DAY 14

DATE:  1/14/2013

Good Morning!  My name is Dave Wilgus, and I was asked to give a devotional thought from II Chronicles 33 and 34.

KEY VERSE:

II Chronicles 33:21-23

Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.  But he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his father:  for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them; and humbled not himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.

REFLECTIONS:

II Chronicles is composed of the history of Israel’s kings.  In this text we will look at three Kings:  Manasseh, Amon, and Josiah.

Manasseh reigned 55 years and did evil, and as a result of his sin, Manasseh and the nation of Judah were brought into captivity by the nation of Assyria.  Later he would repent to God and be restored.  His son Amon would reign just 2 years and did greater evil than his father.  As a result, he was murdered.  Amon’s son Josiah became the heir of his father and did what was right in God’s eyes.

In reading this passage I could not help but think on why three generations of men from the same family would be so totally different.  Manasseh did evil and repented, Amon did greater evil and died violently, and his son Josiah chose to go in a different direction in his life.  Could it be that Josiah saw the murder of his father Amon?  Could it be he saw the consequences and the devastation sin could bring?

Manasseh’s sin brought captivity for all and Amon’s sin brought death, but Josiah’s righteous living brought life.

Psalms 4:4  Stand in awe, and sin not:  commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.

APPLICATION:

In applying these passages to our lives, we have a need, as parents and grandparents, to communicate personal godliness to our children and grandchildren.  Children must make their own choices for God and not depend simply on parents’ relationship to God.

Thank you for being a part of the Route 66 Challenge.  Thanks for reading, and you have a blessed day.

In Christ’s name,

Dave Wilgus

When you got saved:  Spring of 1976

Favorite Bible verse:  Romans 12:1-2

Family:  Wife Chris, children DJ, Amy, and Rusty

Occupation:  Retired autoworker

Ministry involvement:  Nursing home ministry

Dream Vacation:  Fishing in upper Wisconsin

Hobbies:  Doing puzzles, fishing and hunting