DAY 146
Old Testament reading: 2 Kings 23
The reforms and restoration of Josiah. Josiah was the last good king in Judah. Assuming the throne at the age of 8, Josiah sought to repair the house of the Lord and restore true worship among the people of God. I love the statement of 2 Kings 23:4 – “Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest… to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the articles that were made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven; and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes to Bethel.” Aside from the obvious connection to the prophecy of 1 Kings 13 on this matter, I gave some thought to the idea of carrying the ashes to Bethel. Manasseh had filled God’s house with idols. Josiah removed what didn’t belong and gave it a proper disposal. Idolatry belongs with idolatry. In our own lives, there are things that need to be removed and given a proper disposal. Let us all resolve to put away sin from ourselves and put it where it belongs, in the ash heaps of Bethel!
New Testament reading: Romans 10-12
Romans 10:1 contains one of the greatest statements of evangelistic fervor that can be found anywhere in Scripture: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.” This statement is a follow up to Paul’s earlier lament that he would gladly be accursed for Israel’s sake (Rom 9:1-3). Paul readily recognized the Jews’ zeal for God, but said zeal was “not according to knowledge.” Uncountable multitudes today are also zealously pursuing God in vain, as their zeal also lacks a proper knowledge of God and His word. Zeal is no substitute for truth. Paul told the Galatians it is good to be zealous in a good thing (Gal 4:18). Any pursuit of God that is not authorized by the Scriptures, and the New Testament in particular, is a sure path to perdition. Jesus said, “Not every one who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven” (Matt 7:21). It is a good thing to be zealous in soul winning, as “he who wins souls is wise” (Prov 11:30).
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