WHOSE AGENDA? YOURS OR HIS (II)
Theme Scripture: II Kings 23
What made Josiah tick? What made his name ring a bell?
Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him. (verse 25)
The Lord Jesus, Apostles Paul and Peter - to mention a few - can be ranked in similar category as Josiah. But you've got to realize that some people's toes were being tread upon and some people's ox were being goad in the course of Josiah achieving the feat noted in the above scripture. Some authorities were being disregarded. Some cultural practices and tradition were being discarded. Some lives were cut short. Considerable amount of money and time that could have been diverted into sectors of the economy were being used to do things that were pleasing in the eyes of God. Valuable labour was invested into purging the land idols. Attention that could have been given to the reading of man-originated documents was devoted to the reading of God's law, commandments and covenant. Money that could have been used in building or renovating schools, hospitals, etc was used to renovate the house of the Lord. Why all this? Because what matters a whole lot to Josiah than anything else is to how to totally, utterly and absolutely do the will of God. But did he ever cross his mind that he might be teased or ridiculed as crazy King Josiah the fanatic? If it ever cross Josiah's mind, did anyone actually thought he would have cared?
The Lord Jesus did not care. In fact, Jesus said
Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. (John 5:19)
I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. (John 5:30)
I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (John 6:38)
Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. (John 14:10)
Apostle Peter and the other apostles did not care.
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)
Apostle Paul did not care.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter" Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Acts 9:35 - 39)
As you and I go about our daily business, (and as we occasionally ask ourselves this question: Whose agenda? Yours Or His?) we may want to keep the following scriptures in mind:
When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself (or herself), and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his (or her) life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the sake of the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man who gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for His soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:34 - 38)
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I got commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:8 - 9)
God bless
Yours
Adekunle O. Majek'
HIAFEM
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