Like Father, Like Son

 I believe that a father has a great amount of influence on the life of his sons. Of course, the same is true for a mother and her daughters. That is how God designed the family, so that the children are raised well in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. If the family is dysfunctional, it has a very bad effect on the children and their future lives.

We see a good example of this in King Jotham of Judah. (II Kings 15:33-34) He was 25 years old when he became king, and he reigned for 16 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, since he acted in accordance with everything his father Uzziah had done. 

It is right for a son to look up to his father and to copy the things that he sees his father doing. This happens the most when the father is a man of good character, and he sets a good example for his children. However, even when the father is very unrighteous, his sons tend to follow in his steps many times.

This is why we need to emphasize the importance of the family, as believers. The family is the catalyst to bring the children up in the ways of the Lord. It is not just a matter of taking the children to church. It is when the children see their parents living out their Christian beliefs and serving the Lord in the context of the church and the community that the children almost always trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior, as well as, living a righteous life of service, as Jotham did.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read II Kings 16-18.