Have you ever met someone that just seemed to have it all together? They walked their talk?
“Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.” - 2 Kings 23:1-3 NIV
Perspective
Josiah had the position of king. That’s the kind of position many take notice of. I suspect people simply followed whatever the king did no matter what kind of king it was. Authority has a way about it that makes this happen.
What struck me about this was he used his platform to set a positive example. He brought everyone together so he could share the law as he knew it that God had given them. He didn’t just read it though. He owned it. He told them he is recommitted to that law. He was brought to a fuller understanding and made changes in things to align to that understanding.
In our lives we all have platforms. Some of those platforms are very grand and others just our role with the circle we find ourselves in. No matter how grand or small that platform is we model something to another. That model has the potential of setting a good good example or a good bad example. It really is up to us.
Recommitting to a God centered life is not such a bad thing to do. We have countless examples of people who live very fulfilled and rewarding lives when they accept God centeredness. Everything just seems better.
Now, to think a person started and ended God centered is silly. We get to God centered through our journey and our ability to appreciate and relate with God grows as we pursue it. That pursuit often leads to challenging moments, stumbles, and perhaps even fantastic failures. However, a true Connected God Guy will not give up. Will not let that failure or hard time take him away from that rewarding relationship you get when you are God centered.
So what will you do to demonstrate your renewal to this? Will you read the Bible and share it? Will you announce it? Maybe you just start living it and when asked what happened to you you simply respond, God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word. Thank you for these examples of people who demonstrate actions that represent models of behavior and living. Thank you for allowing those stories to be preserved. Please keep us safe. Help us grow deeper and deeper connections to you so that when we fail and the trials are hard we feel that connection that keeps bringing us back to you. Please keep our family and friends safe. We pray all of this in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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