Imagine being in charge of your whole entire house for a day. You get to decide what’s for dinner, when bedtime is, and who gets to pick the movie! Sounds super cool, right? But what if you were placed in charge of a whole entire nation? That might start to feel a little scary! You would have to make big decisions, and you might worry about making a huge mistake or not knowing the right thing to do.
That is exactly what happened to a kid named Josiah in the Bible! He was only eight years old—just like many of you—when he became the king. Even though he was super young and surrounded by adults who had stopped following God, Josiah chose to do what was right. When God’s laws were found in the temple, Josiah didn’t just listen to the words—he obeyed them right away! Josiah shows us that you are never too young to listen to God and be a giant hero for Him.
2 Kings 22:2 He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.
So, how can you be a leader like Josiah at school, on the playground, or with your family? It starts by making God’s Word your guide every single day! Reading the Bible gives you the exact blueprint for how to treat others, make wise choices, and love God with all your heart. When you choose to obey what God says—even when your friends or classmates are doing the wrong thing—you are being a brave leader just like King Josiah.
This week, try using a simple life hack: before you react or make a choice, pause and ask yourself, “Is this what God wants me to do?” When you choose honesty, kindness, and obedience, you win at being a great example to everyone around you. Remember, God doesn’t wait for you to grow up to use you; He wants to use your big heart to share Jesus’ love right now!
Talk About It
- If you were made king or queen of the whole world for one day, what is the very first silly rule you would create?
- How old was Josiah when he became king, and where can we find his story in the Bible?
- Parents, when you were kids, was there a time you felt too young to make a difference or do something important? How did you handle it?
- Why can it be tough to do the right thing when your friends or classmates are choosing to do the wrong thing? How can Jesus help you be brave like Josiah?
- What is one way our family can read and obey God’s Word together this week so we can follow Jesus’ example?