August 4th
Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 34, John 6
Scripture Focus:
“Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the court secretary, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple!’ Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it… ‘Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.’”
— 2 Kings 22:8, 13 NLT
“You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said… You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord.”
— 2 Kings 22:19–20 NLT
“He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.”
— 2 Chronicles 34:2 NLT
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Reflection:
When King Josiah became king at only eight years old, Judah was far from God. Yet when the Book of the Law was found and read to him, Josiah’s heart was pierced. He tore his clothes, humbled himself, and sought the Lord. God responded to that humility: “I have indeed heard you.”
It’s no accident that this story is told twice (in both Kings and Chronicles). When God repeats something, it’s because He wants us to pay close attention. And the lesson is clear: what pleases God is obedience to His Word.
This has been His desire from the very beginning. In Eden, God gave Adam and Eve one command: “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:16–17). But they disobeyed. From that moment on, humanity has been wrestling with the same choice: will we trust and obey God, or go our own way?
We see this call for obedience echoed throughout Scripture — in Exodus (Ex. 19:5–6), in Deuteronomy (Deut. 10:12–13), and again here with Josiah. The beautiful truth is that while none of us are perfectly obedient, God delights in a humble and repentant heart. Josiah’s story reminds us: when we recognize we’ve fallen short and truly repent, God hears us.
⸻
Digging Deeper:
•Obey – In Hebrew, shama (שָׁמַע) means more than simply “hearing”; it means to listen attentively with the intent to respond. God isn’t after passive hearing—He wants active, willing hearts that respond to His Word.
•Humbled – The Hebrew word kana (כָּנַע) means “to bend the knee, to bring low.” It’s an intentional posture of surrender—lowering ourselves so that God is exalted.
Josiah didn’t just hear the Word; he shama—he heard and acted. He kana—he humbled himself, leading to genuine repentance.
⸻
John 6 Connection:
In John 6, Jesus calls Himself the Bread of Life: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:51). Just as Josiah feasted on God’s Word and aligned his life to it, Jesus invites us to feed on Him daily—to take His Word into our hearts and let it transform us. Obedience is the fruit of truly abiding in Him.
⸻
Lesson for Me:
Obedience is not just about following rules; it’s about aligning my heart with God’s will. Even when I fail, He honors humility and repentance.
⸻
Application Questions:
1.When was the last time I allowed God’s Word to truly confront me and lead me to repentance?
2.Are there areas in my life where I know what God says, but I’m resisting His Word?
3.How can I renew my commitment — like Josiah — to walk in obedience with all my heart and soul?
⸻
Prayer 🙏:
Lord, thank You for Your Word, which exposes my sin and leads me back to You. Give me a heart like Josiah — humble, responsive, and eager to obey You with all my heart. Help me to turn from any disobedience and walk in the freedom that comes from living in step with Your will. Feed me with the Bread of Life daily, Jesus, that I may find my strength in You. Amen.
⸻
Sit Quietly Before the Lord
Now, take a few moments to sit in stillness before Him. Ask: “Lord, what are You speaking to me about obedience today?” Write down anything He reveals — instructions, encouragement, or areas of surrender.
⸻
Walking It Out: Obedience in the New Testament
Josiah’s story challenges us to hear God’s Word and respond. As followers of Jesus, we are called to live out our faith in very practical ways. Here are some areas the New Testament clearly calls us to obey — places where we may struggle:
•Giving Generously – “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
•Rejecting Worldliness – “Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?” (James 4:4)
•Forgiving Quickly – “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
•Serving & Using Your Gifts – “Use your gifts well to serve one another… so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 4:10–11)
•Building Up the Body of Christ – “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (Ephesians 4:29)
•Not Forsaking Church Fellowship – “Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)
•Loving Enemies & Blessing Those Who Hurt Us – “Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” (Matthew 5:44)
•Pursuing Holiness – “This is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
•Guarding Against Worry – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.” (Philippians 4:6)
•Daily Living in the Word – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Colossians 3:16)
•Walking in Love – “Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.” (Ephesians 5:2)
Participating in Communion – “Do this in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24–25)
Communion isn’t optional — it’s a time to remember Christ’s sacrifice, examine our hearts, and renew our fellowship with Him and His body.
These aren’t suggestions — they’re commands that draw us closer to Jesus and make us reflect His character in a dark world. Which ones do you need to bring before Him today?
Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 34, John 6
Scripture Focus:
“Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the court secretary, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple!’ Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it… ‘Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.’”
— 2 Kings 22:8, 13 NLT
“You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said… You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord.”
— 2 Kings 22:19–20 NLT
“He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.”
— 2 Chronicles 34:2 NLT
⸻
Reflection:
When King Josiah became king at only eight years old, Judah was far from God. Yet when the Book of the Law was found and read to him, Josiah’s heart was pierced. He tore his clothes, humbled himself, and sought the Lord. God responded to that humility: “I have indeed heard you.”
It’s no accident that this story is told twice (in both Kings and Chronicles). When God repeats something, it’s because He wants us to pay close attention. And the lesson is clear: what pleases God is obedience to His Word.
This has been His desire from the very beginning. In Eden, God gave Adam and Eve one command: “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:16–17). But they disobeyed. From that moment on, humanity has been wrestling with the same choice: will we trust and obey God, or go our own way?
We see this call for obedience echoed throughout Scripture — in Exodus (Ex. 19:5–6), in Deuteronomy (Deut. 10:12–13), and again here with Josiah. The beautiful truth is that while none of us are perfectly obedient, God delights in a humble and repentant heart. Josiah’s story reminds us: when we recognize we’ve fallen short and truly repent, God hears us.
⸻
Digging Deeper:
•Obey – In Hebrew, shama (שָׁמַע) means more than simply “hearing”; it means to listen attentively with the intent to respond. God isn’t after passive hearing—He wants active, willing hearts that respond to His Word.
•Humbled – The Hebrew word kana (כָּנַע) means “to bend the knee, to bring low.” It’s an intentional posture of surrender—lowering ourselves so that God is exalted.
Josiah didn’t just hear the Word; he shama—he heard and acted. He kana—he humbled himself, leading to genuine repentance.
⸻
John 6 Connection:
In John 6, Jesus calls Himself the Bread of Life: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:51). Just as Josiah feasted on God’s Word and aligned his life to it, Jesus invites us to feed on Him daily—to take His Word into our hearts and let it transform us. Obedience is the fruit of truly abiding in Him.
⸻
Lesson for Me:
Obedience is not just about following rules; it’s about aligning my heart with God’s will. Even when I fail, He honors humility and repentance.
⸻
Application Questions:
1.When was the last time I allowed God’s Word to truly confront me and lead me to repentance?
2.Are there areas in my life where I know what God says, but I’m resisting His Word?
3.How can I renew my commitment — like Josiah — to walk in obedience with all my heart and soul?
⸻
Prayer 🙏:
Lord, thank You for Your Word, which exposes my sin and leads me back to You. Give me a heart like Josiah — humble, responsive, and eager to obey You with all my heart. Help me to turn from any disobedience and walk in the freedom that comes from living in step with Your will. Feed me with the Bread of Life daily, Jesus, that I may find my strength in You. Amen.
⸻
Sit Quietly Before the Lord
Now, take a few moments to sit in stillness before Him. Ask: “Lord, what are You speaking to me about obedience today?” Write down anything He reveals — instructions, encouragement, or areas of surrender.
⸻
Walking It Out: Obedience in the New Testament
Josiah’s story challenges us to hear God’s Word and respond. As followers of Jesus, we are called to live out our faith in very practical ways. Here are some areas the New Testament clearly calls us to obey — places where we may struggle:
•Giving Generously – “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
•Rejecting Worldliness – “Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?” (James 4:4)
•Forgiving Quickly – “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
•Serving & Using Your Gifts – “Use your gifts well to serve one another… so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 4:10–11)
•Building Up the Body of Christ – “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (Ephesians 4:29)
•Not Forsaking Church Fellowship – “Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)
•Loving Enemies & Blessing Those Who Hurt Us – “Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” (Matthew 5:44)
•Pursuing Holiness – “This is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
•Guarding Against Worry – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.” (Philippians 4:6)
•Daily Living in the Word – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Colossians 3:16)
•Walking in Love – “Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.” (Ephesians 5:2)
Participating in Communion – “Do this in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24–25)
Communion isn’t optional — it’s a time to remember Christ’s sacrifice, examine our hearts, and renew our fellowship with Him and His body.
These aren’t suggestions — they’re commands that draw us closer to Jesus and make us reflect His character in a dark world. Which ones do you need to bring before Him today?