Staying Devoted To The Scriptures

"And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD.” Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, “Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” " (2 Kings 22 vs 8 - 13, ESV, Emphasis Added)

King Josiah was overwhelmed by what was found in the temple - the Holy Scriptures! It was lost for many, many years. It was indicative of the times. People were on paths of their own choosing, abandoning the God who continuously delivers them each time they cry out to Him. 

Can you imagine with me for a moment. King Josiah holding the the scriptures in his hands and as he slowly unrolls the papyrus, the crackling sounds echoes through the hallway of his throne room. Imagine the emotional excitement and the heavy guilt of holding something so precious. The excitement of holding God's very words in your hands like nothing else before it nor anything to come after and yet at the same time, the unbearable pain of neglecting something so pure and holy!

Many times we could find ourselves in the same situation. We could be devoted to the Scriptures and then may come the situation where we miss out and then a day goes by and the next and it continues on till scripture is all but forgotten. And when it's forgotten it exposes the culture we find ourselves in. Just as Proverbs 19 vs 27 reminds us,

"Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge." (NKJV)

Straying from God's word will decrease our knowledge of Him. And we see this happening around the world. Sin takes over when our foundations start to crack. The cracks prove that there is something lacking - God's Word!

There's something else that I desire to bring to attention and that is when we start to seek God in other places except in His word.

People go after other teachings that are not in God's word. Seeking false teachers and wanting some kind of extraordinary revelation and prophecy from them. And the sad reality is that for Christians, they believe without searching the Scriptures themselves.  We need to have a Berean mindset: 

"Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." (Acts 17 vs 11, ESV)

We must examine the scriptures ourselves, so that no one can deceive us. We must allow the words of Scripture to breathe new life into us: 

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Heb. 4 Vs 12, ESV)

Most are afraid of sitting with God's word cause it reveals to us who we truly are and what we are in need of. We are born in sin and we desperately need the Salvation that Christ offers us. 

When we become students of God's word, false teachers can't lie to us but in return we can reveal Jesus to the world and in so doing fulfill our God-given purpose of making disciples. 

The greatest revelation we have is God making Christ known to us:

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."

 (Galatians 4 vs 4, ESV)

Christ came to save and call us His own, to me that revelation needs to be sounded across the earth. People need to know that God came to reveal Himself and they can have a part in His family for all eternity, no longer a slave to the cravings of sin simply because sin has already been defeated at the foot of the cross and there's new life because Jesus lives! 

And then the greatest prophecy: 

"Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."   (Rev. 22 vs 12, ESV)

He's coming back!!! Jesus is coming back! That's the greatest prophecy, the most precious promise ever made to us and the world. When He comes He will bring His reward(recompense) with Him. How marvelous will that day be!?! Just writing this gives me goosebumps and melts my heart with emotion, that my Saviour, our Saviour, is coming soon. He will not delay.

Be encouraged today, that as you search the Scriptures your hope will be renewed and your strength restored. Don't delay! Study the Scriptures earnestly and see a whole new season open up for you and your family.

Many Blessings,

Shane

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