How can we apply Jehoiada's mentorship example to our spiritual leadership today? A Snapshot of Jehoiada’s Mentorship (2 Chronicles 24:3) • “Jehoiada chose two wives for him, and he had sons and daughters.” • Behind that simple sentence stands decades of faithful influence: Jehoiada rescued baby Joash from Athaliah’s massacre (2 Chronicles 22:10-12), hid him in the temple for six years, crowned him at seven, and continued guiding him “all the days of Jehoiada” (24:2). • His mentorship produced national reform, temple restoration, and a season of covenant faithfulness. Core Principles We Can Imitate 1. Purposeful Protection – Jehoiada shielded Joash’s life and calling (22:11-12). – Spiritual leaders today guard new believers and emerging leaders from destructive influences (Acts 20:28-31; Jude 3). 2. Covenant-Centered Instruction – He taught Joash to “do what was right in the eyes of the LORD” (24:2). – Our mentoring must keep Scripture at the center (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). 3. Shared Presence – Jehoiada lived near Joash in the temple courts; mentoring happened daily, not sporadically. – Influence grows through consistent life-on-life time (Mark 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 2:8). 4. Visible Obedience – He led by example, organizing covenant renewals and temple repairs (23:16-21; 24:4-14). – Leaders must model the obedience they teach (1 Corinthians 11:1; Hebrews 13:7). 5. Generational Vision – By securing Joash’s lineage (24:3), Jehoiada thought beyond his own lifespan. – Healthy leadership multiplies faithful successors (2 Timothy 2:2; Psalm 71:18). Lessons on Character Before Platform • Integrity precedes influence. Jehoiada’s authority flowed from personal righteousness, earning burial “with the kings” (24:16). • A mentor who fears God more than people can correct firmly yet lovingly (24:6-11). • Character sustains what gifting begins (Proverbs 4:23). Guarding Against a Tragic Postscript • After Jehoiada’s death, Joash listened to ungodly advisors and turned to idolatry (24:17-18). • Application: Keep accountability structures in place, not personality-based (Galatians 6:1-2; 1 Peter 5:5). Practical Steps for Today’s Spiritual Leaders – Identify one or two individuals God has placed near you—commit to walk with them for the long haul. – Meet regularly around Scripture, prayer, and real-life application. – Invite them into ministry experiences: service projects, hospital visits, teaching prep. – Celebrate progress openly, correct privately, always pointing back to the Word. – Plan for succession: help them mentor others, creating a relay of faith (Titus 2:1-8). Fruit We Can Expect • Strengthened churches grounded in truth (Ephesians 4:11-16). • Leaders whose faith endures beyond our lifetime (Psalm 145:4). • A testimony that, like Jehoiada’s, still speaks: “He had done good in Israel for God and His temple” (2 Chronicles 24:16). |
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