“Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.”
(2 Kings 23:25)
“Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, just as his ancestors had done.”
(2 Kings 23:31–32)
““My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,”
(John 17:20)
If we are serious about obeying Christ in His command to make disciples of all nations, it will never be enough just to have a ministry - even a significant ministry. Our good works will be of no lasting value unless it is a generational ministry. Josiah was a good king who took extraordinary measures to cleanse Judah and Israel of idolatry. Yet, as soon as he was gone and his son took over, people reverted to their pagan ways - to their eventual destruction. Even for Jesus, cleansing the temple was not enough. Healing and preaching were not enough. Even His investment in His disciples was not enough. What was essential was a generational movement that stretched even to us today. We can see this in the generational nature of Jesus' prayer in John 17.
A key to generational ministry is imparting the legacy of the Gospel
to laborers and leaders who will disciple the next generation with a vision
for the one that comes after. I must continue to prioritize investment in the next generation. One generation must commend the works of God to another. I also must pray into the generations that I can't personally touch. Just another practical lesson from the life and prayer of Jesus.
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