"Josiah was 8 yrs old when he became King, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David, not turning to the right or the left"
I don't know why I read this passage, but it hasn't left me alone since I read it. I was house sitting, Aimee was away for the day, and I had the house to myself. I came across Josiah's name when I did a search of Jesus' family tree and felt compelled to read about him. What I found was a man that God loved, a man who loved God. I read about his achievements and could find nothing wrong with him. He seemed to be perfect, and I could not understand why I had never heard of him before.
One of the things about Josiah, that continually tugs at my heart, is that when he heard that God was going to bring judgment and disaster on the people because they had broken their promise, he responded not by being angry with God, not with hateful words or excuses, but he responded by humbling himself and turning to God.
"This is what the Lord says: Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God ... I have heard you...Your eyes will not see all the disaster i am going to bring"
Even after all this he did so many more amazing things, and "as long as he lived, they did fail to follow the Lord". He must have been an amazing man, to have that much influence over the people. His devotion to God, his humility, the responsiveness of his heart, are the things he was remembered for, they are things I desire to have in my heart,. He loved God, and he loved his people, and they must have loved him, because they remained so faithful while he ruled them.
Today at church, Judy spoke of when Nathan rebuked David for what he had done to Bathsheba and what he had done against God. She focused on David's response, when he realised what he had done, he didn't try to hide, he didn't try to blame anyone else, he knew what he had done, and he responded by humbling himself before God and repenting. I couldn't help but draw parallels between the stories, and admiring both men, for their responsiveness, and knowing that when we humble ourselves and respond to God in our hearts, He listens to us, shows us His undying love, mercy and grace by taking away our sin and lets us start again.
Judy finished her talk by saying that "it's not your record with God that counts, but your relationship with Him" and I couldn't agree more. My relationship with Him is not perfect, it never could be, but I know that when I mess up, if I respond in my heart, humbling myself before God, He will never give up on me, His love will cover all wrongs, and my relationship with Him will be renewed, over and over and over again.
This has been on my heart for a while, and I'm still not sure if what I wrote has captured it in it's fullness, but I hope and pray that it may encourage those that read it in some way, no matter how small.
Even after all this he did so many more amazing things, and "as long as he lived, they did fail to follow the Lord". He must have been an amazing man, to have that much influence over the people. His devotion to God, his humility, the responsiveness of his heart, are the things he was remembered for, they are things I desire to have in my heart,. He loved God, and he loved his people, and they must have loved him, because they remained so faithful while he ruled them.
Today at church, Judy spoke of when Nathan rebuked David for what he had done to Bathsheba and what he had done against God. She focused on David's response, when he realised what he had done, he didn't try to hide, he didn't try to blame anyone else, he knew what he had done, and he responded by humbling himself before God and repenting. I couldn't help but draw parallels between the stories, and admiring both men, for their responsiveness, and knowing that when we humble ourselves and respond to God in our hearts, He listens to us, shows us His undying love, mercy and grace by taking away our sin and lets us start again.
Judy finished her talk by saying that "it's not your record with God that counts, but your relationship with Him" and I couldn't agree more. My relationship with Him is not perfect, it never could be, but I know that when I mess up, if I respond in my heart, humbling myself before God, He will never give up on me, His love will cover all wrongs, and my relationship with Him will be renewed, over and over and over again.
This has been on my heart for a while, and I'm still not sure if what I wrote has captured it in it's fullness, but I hope and pray that it may encourage those that read it in some way, no matter how small.
