A Preacher’s Instruction

2 Kings 12:2

And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

Jehoash was a good man who did right as long as he stayed under the instruction of the priest. There were several reasons for this, but maybe one of the greatest was that it was the priest who saved his life. It was through the instruction of the priest that Jehoash was motivated to repair the temple of the LORD.

However, imagine if Jehoash chose not to listen to the instruction of the priest. Imagine for a moment that instead of being at the service when the priest gave instructions that he was busy doing his own thing. Jehoash would have missed the great purpose for his life had he not been where the priest instructed him, and had he not followed this instruction.

The importance of the preaching of God’s Word in your life can never be overemphasized. We live in times when many are flippant about their church attendance, and then they wonder why they have so many problems in their lives. Many of these problems could have been avoided had they been in church and listened to the preaching of God’s Word.

There have been many times in my life that through the preaching of God’s man, my life made great changes for good. It was through preaching that I surrendered my life to be a preacher. It has been through preaching that I learned the importance of studying God’s Word daily. It was through the preaching of God’s Word that prayer became important in my life. The preaching and teaching of God’s Word has convicted me, challenged me, stirred me, and corrected me. Without the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, I would not be where I am today experiencing the blessings of God on my life.

You never know which sermon being preached will be the one you need; therefore, you should be in attendance for every sermon. I have learned that many sermons that were preached in years gone by were preached for me to know how to face problems today. The fact that you don't know what tomorrow holds is one of the greatest reasons you should be faithful to the church services so that you can glean a truth from God’s Word that will help you face tomorrow.

Moreover, every sermon preached will help you do right. When it says that Jehoash did that which was right as long as Jehoiada the priest instructed him, it is showing that the instruction we get through preaching will not only cause us to do right, but it will keep us doing right. Staying right will help you to do right, and preaching has a way of correcting areas that are causing us to stray. It may be little corrections that we need, but those little corrections determine your future destination.

It truly comes down to how important you make preaching in your life. Never get to the point in your life when you won't listen to preaching. If preaching was not important, God would not have emphasized that through the foolishness of preaching we are saved, not only from our sins to salvation, but also saved from doing things that would hurt us. Make preaching important in your life. When God’s man preaches God’s Word, be sure to give your full attention so that you can glean every truth that will help you to be what God wants you to be.