2 Chronicles 34-35 What It Takes

An 8-year-old boy becomes king when his 24-year-old father dies.  He must have had good mentors and teachers, yet their names are never mentioned, for at age 16 “he began to obey the God of his ancestor David.”  Four years later, he set about removing the gods, the places for worshiping them, and all the idols.

It took 6 years to rid Judah of all traces of idol worship – a Herculean task.  Restoring the Temple, which had fallen into disrepair, Josiah’s workmen found something of great importance – a copy of the teachings of Moses.  Josiah had been obeying God without even having a copy of the Bible to go by!  Once he began to hear the word of the Lord, he felt horrible sadness at how far his nation had moved from God.  Seeking to know how God felt about the newly-observant people of Judah, Josiah sent for word from a prophetess.  One thing God told her really stuck with me:  “When you heard My words against this place and its people, you became sorry for what you had done and you humbled yourself before Me … You cried in My presence.  This is why I have heard you.”

Josiah thought about what he’d heard from God’s word and decided to act to conform his life to God’s will.

My Bible’s sidebar today echoes this:  “Did I want what I wanted, or did I want what He wanted, no matter what it might cost?  Until the will AND the affections are brought under the authority of Christ, we have not begun to understand, let along to accept His Lordship.”

Outwardly, we can look like we’re being obedient.  Yet our will and our affections can still be pulling us off course.  Too often, surrendering them can feel like we are giving up all that we are, yet that’s what God is calling us to do.  Reluctance is often a sign of lack of trust, and we have to ask ourselves if that is what holds us back.

Father, I admit that I need to turn over more to You.  Help me not to hold back, but to trust You.  I want to be all-in.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford