READING: 2 Kings 21-23, John 12:20-50
I wonder what others might write in my obituary when the Lord calls me home. I don’t know that I want others to write anything more than basic facts of my life, as I will be in heaven solely because of God’s grace. Instead, I would want Him to be the center of anything written about me, and I would want my story to be a witness to others.
When I read these words about King Josiah of Judah, I’m reminded of the power of the witness of a life: “Before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength according to all the law of Moses, and no one like him arose after him” (2 Kgs 23:25). Those words might surely seem exaggerated, but instead they simply represent the truth of Josiah’s passion for God. He was not perfect, but he did lead the people in covenant renewal and massive religious reforms. His commitment was to “follow the Lord and to keep his commands, his decrees, and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul in order to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book” (2 Kgs 23:3)—and he did so with zeal.
He followed God with all his heart and soul and strength. That’s the way all of us should want to live.
PRAYER: “God, help me to follow You fully today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Review and catch-up day