journey onWord with us

How would you answer this question? “What role does the Bible, God’s Word, play in my life?” The question is not, “do I believe the Bible?” or “have I read it?” or “memorized verses in the past?”, but “what role is it playing in my life today?” So much of your life is driven by the answer to this seemingly simple question.

It would only seem logical that all who claim to be Christ-followers would be students of the Word. After all, our Father has chosen to give us instruction for life and godliness through His revealed Word. But from personal experience, I have learned that being a student of the Word is anything but easy. It takes discipline and passion for any of us to “continue in the Word.”

My thoughts for this post were prompted by a little known passage found in the book of II Kings. Reading about one evil king after another was not energizing.  But then I came to chapter twenty-two and King Josiah.  He was different! He became king at eight years old and worked at honoring the Lord.

II Kings 22:2
He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

My reading took me to an amazing find; one that makes me wonder how many Christ-followers have ever studied or took note of before. Josiah wanted the worship of Jehovah re-established and had a desire to rebuild the temple. In the process of rebuilding the temple, the high priest found the Book of the Law. My response was … “they lost the Book of the Law?!”  How could a people who God had blessed so greatly, lose the very Word of God?

II Kings 22:8, 10-11
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.”….Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.

God, through the Book of the Law, got Josiah’s attention. But it is so sad to think that a people with something so special, lost it in the first place. How far they had fallen (read the complete chapter if you have time)! It is easy for all of us to generalize about how our nation, our schools and, to a great extent, our churches have lost the Word of God. We haven’t lost it physically, but I am sure you will agree with me that we have lost it as the authority upon which we stand. How will future generations view us?

On a personal note, I am sure you can locate your own copy of the Word of God. But has its value gotten lost in the maze of activity called twenty-first century living? Have you lost the passion for its principles? How much attention do you give to God’s instruction book (His Word)?  You get the point!

If you are like me, there are seasons of passion and times of distance relative to the Word. But we know where the real answers to life’s questions are found. You and I cannot speak for our nation, our schools or our churches.  But our relationship to the Word of God will help direct our futures. It must be a priority. Don’t lose your way!