unstoppable WORD.

I was reading in 2 Kings yesterday (part of YouVersion daily read on my iPhone) - it was the story of Josiah in chapters 22 & 23. A couple things jumped out to me...

• There's NO excuse. Unlike his Father or his Grandfather, Josiah "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" - despite becoming King at age 8. He deliberately chose the a much harder path and refused to be normal. It says he "walked in all the ways of his father David". This means he had to dig 13 generations to find a role model - now, that's determination!!  The truth: you can't blame your parents or grandparents for your behavior or sin.

• The Word of God is so powerful! Josiah did not even know the Word existed - the godless & wicked culture of his day (and those before him) had attempted to bury & destroy the Truth. They replaced it with immorality, greed and the worship of idols. But this didn't work... As the Bible of Josiah’s day rose from the heap of rubble, so, too, the attempts of so-called "higher critics" and skeptics to "bury" the Bible with their doubts and criticisms have come to failure. Josiah heard it and immediately knew it was God's Word and he changed everything in his life & influence in order to follow it.

I want to really challenge you to open up your ears, mind & heart today as you open God's Word. I know that there are a lot of new books out there by awesome Christian leaders & scholars but NOTHING should come before the Bible. Nothing. God is still more relevant & He knows just what you need to hear and do)! Approach your Bible reading and study time anticipating God to speak into your life...

Asking questions as I read helps keep me receptive and active ...
here's a few that may help you:

   1. Is there an example that I should be following?
   2. Is there a sin that I need to confess, repent and stop doing?
   3. Is there a command that I should obey?
   4. Is there an attitude that I should change?
   5. Is there a promise that I can claim?
   6. Is there an error that I should avoid?
   7. Is there a prayer that I should pray?

At the end of Josiah's life, God's Word states: "Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses" 2 Kings 23:25.
-- may this be said of my (your) life someday too...

Comments

[Velma]

Pastor Chilly, those questions will really help me apply what I have been reading. Sometimes I find that I read something in scripture and yet I don't know always how to respond to it. Thank you for the questions.

[Andy Kirk]

Chilly - Good stuff this morning! I have this same problem sometimes... and I remember you telling me a little about your heart to read the word much more than books from leaders of our "church world" This is a great thing to keep in mind!! Sometimes we get in this mode of trying to find something that speaks to US like a specific book title... and we forget, like you said... that the word is always relevant to us, everyday. Thanks man!

Blessings,
AK

[E]

thank you- definitely needed to hear this today... and the questions great! thanks

[Jason Henshaw]

Thanks Chilly! That was a great Word and much needed!

[steve]

I really like this. It's a great reminder of the power of God's Word and the relevance that it has for us today. Those are awesome questions to use! I'll definitely be asking more questions of myself!

Thanks, Captain!

[Pants]

This is sooo what I needed to hear :) I think that a lot of times our excuse may not only be our father's or grandfathers... but our friends. I think sometimes we look at the people around us and try to be like them... but it's time that some Josiah's start stepping up, starting with me! We cant try to be like the people around us... even if they are good people... because God is calling us to be great!

Thanks for the helpful questions, I am writing them down in my journal right now!

Your Cool, Pants

[Chris Chowdhury]

Thanks for these questions! Amazing how God's Word won't die! I pray I'd search for Truth like Josiah. Thanks, Captain.