“Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign… He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. While he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, and the carved and the metal images. They chopped down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and he cut down the incense altars that stood above them… He beat the Asherim and the images into powder and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
“When he had cleansed the land and the house, he sent… to repair the house of the Lord his God… And when [he] heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes…
“The king went up to the house of the Lord, with all the men of Judah and Jerusalem and the priests and Levites, all the people both great and small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. The king made a covenant… to walk after the Lord and keep his commandments… with all his heart and soul… And Josiah took away all the abominations from all the territory that belonged to Israel… All his days they did not turn away from following the Lord, the God of their fathers.” 2 Chronicles 34:1-4,7,8b,19,30-31,33
From an early age, by God’s grace alone, Josiah sought the Lord. Pursuit of his God directed his way and kept at bay the enticements to which his father and grandfather had succumbed. With focus on Him his efforts cleansed and redirected the nation. (Jeremiah 22:15-16)
When we seek one thing, we are not seeking others. While certainly there are constant pressures and allures nipping at our right and left, or sometimes squarely in front of us, dedication to pursuit of God does much to ward off distractions. It keeps us focused on the Lord’s ways and learning what’s important and vital to Christian growth. It exposes wrong thinking and practices, and emboldens to rectify those wrongs. It leads to purposeful work and ministry.
To purport to seek the Lord is a spiritual decision followed by many acts of the will. Time and attention must be set and taken, habits and practices must adjust. Seeking God doesn’t just happen, nor does opposition disappear. A heart set right with God handles attractive counter-efforts and necessary emergencies with confidence. He inspires discernment and discipline, He clarifies vision and next steps, He gives order and strength for needed tasks.
What do our actions say we’re really seeking in life? Do we dream big, but behave just wanting to get through the day? Are we putting off making a difference or memories with others because we’re more intent on making money or a name for ourselves? Would we intentionally ask the Lord to shape and order our intentions and passions? He who made us knows how we can best fulfill His unique purpose for us. Identification of desire establishes pursuit.
Lord, please fully engage my desires and efforts to pursue You, Your plans, path, and glory.
As the rain and snow 