Josiah is one of the great kings of Israel and Judah. He was crowned king at age 8 and began to make notable changes by his 8th year at 16 years old! In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols (3).
Too often today we write off children, youth and teens as members of our churches and impact creators for the kingdom of God. Josiah's example should bring us to a halt the next time we are tempted to write off younger people.
A couple of years ago my wife and I attended a church outside of Denver. They offered prayer ministry and my wife went for prayer. What she didn't realize was it was children's week and her prayer team was made up of 3 or 4 elementary age children with one adult supervisor, but it was the children who prayed and prayed powerfully. Apparently the children in this church are trained in prayer ministry and one Sunday a month the children are the prayer teams. POWERFUL!
Children and teens can have significant ministry if we will only trust them and train them! Josiah began to reign at 8 and by 16 was leading spiritual reforms throughout all of Judah and beyond.
What is your view of children/youth and ministry? Has this story challenged your thinking at all? It has mine…
Oh, God, thank You and bless You for every person who is part of your family, young, old and everywhere in between… May we serve You and the world by living for Jesus every day and using the gifts and training You provide. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
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