Recently, I had the joy of teaching the 5th/6th religion class.  I love teaching about the Bible. It never fails because there is always something new to learn.  The object of the lesson was for the students to understand that the Word of God is never changing.  It was the same yesterday, as it is the same today, and it is the same tomorrow. The scripture in the lesson was from 2 Kings, specifically about the 8-year-old boy king of Israel, Josiah.  Prior to Josiah becoming King, the Israelites had done evil in the eyes of the Lord and were suffering the consequences. King Josiah returned Israel’s focus on God and did not stray from that. He ordered that the Temple of the Lord be rebuilt and removed all the idols of the land.  While rebuilding the Temple, they discovered the Book of the Law, read it to Josiah, and then to the people. Even though Josiah’s focus was on God, he was still fearful that the law would condemn the nation of Israel. Here we read another example of God’s mercy, for he did not condemn Israel but granted them peace throughout the rest of Josiah’s reign.   

Throughout the books of I and II Kings, we read about how the people’s focus was on good, and then they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.  Josiah provided us with an example of a humble king who did not turn from God and his prophets. About 700 years later, the Apostle Paul writes to the people of Thessalonica, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22)  He is warning them about the same struggles that Israel fell into time and time again.  

Just like the objective the 5th and 6th graders worked on recently, it is no different for us today.  The devil is constantly prowling, looking for someone to devour. We are being told one thing by the world, but because we have law written on our hearts, we know the truth.  We know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. As a result, we can ‘rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  

Joyfully Christian