HE is After All of Me

21 King Josiah then issued this order to all the people: “You must celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God, as required in this Book of the Covenant.” 22 There had not been a Passover celebration like that since the time when the judges ruled in Israel...23 in the eighteenth year of King Josiah’s reign. 24 Josiah also got rid of the mediums and psychics, the household gods, the idols, and every other kind of detestable practice, both in Jerusalem and throughout the land of Judah. He did this in obedience to the laws written in the scroll that Hilkiah the priest had found in the Lord’s Temple. 25 Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.

- 2 Kings 23

Josiah was a special King not because he was the richest or the wisest among all kings. Josiah indeed had GOD's approval as written in the Bible that there was not a King like Josiah before him and never been afterwards. So what does it take to be this kind of person, honored by GOD in His word? Yes he is not as famous King David who was a man after GOD's own heart or as rich as Solomon who was the wisest among all Kings. What Josiah had was rare in GOD's eyes and precious in HIS heart - Josiah was devoted to GOD with all of his heart, soul and strength. This is what GOD commanded to all His people yet how many are truly following this very command of GOD? How do we become like a Josiah in our generation?

First we need to uphold whatever GOD says we should regard as important, like for example He commands us to celebrate His feasts. Not just to celebrate or observe them because GOD said we should do it, but to truly look forward and celebrate it with our hearts and not out of compliance. Next we should get rid of every pagan, detestable thing in our lives that is not pleasing to our Lord. This is very hard to do especially when we are used to already having these kinds of practices in our lives, the idolatry of vanity - putting up too much time to make ourselves beautiful in the worlds eyes, the idolatry of self - pride and exalting ourselves higher or better than others. It is even hard to see that we have these kinds of practices in us but if we let GOD search our hearts, HE will reveal just what it is that is hindering us from truly loving HIM. GOD wants everything within us. What is GOD after? All of me.