Return to God’s Word (2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34)

2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34
The neglect we have of the Word of God happens mainly because of our disobedience to Him. Often many people turn away and walk away from relationship with God because of sin, rebellion, greed, pride, lust, and worshipping false gods and idols. The neglect and a falling away from the Word of God also happens because we live such busy lives without having clear priorities of what is important. We daily live our lives consumed with worldly things, with our own ways and desires and have built our foundations on sinking sand instead of having our life’s foundation built on Solid Rock, the Word (Luke 6:46-49; Matthew 7:24-27).
1. Return to making the Word of God, the Bible to be the main foundation of our lives.
  • Truly recognize and know the value of the Word of God.
  • The Word of God is clear and foundational in everything. It removes all confusion. There is no confusion between right and wrong. The Word of God will say what is right and what is wrong. The Word of God tells us the way to walk, the way to live, the way to go.
  • Read the Word.
2. Returning to God’s Word is evidenced by our response to it.
  • 2 Kings 22:14-20; 2 Kings 23:1-25
  • Once you hear and discover what the Word of God is saying, what do you do then?
  • I should not forget or willfully disregard and neglect God’s teachings, commands and principles but I need to do something about it. Obedience. (Proverbs 3:1-8; Deuteronomy 8:1; 30:20; Matthew 7:24-27)
  • Respond with a tender heart, with humility and surrender that leads you to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10) that leads to obedience that leads to commitment or recommitment and dedication or rededication to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.
  • Renew your Covenant with God. (2 Kings 23:1-3; 2 Chronicles 34:29-31)
  • Live according to God’s Word (2 Kings 23:4-25).
o You and I cannot just study the Word for the sake of studying, but we must allow it to transform our life first (2 Kings 22:11).
o We must allow it to transform our church family life as well (2 Kings 23:1-3). And before we as a church can impact our community, we must come into alignment with God’s will and purpose.
o Transform a nation, our island (2 Chronicles 7:14).
  • Are we willing to follow the Lord in holiness? (1 Peter 1:13-16)
o Remove and do away with everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles you. (Hebrews 12:1; 2 Kings 23:4-25)
o Live changed lives. (James 1:19-27)
o Acknowledge the sin – repent – turn from worthless things (Acts 14:15) – turn to God. Prove your repentance by your deed (Acts 26:20). If your repentance is genuine, then it will bear fruit.
o How will I be different today because of what I have learned? What changes do I need to make? What am I going to do about it?
God’s heart is for people, for us to return to Him in obedience to His Word and genuinely love, worship Him with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength (Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:30). As God’s people, we do turn or return to Him, but at times not as serious as we should. Then, we find corruption and rebellion sets in again. This happens to individuals, and even as an island and as a nation. We return to forsaking the true and living God, we disobey His Word, instead of truly returning to Him in relationship.
If we as individuals, as an island, as a nation would only worship God, serve Him, then we will be blessed beyond measure. There is great potential for us to be a people who lives in unity together, in prosperity and in abundance. But we often waste the opportunity because we live independent of God, we turn away from Him and His ways. Instead, we turn to other gods – the god of pleasure, the god of power, the god of materialism, etc. With the worship of the false gods, comes the weakening of the moral values of an individual, an island and a nation. Forsaking the one true God leads ultimately to downfall and His judgments.
As Believers, to those who put their trust in God, we have great hope. I believe that God will spare our island, our nation for the righteous that is here. You and I are the salt of the earth, Christians are the ones that I believe is preserving our island and our nation from the wrath and judgment of God from coming today. I believe God is going to preserve His righteous before He brings His judgment.
For the now, let us pray that people will return to making the Word of God the main foundation of their lives and live in obedience to His ways and walk after Him as did King Josiah. Lord, let it begin with me first.