Each Friday my writing stems from a word prompt. Five minutes, one word prompt. The prompt this week is … Discover.
Reading the word prompt brings the thought, “I wonder if the word “discover” even appears in Scripture?
A quick flip to the concordance and I discover it is used one time:
“Furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the temple of the Lord.” (2 Kings 23:24, NIV)
Josiah, the last of Judah’s righteous kings. He wants to return God’s people to their roots, their roots founded in God’s law. His desire is for the people to return to the faith they once had and pass it to the next generation.
This desire stemmed from the discovery of God’s law in the temple and the effect it had on Josiah:
“Neither before not after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did – with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.” (verse 25, NIV)
The discovery of God’s Word had three effects on Josiah and will result in the same for us, if we let His Word do its work in us:
- We will be motivated to read and discover for ourselves what God has said to us.
- We will become sensitive to God’s Word and be drawn to read it often.
- We will want to obey what is written.
Discover all that is written in God’s Word, and may our lives be effected.
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.”
(1 Corinthians 15:10, NIV)
Today I am joining … Five Minute Friday and Faith On Fire and Faith Filled Friday and Faith ”˜N Friends and Fresh Market Friday .
Yes! I am ready for more of God. Our faith journeys are journeys of continual discoveries of God. There’s always so much more to know of God. Thanks for the great post, Joanne! Blessings to you!
Mari-Anna, you are so right – there is always much more to know of God. May we ever be experiencing more of Him!
I want to be effected!! Wonderful word, Joanne!
Oops! I think I misused the word here. I think I should say “I want to be affected and effective.” ♥ï¸
Nannette, you so made me smile as I think I probably misused the word here. Either way, you said it well – “I want to be affected and effective.” Amen to that! Blessings to you!
I’m not sure what I’m more fascinated by… the words used only once, or those repeated in Scripture! But I know God has a reason for both… You’re a #wordnerd, too, Joanne! Blessings
I join you in that, Liz! But the words used in Scripture are so meant for a purpose and there is such richness in discovering more about them 🙂 Blessings!
Josiah’s presence is a bright spot in the line of so many wicked kings. His story gives us hope today too. Glad you uncovered Josiah’s story for us today!
Sarah, you make such a wonderful point in that Josiah’s story gives brings hope to us. So much to unearth in the stories God included in Scripture for us.
I love the nuggets you pulled from this story. “Discover all that is written in God’s Word, and may our lives be effected.” Amen to that!
Thank you, Kelly. May we keep digging, learning and growing in Him!
“Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did…” What an amazing tribute the Lord pays to Josiah! When he made his amazing discovery, he did the right thing with it. Oh to God that we would do the same.
Ruth, wonderful point! May we not only discover but then commit to action. Grateful you stopped to share your thoughts!
What a difference the discovery of the Word made! Shame on us who have the Word so readily available yet read it so little…
Thanks for sharing!
Jerralea, how very true. May we all take the time to include the reading of Scripture each and every day. It surely makes all the difference!
Joanne, this is terrific…it sets the stage perfectly for studying Scripture, and letting it change one’s life.
What a gift!
#1 at FMF this week.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/10/your-dying-spouse-388-caregiver-so-far.html
Thank you, Andrew. As I read your comment, the thought hit me … and our lives can become the stage by which the change Scripture has made can be on display.
Praying for you and Barb today. May you both stay strong in Him!
Amen!