25 April | Teens
«Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them….And they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.» 2 Chronicles 24: 17,18
The story of Joash, which we find in 2 Chronicles 24, is a powerful reminder that starting well does not guarantee that we will end well. Joash became king at a young age and, at first, did what was right in God's eyes. Under the guidance of Jehoiada the priest, he even restored the Temple of the Lord! It seemed that Joash was well on his way to being one of the great kings of Judah.
But (there's always a “but”, isn't there?), after the priest's death, things changed. Joash stopped following God and began to listen to bad counsel. This led him to make bad decisions, and stray from the path he had initially chosen. The result? His reign, which began with so much potential, ended in tragedy.
This story teaches us a lesson we should never forget: our daily choices matter. It's easy to start with enthusiasm and good intentions, but staying true over time requires a lot of effort and wise decisions. Joash shows us that a good beginning is not enough, we also need a good middle and a good end. Then the story of our life will be worth it!
Take Action
Over the next few days, we'll focus on developing good habits. Choose something simple to improve your routine, such as waking up earlier, including salads in your meals, or increasing your daily reading. Up for a challenge? Swap a few minutes of screen time for reading that book or comic book you've always wanted to read. This small adjustment can make a big difference in your day and help you stay on track while avoiding ending up like Joash. Ready to get started?