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.

Feasts of GOD

15 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are the people who know the joyful sound [who understand and appreciate the spiritual blessings symbolized by the feasts]; they walk, O Lord, in the light and favor of Your countenance!
16 In Your name they rejoice all the day, and in Your righteousness they are exalted.
17 For You are the glory of their strength [their proud adornment], and by Your favor our horn is exalted and we walk with uplifted faces!
18 For our shield belongs to the Lord, and our king to the Holy One of Israel.

- Psalm 89 AMP

The ways of GOD are many and some are complicated especially when we consider the feasts ordained by GOD from the time of Moses. But GOD will bless those who understand and appreciate the spiritual blessings of the feasts. Those who follow the ways of GOD and celebrate the feasts regardless of their identity Jews or Gentile, are blessed by GOD. Not not only do they have financial and spiritual blessing but their blessings overflow within their souls, they are happy. They are favored and even envied wherever they may go. 

Even when preparations of the feast may stress out many people preparing them, they rejoice during the day because GOD causes His righteousness to exalt them for honoring Him. There are people who do not enjoy preparing for big celebrations, there are wedding planners who like these grandious preparations and make a career out of them. But to those that prepare for the feasts of GOD because of their love for the LORD are favored by GOD, exalted by HIM, and strengthened by His glory which will be an adornment on them more than precious stones and jewels. Others do not know of the feast but who experience it will be curious of it's deeper meanings causing them to draw near to the GOD who commanded them resulting in people getting to know the true GOD of Israel is the Only GOD of the Universe who created the whole earth and all things have come from HIM. The feasts of GOD are for others to know that HE is real and active and that HE wants us to celebrate Life.