“Just as he had done at Bethel, Josiah removed all the shrines at the high places that the kings of Israel had built in the towns of Samaria and that had aroused the Lord’s anger. Josiah slaughtered all the priests of those high places on the altars and burned human bones on them. Then he went back to Jerusalem.
The king gave this order to all the people: ‘Celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.’ Neither in the days of the judges who led Israel nor in the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had any such Passover been observed. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem.
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. Neither before nor 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.” (II Kings 23:19-25 NIV)
In the sporting world, it is known as “cleaning house.” When the owner decides the team is headed in the wrong direction and big changes need to be made, he gets rid of all his coaching staff and brings in new leadership. He cleans house. In Josiah’s time, he became king of Judah after the 50-year rule of his father, Manasseh. His father was the worst king in the history of Judah. He turned away from the Lord and mandated idol worship, even in the Temple of the Lord! For 50 years, he indoctrinated the people into the evil practices of their idolatrous neighbors.
A few years after Josiah became king, the Book of the Law (Genesis-Deuteronomy) was found in the Temple. Manasseh’s influential rule had made God’s Word irrelevant in Judean culture and the scrolls containing the first five books of our Bible were put aside and, eventually, forgotten. Josiah read the Word and was grief-stricken by how far his nation had moved away from the Lord. He decided to clean house. He ordered the removal and destruction of all idols set up in the Temple and throughout Judah. He also ordered the deaths of all the pagan priests who led the people in idolatrous worship. He literally got rid of everything associated with idolatry in his country, and led his people back to worshipping the Lord.
I am sure it was a temptation for Josiah to compromise instead of being so radical. He could have removed the most obvious abominations, the idol worship in the Temple, but left the rest so as not to disrupt everything. We are not told, but I wonder if this wasn’t some of the advice he was given by his advisors. Politically, it may have been better for him to make compromises, especially with a culture so entrenched in idolatry.
I think there is a lesson to be learned from Josiah. I have seen believers countless times compromise on the things in their lives. They listen to the voices that tell them they can have it both ways. They can date or marry an unbeliever and it won’t matter as long as they love each other. They can party heavy late in the week into the weekend and still worship God on Sunday morning. They can love money, sports, or technology to the point of idolatry and still be a follower of Jesus.
Like Josiah, we need to realize that worship of the Lord must always be the first priority of our lives. There can be no compromise, no matter how wonderful, fun, or exciting something or someone is. The Lord is very clear: “You will have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)
Today, think about your life. Is there anything in your life that you value more than the Lord? A relationship? A sport or activity? A sin that you just don’t want to give up? If so, it’s time to clean house. Time to get rid of those idols in your life. Humble yourself before the Lord. Confess your sin and return to the Lord. Then let the celebration begin!
© Jim Musser 2013
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12 NIV)
Growing up, one phrase I never heard my parents say to me was, “I love you.” I knew they loved me, but I never heard them say it. They provided me a home, made sure I had plenty to eat, and cared about my grades. They obviously loved me, but they could never say it. They were like a lot of people, particularly of their generation. It was just uncomfortable to express love verbally.
What drew me to Jesus was the expression of love I saw in those who followed Him. And what I learned as I began to read the Scriptures is it was He who first took the initiative in reaching out in love. In fact, the Bible is full of expressions of love for each of us.
When I decided to follow Jesus, it was this fact that compelled me to write a letter to my parents telling them, “I love you.” It was the first time I had ever expressed it. Years later, after both had died, I found that letter as we sorted through my mother’s things. She had kept it.
When I was leaving home the first time after my conversion, I gave my mother a hug and said, “I love you.” Again, it was the first time I had ever uttered those words to her. I shook my father’s hand and said the same. Neither knew quite what to make of it and, in reality, it was awkward for them. But my expression of love had an impact. I began to see changes in them, an openness to the Lord that I had never seen before and a softening of their hearts. They even began to express their love for me.
Before they died, both my mom and dad made the decision to follow Jesus. I am convinced their decisions began with my simple expression, “I love you.” Though we may have love shown to us in a lot of ways, it is important to hear it. I first heard it from Jesus and in turn I expressed it to my parents. I expressed my love for them because He first expressed His love for me.
How powerful it is to hear the words, “I love you.” Today know that Jesus speaks them to you and He wants you in the same way to speak them to others. They are words that can literally change lives.
© Jim Musser 2013
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV)
Self-righteousness is an obvious plague among us. All you have to do is go onto social media to see it played out in tweet after tweet, post after post. Conservatives condemn liberals; Democrats lambast Republicans; gun control advocates deride the views of gun rights advocates and vice-versa. For the most part, we think we are right and being right puts us on what we consider to be a superior platform. Anyone who thinks or acts different than us is, in our minds, on a slightly lower level.
This is true in the church as well. It has been obvious for more than 20 centuries that many calling themselves Christians have felt morally superior to others. This is the greatest and most frequent criticism of the church—Christians look down their noses at the world. And it is easy to know why. The church is afflicted by the same plague that affects the rest of human race—self-righteousness.
It is obvious the church in Ephesus was afflicted with it because Paul reminds them of who they once were—people deserving the wrath of God for their sins. They had fallen into the trap of thinking that because they had received God’s grace, they had somehow become better than everyone else. Nonsense, Paul says. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
While our bent is toward self-righteousness, let us not be deceived. Each one of us is deserving of God’s wrath. There are no truly good people—all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) None of us have any claim to righteousness, only a claim on grace. And that only because God first loved us. (I John 4:10)
The church today is still criticized for being filled with hypocrites. And that is mainly because, while continuing to struggle with sin, the people still view themselves as morally superior. What is needed for this to change is the realization of our true position apart from the grace of God.
Today, remember all have sinned and continue to sin. You have no claim to righteousness apart from what has been given you through grace.
© Jim Musser 20013
"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him." (Luke 8:16-18 NIV)
A friend of mine who is a professor told me recently that he received much more critical evaluations than ever before. Having been a popular teacher for years, he concluded the change was due to his rules on texting and Internet surfing in his classes. It had become such a problem, he had to create a policy in response. Many of his students apparently didn’t like it.
When people really aren’t interested in something, they look for other things to distract them. Recently, while sitting in a church service, a young couple in front of me spent the whole praise time talking to each other. It was obvious their hearts were not into the praise of God. They were there, but their hearts were somewhere else.
Jesus had just finished explaining his parable of the soils to His disciples when he spoke the passage above. The parable was about the heart’s openness to the Gospel and this passage must be seen in that context. And the key quote is, “Therefore consider carefully how you listen.”
It is easy for us to become arrogant about our knowledge of things. Students who would rather be texting than listening to the professor think either they already know the information or it is not really that important. They are in class only because that is what is expected and needed to earn their degrees. Their hearts are elsewhere. The same can be true of people who consider themselves Christians. They may attend worship services and do other religious things because that is what is expected, but their hearts are in a different place.
Jesus came to teach what people needed to hear. The crowds gathered because he was a popular rabbi in a religious culture. But it is apparent most didn’t listen carefully to what He was saying. Their hearts, too, were in a different place.
It is not enough just to be in the seat in class or in church. What Jesus says matters is the place of our hearts. And while we may be able to hide that from those around us, we cannot hide it from Him. He knows our hearts.
Where is your heart today? Is it open to what Jesus has to teach you? Know that it matters how carefully you listen to Him.
© Jim Musser 2013
“One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side of the lake.’ So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’ He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.’” (Luke 8:22-25 NIV)
This is such an odd story at first glance. A storm arises as Jesus and His disciples make their way across the Sea of Galilee. Their boat is being swamped by the waves and the disciples are fearing for their lives. And Jesus—is taking a nap.
Does that strike you as odd? The boat is being violently rocked, the waves are swamping the boat with water, the disciples are likely yelling out in fear, and Jesus is asleep. Was He just completely exhausted? Did He have narcolepsy, perhaps? No, I think His sleep had a divine cause.
Notice after Jesus was awakened and calmed the storm, He asked the disciples, “Where is your faith?” He was present with them in the boat, yet they were panicking after the storm hit. They didn’t trust His presence; they wanted His immediate attention.
Are we not the same? A storm comes upon us and immediately we cry out in a panic to the Lord for help. We may know He is present, but want His attention to our plight. However, what the disciples missed, and we as well, is the fact His presence is enough. If He is present, He is in control. Jesus may have been sleeping in the boat, but He was in the boat. He was with the disciples in the storm. That should have been enough for them.
Today, if a storm has struck in your life, don’t panic. Jesus is in the boat with you. Even if it appears He is asleep, His presence is enough. He has everything under control.
© Jim Musser 20103
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1-5 NIV)
If I were to tell you in the midst of some crisis you are facing that you should rejoice in it because it is making you a better, stronger person, how would you react? Likely, you would think I didn’t understand and you definitely wouldn’t feel I empathized with your situation.
Yet this is exactly what Paul is telling his fellow Romans. Our bent is never to see anything good in the midst of suffering. We complain, wring our hands, and shed tears, but rarely do we rejoice. However, often when we look back, having come through a very difficult time, we see how much we have grown and changed. Without a doubt, I can say the suffering I have endured in my life has made me a more mature and godly man. And while suffering is never easy, I think Paul is saying that hope can keep us putting one foot in front of the other as we walk through it.
I came to realize a long time ago that if you are going to go through something very difficult, you might as well learn something through it. Otherwise, not only is it a painful experience, it is a wasted one as well.
As Paul says later in his letter to the Romans (8:28), God works everything together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. Not that everything is good, but He will take whatever happens in your life and bring good out of it—including suffering.
Today, if you are going through a difficult time, ask the Lord to teach you through it what you need to learn. While it may be hard right now, He is there with you, and you can come through it closer to becoming the person He created you to be.
© Jim Musser 2013
“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:15-16 NIV)
At our student retreat this past weekend, our theme was “Naked Narratives.” Each of our staff shared their spiritual journeys. Each contained confessions of much sin. It was one of the most spiritually significant retreats I have ever experienced. As one of my staff shared her story, tears rolled down my cheeks as God’s grace and redemption were powerfully revealed. As I shared my own story, I was reminded so vividly of the Lord’s love and kindness to me, the worst of sinners.
This week a student came up to me and thanked me for the type of community we have. He said the vulnerability of the staff had moved him and led him to realize he needs finally to tell his own story of sin and brokenness, one in which he has kept hidden for years. I am going to hear his story next week. Another student told me our stories made him realize their spiritual leaders are not perfect people, that they have had struggles and far from perfect lives. He found this very encouraging.
Is this not what the Church is to be? Are we not to follow James’ command to confess our sins to one another? And will not that, as has happened with our students, heal and encourage people’s lives? Yet, when was the last time you heard someone in a church service, or even a small group, confess sin? It is rarely done. Even when people are given the opportunity to request prayer, the vast majority of requests deal with physical illness, and usually someone else’s. No one wants to talk about his or her sin.
What we have done is create communities that are often friendly, even loving at a certain level, but that are not real. Members of our churches are dealing with failing marriages, hypocrisy, pornography, bitterness, gossip, etc., but few if any are willing to admit it. They are lonely, hurting, desperate, but they continue to smile lest people think they don’t have it together. Instead, we gather together, sing our praise songs, hear God’s Word preached, and then go out the door unmoved and unchanged.
Our students are getting a taste of what the Church is to be like. Sin is not hidden; rather it is exposed. Their leaders are not hiding behind the masks of perfection, but rather living in the truth of who we are and the struggles we have and have had, that we are sinners in need of His wonderful and glorious grace.
Jesus says, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32) His teaching includes confessing our sins—telling the truth about our lives. If we do so, He promises we will be set free. For truth allows God’s grace to flow.
Today, what sins have you been keeping hidden behind that mask of perfection? Why be held in bondage one more day? Find a brother or sister in the faith, or a group of them, and tell your story of disobedience and rebellion. Taking off the mask, telling the truth, is the only way you will ever be free. And who knows, maybe your truth telling will help set others free as well.
© Jim Musser 2013
