, music, the internet, movies, smart phones, social media, relationships...?

We look at the world as a whole and the moral decline of society and we feel pretty helpless.  How can we make a difference?  I'll tell you how...at Home.  We are the priests of our homes.  We can control what goes on in our homes.  It starts with us and the influences we allow in our home personally.  Then, we need to do an analysis of our homes to see what darkness has crept in.  I'm speaking to you as a man convicted myself, for I have not paid enough attention to these things. It's a battle, for sure, because the culture is trying to suck us all into the abyss and standing against it requires strength and courage.  You will find yourselves in arguments with your family, and you will be accused of being legalistic or old-fashioned.  Stand your ground, men, as the Lord leads you because this battle is for the hearts and minds of our families.  It's worth the fight.