Fathers & faith, kingdoms & castles

Jeremiah 22:15-16
Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar?
Did not your father (Josiah) eat and drink,
And do justice and righteousness?
Then it was well with him.
He judged the cause of the poor and needy;
Then it was well.
Was not this knowing Me?” says the LORD.
Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness,
For shedding innocent blood,
And practicing oppression and violence.

Knowing God is about more than knowledge.
Knowing God is about knowledge applied.
Knowing God must be a personal experience of knowledge applied.

The sons of Josiah, King of Judah, they watched their father's life and reign and had a distant knowledge of what was required of such a king. Yet they never applied that knowledge nor took the time to have a personal experience in caring for the poor and needy. Since they never developed such habits nor embraced such an experience, their knowledge faded and they became wicked kings building their own kingdoms rather than God's.

There are lessons here for both parents and children.
Parents, don't let knowing God become a sterile academic ritual contained on Sunday morning. Don't keep serving, giving and caring for those in need to yourself. Make these family habits and pass the experience onto your children in knowledge and application.
Children, don't simply watch your parents' example and wait for a day when you are old enough to embrace faith and practice for yourself. Watch, follow and fully experience all that your parents do. Watch carefully and follow closely.

Personally, I'm challenge by the example of Josiah. He lived a godly life and reigned in righteousness but failed to instill these values in his children. He probably hoped they learned by his example or through the best Hebrew education a king could afford, or perhaps even by the grace of God. These are good and right but inadequate. Fathers who desire that their children follow in their faith must walk slowly, teaching, directing, encouraging and correcting.
Do I take the time to guide my children in this manner? Do I slow down enough to let their little legs follow in my footsteps? If I fail to care for those in my "castle" it won't matter what I do for those in the "kingdom."

1 Timothy 3:1-5
This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)

Lord, teach me to be a better father, that my children may follow in my footsteps and walk with You. Amen.