Author: astherainandsnow

“When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went out against them. Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of God, ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?’ And the Lord said to him, ‘Go up, and I will give them into your hand.’ And he went up to Baal-perazim, and David struck them down there. And David said, ‘God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.’ Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. And they left their gods there, and David gave command, and they were burned.

“And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley. And when David again inquired of God, God said to him, ‘You shall not go up after them; go around and come against them opposite the balsam trees.  And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.’ And David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.” 1 Chronicles 14: 8-16

The Philistines were a formidable and prevalent enemy, and David’s establishment as king in Jerusalem invited fresh attack. This great warrior-leader had skilled men and tested strategies, but he did not rely on his own instincts against this persistent foe. Instead, he inquired of his Commander-God for instruction. He knew that though man could plan well, the ultimate outcome was from the Lord, so he wanted to go forth within the parameters of God’s sovereign plan. He conquered at the sound of marching in the trees. (Proverbs 16:9)

The Lord of the treetops promises to guide and direct us where and how to go, but He does not always do it in conventional ways. David’s heart was so intertwined with his Lord’s that he did not question this unusual and unanticipated advice. He waited for details and obeyed accordingly, without question. He knew God was true to His word and His battle plans were trustworthy. (Psalm 32:8; 104:16-17; Proverbs 3:5-6)

There are times for tested strategies and relying on biblical principles when we come under attack. But it is always prudent, and never wasted, to seek God‘s fresh direction with every challenge. Daily we are to fit ourselves in his armor, daily to seek his guidance and wisdom, daily to be filled with His living Spirit. We cannot trust stale manna to nourish our insight and courage. What He leads us to do in one dilemma or relationship may be different for another. Each best way leads to His overarching victory and glory. (John 7:37-39; Ephesians 6:13-18)

When facing an onslaught of opposition, mentally or practically, do we rely on our own understanding and smarts, and neglect inquiring of God? When we ask Him for direction, do we listen, and heed? He will not fail to rustle our spirit with His to guide our endeavors.

Lord, attune my ears to hear the balsams move, every whisper and beckon of Your Spirit’s guidance. Then give me courage to follow You in triumph.

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth…

“John confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ.’  And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ And he answered, ‘No.’ So they said to him, ‘Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord,” as the prophet Isaiah said.’

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.”‘

“‘I said, “I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him…” He must increase, but I must decrease.’” John 1:6-9,14,20-23,29-30; 3:28,30

Pinky red flushes the rough streaked clouds into flame, then, in a matter of moments, disappears. It’s as though it makes a flourish announcing the new day, then steps back to let the gentle morning ease into place. Just so do we present Jesus in the fanfare of His resplendent beauty, then move to the background and let His constancy, His immutable character, take over. How quaint, and how important, the role of the introduction.

In our present day, a growing number have no biblical background, no reference point for belief in the inerrant and personal Almighty. While a person’s inclination may be spiritual, it is often ungrounded. Beliefs get tethered to shifting feelings or ever-changing propositions, and slip and slide as the days or years go by. We have a vital role in presenting Jesus, who was and is and is to come, the Holy One from everlasting to everlasting. We think and live distinctly from the world, and we speak for Him, then let Him prove His identity. (Psalm 90:1-2; 146:6,10; 1 Corinthians 1:23; Hebrews 13:8; 2 Corinthians 6:17)

Each day brings opportunities to pull back the curtain on Jesus, to give the reason for our hope, to reflect His joy, peace, and serenity, and explain their Source. Do we seize each chance? We always present Jesus, whether intentionally or not. Would we deliberately consider how to make Him known? (Colossians 1:27; 1 Peter 3:15)

Do we smother His image with self and personal interpretations, muddying His clear, free living water with a false works gospel or prosperity message? Do we shy away from speaking at all, self-conscious that we’re not eloquent or scholarly? God calls us to speak truth in love, to present Jesus unadorned, and what He’s done for us cannot be refuted. How, how often, and to whom are we introducing our Savior?

Lord Jesus, may all I do and say present You in Your glorious splendor. Keep me in the background, that You are seen, known, and adored.

“When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,  and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.” Acts 11:23-26

Barnabus: son of counsel, consolation, exhortation. The blessing of Barnabus is sprinkled through the history of the early church, and the ripple effects of his encouragement spread far and wide and down through the ages. To grasp the key to his oft but briefly mentioned ministry, we can consider the summary of him in this description. His secret was the Holy Spirit, by whom he was full of faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

When we surrender to Christ and are filled with His Spirit, He imputes to us His goodness, replacing old habits and cranky attitudes with the mind and ways of Christ. Through ongoing sanctification, selfishness transforms to godliness, and we become increasingly like Him, loving what He loves, serving as He serves, acting and responding as He would. Christ in us compels us to go and look for His grace in what He is doing around us, and to encourage others to press on in faith. (1 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 5:18)

As an effective Barnabus, we trace His hand through events and unfolding lives. We recognize that it is indeed His grace that has given the misdirected new vision, the weak strength, and the timid boldness. And we tell them so. We tell them He will do it again.

We rejoice in the Lord- who He is and what He is doing. Our gratitude, gladness, and cheer are a magnet to those who are insecure, downcast, or needing encouragement. Our rejoicing attracts them to the Lord of joy who personally cares. Exhorting faithfulness to Him is a natural follow. ‘You can do it! Keep on! Persevere! You’re not alone! God is able! He who has promised will bring it to pass!’ Pointing them to the Word is a sure and practical encouragement. (2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Encouragement reminds the doubting, fragile, and uncertain they have a worthy purpose, and can keep it at the fore. Barnabuses motivate others to focus their eyes on Jesus, get familiar with and hone their gifts. They spur them to keep disciplined for the race, stay on track, run for the goal. (Hebrews 10:24-25; 12:1-3)

What are we doing to upbuild others? To be a Barnabus, we must remain filled with the Spirit and firm in faith. It’s vital we maintain spiritual disciplines to be attentive to needs, insightful, and able to come alongside the faltering. An empty vessel cannot refresh, a wayward vehicle has no direction. Would we pray for opportunity, immerse ourselves in the Word, and serve one another with truth, love, and consolation? (Proverbs 11:25; 1 Corinthians 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Lord of grace, help me encourage with abandon, that others may grow in their identity as Yours.

“The enemy has pursued my soul;
    he has crushed my life to the ground;
    he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
Therefore my spirit faints within me;
    my heart within me is appalled.

I remember the days of old;
    I meditate on all that you have done;
    I ponder the work of your hands.
I stretch out my hands to you;
    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.

Answer me quickly, O Lord!
    My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
    lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
    for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
    for to you I lift up my soul.

Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
    I have fled to you for refuge.
 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
    on level ground!

For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
    In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
    and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
    for I am your servant.” Psalm 143:3-12

The pale sky was smudged with charcoal, bad make-up on an otherwise lovely face of a new day. Why is it the grey gets all the attention, and threatens to darken my outlook with brooding? Isn’t life more pleasant when all is bright and clear and everyone is nice?

Mindset can be a struggle. The Lord has created us with intelligence, great sensitivity to our surroundings, and emotion to respond. Recognizing the enemy and acknowledging his efforts to upend us helps us know how to combat his wiles. Remembering our Lord’s past faithfulness and reaching out for his present aid helps to direct the path out of our shadows. We choose to lift our souls to Him or our hands in rage, to serve him rather than our feist and feelings.

With what do we regularly fill our minds? Responsibilities nag, and demand attention. Troubles niggle and take up space with worry. People pop in and out and dance the perimeter, taking big chunks of concentration, affection, and consternation. Every interruption, vista, and question pulls on another set of nerve strings. If we voice these concerns to our Lord, He hears, makes sense of them all, and returns to us a psalm to sing.

Smudge or no smudge, we can train our minds to be fixed on high. The discipline of heavenly-mindedness and setting our hearts with Christ on His throne will remove the shadows in daily perspective. Seeing everything that comes our way through the lens of our risen King flushes it with His sovereignty and graces it with His love. We begin to recognize His fingerprints, and think His thoughts. (Colossians 3:1-2).

“May the mind of Christ, my Savior, 
Live in me from day to day,
By his love and pow’r controlling 
All I do and say.

May the word of God dwell richly 
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph 
Only through his pow’r.

May we run the race before us, 
Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus 
As we onward go.” ~Katie B. Wilkinson (1925)

Amen!

“But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the shrines of the high places that the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities in which they lived. The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak… They also feared the Lord and appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places. So they feared the Lord but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away…

“The Lord made a covenant with them and commanded them, ‘You shall not fear other gods or bow yourselves to them or serve them or sacrifice to them, but you shall fear the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm. You shall bow yourselves to him, and to him you shall sacrifice. And the statutes… that he wrote for you, you shall always be careful to do. You shall not fear other gods, and you shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you. You shall not fear other gods, but you shall fear the Lord your God, and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.’ However, they would not listen, but they did according to their former manner.

“So these nations feared the Lord and also served their carved images.” 2 Kings 17:29-31a,32-33,35-41a

God gives clear commands and man likes to add his variants: ‘Sure, I’ll do what You say, but I’ll add my spice, my preferences, my twist.’ After all, we are most comfortable being our own gods, managing a la moi- isn’t then life more fun and rules more palatable?

But Almighty God says, ‘You shall bow to the LORD,’ and when we do this sincerely and humbly, we glimpse His glory and find no other surrender satisfies. There is much inherent in the act of bowing that seeps deep into our souls. Bowing says, ‘Here am I. Bowing abases our pride and exalts the One before whom we are still. Bowing surrenders impetus and will. It hushes our drive and subverts it to the Lord’s. Bowing the knee yields to God’s blessing, and lifts the hands. (Isaiah 6:1-8)

Bowing is not forced, but is commanded, right, and due our Worthy King. Gracious God respects our freedom and we decide whether to bend the knee or not. If we spend our time and focus on self and the importance of my ego and agenda, we’ll never see the need to get off our self-erected pedestal. When we see ourselves for the helpless sheep we are, and God for the pure and exalted King He is, we will bow. Which will it be?

Where am I foolishly mixing allegiances? Whom or what have I set beside God on my idol throne? Have I inadvertently allowed more gods than One to capture my affection? Bow! (Exodus 20:3-5)

Oh Lord, calm and quiet my soul before Your majesty, with eyes raised to Thee alone. Keep me hungry and humble before You always, bowing before Your honor, sovereignty, grace, mercy, holiness. May I give You the sacrifices and fear and reverence and praise You deserve. (Psalm 131:1-2)

“These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.The sons of Judah: Er, Onan and Shelah; these three Bath-shua the Canaanite bore to him. Now Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death. His daughter-in-law Tamar also bore him Perez and Zerah…

“The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara, five in all…

“The sons of Hezron that were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai. Ram fathered Amminadab, and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, prince of the sons of Judah. Nahshon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse.  Jesse fathered Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh. And their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three. Abigail bore Amasa, and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.

“Caleb the son of Hezron fathered children by his wife Azubah, and by Jerioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur. Hur fathered Uri, and Uri fathered Bezalel.” 1 Chronicles 2:1-6,9-20

God sees fit to record individual names and snippets of stories from the beginning of time. Every person who ever lived is known to this omniscient One. His image imprints value on every life He colorfully intertwines in His orchestration of human history and eternal purposes. The wicked, the faithful, the barren, the foreigner, babies that grow to be warriors and princes and famous artists, all are inextricably bound in this grand humanity Jesus came to redeem.

A family tree grows roots, rings, and branches through generations that are interdependent and vast. As much as we might prefer to lop off a branch or two, or extricate ourselves from a messy connection or prickly variety and shoot off in solitude, the Lord ordains that we draw from each other and grow up together. There may be ‘bad seeds,’ but even with them we hone character and godliness and inspiration from our connectivity.

Are we taking care to grow ourselves, so we can bring refreshment to others? Consistent meditation on the Word, humble worship and repentance, and specific prayer for keen eyes and open hearts, do much to draw nourishment for our minds and spirits. We rise rejuvenated, equipped to respond appropriately, feed the hungry, and encourage with the strength we have received. (Psalm 1:1-3; Isaiah 50:4; John 15:5; 1 Peter 3:15)

Is our mindset gauged by personal drive and preference, or do we actively look for opportunities to engage with others, and ways to contribute and serve? It’s easier and less messy to stand alone, but God didn’t call us to solitary living. How do we deliberately intertwine with the Body to bring about lush life and lasting fruit? To whom will I commend God’s marvelous works? Whom will I nurture through prayer, upbuilding, consolation? (Psalm 145:4-7,10-12; John 15:16; Romans 14:7; 1 Corinthians 14:3; Ephesians 2:20-21)

Lord, may I love what You love, and as You love, and faithfully bear Your grace in the Body. Help me grow up in all things, exercise my gifts with zeal, and do all I can to help others do the same, that You be glorified. (Ephesians 4:15-16)

“Another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life… A better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God…

“This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

“The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.” Hebrews 7:15b-16,19b,22-28

Daily and regular sacrifices had their place in emphasizing the need for atonement and reminding Israel of God’s sustaining provision. But how glorious to live on this side of the cross, where daily is permanent, and regular is once for all! When we know that we know our sin has been atoned for, it is finished, we are free indeed from its guilt and shame. (John 19:30)

Imperfect became perfect, human was replaced by holy, until the next time turned to the uttermost, repeated became once. Weak was replaced by unstained, and earthly was exalted above the heavens. Jesus was the perfect forever fulfillment of the law, by the power of His indestructible life- fully man and wholly distinct, our marvelous Redeemer.

So when tempted to wallow in the sludge of regret or entangling sin habits, remember: Jesus is Victor! He has done away with sin’s shackles! He’s risen triumphant! He continually intercedes for us as permanent Advocate and Defender! He is for us! (Romans 8:31-34)

Meditate on these truths. Nestle in their immutable comfort, hold fast to their pledge, and dress in their power. Welcome each day with eagerness, with gratitude for spiritual freedom. Go forth confident in Christ’s amazing gift of access to the Father’s throne, bearing the grace and mercy He gives in every moment of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Why do we spiritually languish, and settle for less than triumphant in so many areas of our living? Have we grown lazy in action because we are lazy in thought? When do we take time to recall God’s rich word to us, and practice it as our own in faith, boldness, action? We are saved to the uttermost, and own a hope better than the world can offer.

What difference does Jesus’s permanent and ongoing priesthood make in my everyday hope? Zeal? Relationships? Attitudes?

I draw near to You, Lord, to take refuge in Your priesthood. May Your forevers keep me living and loving to the uttermost, always.

“Elisha said, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’ Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, ‘If the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?’ But he said, ‘You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.’

“Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, ‘Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, “Let us enter the city,” the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die.’ So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. But when they came to the edge of the camp, behold, there was no one there. For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army… So they fled away and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys… And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid them…

“Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord.” 2 Kings 7:1-8,16

The Lord has a way of redeeming the lack in our lives and drawing attention to His marvelous ways by doing so. Practically, He uses dearth to draw us to Him as Jehovah Jireh, the great provider, and we learn through cycles of need and plenty that He is enough, and always gives all we need. Isn’t it true after life’s famines, where we hunger for so long, that anything we taste and eat- food, health, companionship, inspiration, peace- is sweeter than it’s ever tasted before? (Psalm 145:15-16)

The amazing thing about God is that He not only meets our needs, but satisfies every desire with good things and often does more than we ask or imagine. As He puts to rest our frenzied fleshly need, not willing to let us be satisfied with lesser things, He is magnified. (Psalm 103:5; Ephesians 3:20; John 4:13-14)

How is He using a famine in finances, health, emotional support, or a relationship, to point us to His inexhaustible storehouse? Where is a gnawing for meaning at a new season of life, or purpose in a new assignment or location, drawing us to find deeper satisfaction in Him? Do we trust Him enough to look for even unconventional ways He might provide?

Father, teach me in every famine to see You anew, trust Your economy, and give You thanks and highest praise for Your kept promises.

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

To Titus, my true child in a common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior…

“For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.  They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.” Titus 1:1-4,10-16

Paul’s heart beat for the sake of his God and His people. He was fueled by a call and desire to see believers grow in faith, knowledge, and godliness, and knew these were inextricably bound. What he believed, preached, and wrote was laced with the grace and peace of Christ and communicated with affection. His motives stood in stark contrast to the shameful gain and folly of others, and he backed his words with works.

For the sake of growing godliness in His people, God uses many to carry on His works of service, spreading hope, and manifesting the power of His word. He calls some to silence falsehood and deception, or rebuke sin and impurity, in order to establish others sound in the faith. Are we caught up in that effort, that goal, for those in common faith? Are we zealous for all that accords with godliness? Or do we spend and plan and live for our own pleasure? (2 Kings 19:34)

How are we involved in the building up of God’s children? What do we actually pray, say, contribute, and do for the sake of the faith of those God has entrusted to us? If we offer ourselves for His service, He will lead and use our willingness for their sake.(Romans 12:1-2)

“Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of your tone.
As you have sought, so let me seek
Your erring children, lost and lone.

Oh, lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wand’ring and the wav’ring feet.
Oh, feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Your hungry ones with manna sweet.

Oh, teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious truths which you impart.
And wing my words that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.

Oh, use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as you will, and when, and where
Until your blessed face I see,
Your rest, your joy, your glory share.” ~Frances R. Havergal (1872)

Lord, replace selfishness with pure desire to expend myself for the sake of the faith of Your children. (2 Corinthians 5:15)

“Hilkiah… found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah gave the Book of the Law to Shaphan, and he read it… Then Shaphan the secretary… read it before the king.

“When the king heard the words of the Book, he tore his clothes…  ‘Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and… for all Judah, concerning the words of this book… For great is [his] wrath kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book…’

“[Huldah the prophetess said], ‘Because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place.., that they should become a desolation and a curse,.. I also have heard you, declares the Lord…’

“Then the king sent, and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were gathered to him. And [he] went up to the house of the Lord, and with him… all the people, both small and great. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. And the king… made a covenant… to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments… with all his heart and all his soul.” 2 Kings 22:8,10-11,13-14,19; 23:1-3

“Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:29

The Book of the Law, found by Hilkiah, was so hot in his hands that he passed it to Saphan. Reading it lit a fire in him, and he brought it to the God-fearing king. Its words were a hammer-blow to the heart of earnest Josiah, penetrating his sense of reverence and how he should lead God’s people with conviction. He responded with humility, surrender, and action. (2 Kings 22:1-2)

We cannot genuinely encounter the living Word of God and not be changed. Its active, personal, divinely-inspired words convict, reveal, and convince. If this is not occurring when we read, spend time in, or listen to the instruction of the Word, we must check ourselves for sin-blockage and heart attitude, because the powerful Word never returns void. (Isaiah 55:10-11; 2 Timothy 3:16)

What is our motive in reading? To grab a quick bite? To check off a duty, satisfy a legalistic ‘done’ so we feel good about ourselves? Or do we go hungry, teachable, expectant? Do we approach with a yen for approval of our plans, or humbly seeking the Lord’s direction? Are we full of justification and excuses, or open to the pierce of its double edged blade? (Hebrews 4:12)

How is the Book goading us? What new commitment to holiness or obedience, or changes in thought or behavior, has it effected? Regular reading, study, meditation, and application of God’s Word makes a difference. It alters our outlook, corrects our worldview, steadies our emotions. It burns until we pass it on. Will we crawl along as mere babes, full of hearing and teething on basic principles, or progress to the solid food of hard teaching that pricks our heart affections, prods fresh ambition and action? (Hebrews 5:11-6:1)

Lord, awaken me morning by morning hungry for the Book, and cause me to listen as one taught by the Almighty. Convict, change, embolden, inspire, fill, and lead. May my life exalt above all things Your name and Word. (Psalm 138:2; Isaiah 50:4)