In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. – Judges 21:25 (NIV)

Throughout the period of the judges, the people of Israel were a ship with a constant change in command.  One would lead them to calm waters and peaceful shores while others steered them to the worst of the storm and barren lands.  They were a people adrift with torn sails, a broken rudder and inconsistent leadership.  They needed the right king to captain their ship.

Unfortunately they would even make a mess of the king thing as well, only proving that there is only one right king – the Son of God.  The world we live in today is much like the people of Israel – adrift, torn sails and broken rudders.  We need the right king and our children need to learn the beauty of being His subjects.  There are too many young people in the world today that live in the only kingdom they care about, the kingdom of Me.  They have a view of the world, religion, politics and their place in the mix of it all that is self-referenced.  They are the kings and queens of their lives, but they are poor rulers with no authority or power.  God is the king they need.

If we don’t want our children to follow that same path, they need to be educated on the life of a subject to the king.  It is a life of service and sacrifice.  It is marked by faithfulness and obedience, secured by prayer and humility and promotes thoughtful action motivated by compassion, mercy and grace.  It is rooted in love and flourishes in the midst of struggles and suffering.  It is a life overflowing with the blessings of God and is only experienced by those who submit to the ruler of heaven and earth.

We who call on the name of Christ are kingdom people, subjects of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Let us school our children on kingdom attitudes and kingdom ideas.  Let us lead them into meaningful service and powerful encounters through the work of the Holy Spirit.  Let us engage them in the life of the kingdom from the moment they enter into this world, not waiting until “they are old enough to understand.”  The world does not wait until our children are grown to try to claim them by its warped philosophies and false gods, so why should we wait to train our children in the ways of the kingdom?

Lord, help us to be people of the kingdom in word, deed and thought.  Help us to have the will and the ways to lead our children into kingdom living, raising warriors for your truth.  May they know the greatness of Your kingdom even at a young age.  Your kingdom come, Your will be done. Amen.