First, a quick note on the verses that ALWAYS jump out at me when I read Galatians.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction, the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8
This one is pretty straight forward. Enough said.
OK, apparently this is going to be Part 2 of my post from Sunday on Hezekiah and trusting God. Only this time it's on Josiah and obeying God.
Compare these two verses in the Bible (emphasis mine)...
Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. 2 Kings 18:5
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
Both kings are praised for their relationship with God. Hezekiah was the greatest in trusting God - faith. Josiah was the greatest in following God's laws - obedience.
Josiah turned to the Lord with all his heart, soul and strength - just like it was commanded in Deuteronomy. He loved God. And his love was expressed through his obedience.
He became passionate about the laws God had given.
He became passionate about God's holiness.
He became passionate about God's glory.
He became passionate about the things God was passionate about.
But this passion did not just exist in Josiah on an emotional level. It existed on a practical level. When you read about all the idols, high places, mediums, spiritists, false priests, altars, etc that Josiah tore down, burned and got rid of - it's astounding!
First of all, it's astounding that it got that bad to begin with (child sacrifice?!)
Second, it's astounding that he took the time to be so thorough.
We need to be thorough. We need to ask God to show us where we are weak. To show us where we are living in disobedience to His Word. No sin is too big for God to forgive. But no sin is too small for us to take lightly. Not even a hint, like Jody said yesterday!
Passion resulting in thorough action.
Anybody else's toes hurting a bit?
I love to worship God through music. It moves me, emotionally and spiritually. I often cannot sing through the tears that come.
But that means absolutely nothing to God if I don't allow it to change me. Spiritual highs are only real if there's evidence of a changed heart. True worship results in passion in action.
Otherwise it's just empty words and a wet face.
The things we learn through worship, through reading our Bible, through this blog - if it just stays head knowledge or even just heart emotion, it's been a waste of time and energy. If it doesn't affect our words and actions, then it didn't actually affect our heart and soul and mind. We need to allow these truths to penetrate deep into our souls and be reflected in our very lives.
Like Josiah.
Tomorrow's passage: 2 Kings 24-25, Acts 16:1-21
3 comments:
oooo...good one. University became the ultimate separation of head knowledge and action for me. Many of the courses (well, the profs of those courses) prompted me to write what I knew they wanted to hear and not what I really thought. On paper, I had the head knowledge but my application of it was minimal because I didn't believe what I was writing. I need to be sure that the practice at doing that over 5 years has not affected my own walk with God and that the application of what I believe is not just lip service but a genuine commitment to Him. Thanks.
Great post Tammy! Faith is action. Feelings uplift you, but the intentional, obedient actions of a believer are the indicators of a changed heart. Thanks for this very convicting post.
Excellent post! My comments would basically repeat what Jody said, so Jody: you can say that again. :)
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