King at 8 years of age!

Can you remember being 8 years of age? I can't really remember that age exactly, but I do remember being a child and how simple life seemed to be. So, can you imagine being asked to be a sovereign ruler at just 8 years young? I couldn't think of anything worse - the sheer weight of that responsibility must be crippling. 

One of Jesus' ancestors, King Josiah, was made King when he was just 8, succeeding his father Amon, who had been assassinated. Josiah was an influential King - for all the right reasons. 2 Kings 2 describes his reign in this way: “And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.” (v.22)

Another of the highlights of his reign was that ordered the restoration of the temple, and it was during this rebuilding process that the book of the Law was rediscovered. He then instituted a campaign of reformation and returning to the Lord:

“The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant” (2 Kings 23:3).

Advent is a time when we should rediscover the ancient story of God's love for us, and then as we retell the Gospel stories, we should recommit our ways to God. I find that the Nativity never gets stale or boring for me - I love being reminded of the child, who was born a King! 

Jesus didn't have to wait until he was 8 before he was anointed as King - we honour him as the One born to rule!

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Restorer par excellence

Isaiah 58:12 - "Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."

I love this scripture. It clearly speaks of a God who delights in restoring and repairing broken people and nations. Where most of us couldn't be bothered to rebuild, repair or restore, Advent teaches us that Jesus offers to do all three.

Don't give up if you are feeling a little tatty and broken - God is our Restorer par excellence.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Tearing down instead of building up - Ezekiel 13

There is something about our modern generation that seems to love 'breaking people down' instead of lifting them up. I don't know if it is because social media is such a quick way of passing on a critique of something, but it certainly can aid people in tearing things down (or in destroying the reputation of others).

In today's reading, Ezekiel speaks of how the false prophets had a way of breaking down and not helping to REBUILD the nation.

⁵ They have done nothing to repair the breaks in the walls around the nation. They have not helped it to stand firm in battle on the day of the Lord. ⁶ Instead, they have told lies and made false predictions. They say, ‘This message is from the Lord,’ even though the Lord never sent them. And yet they expect him to fulfil their prophecies! ⁷ Can your visions be anything but false if you claim, ‘This message is from the Lord,’ when I have not even spoken to you? (Ezekiel 13)

The challenge for us during Lent is this: 

In what way do I 'break down' instead of lifting up?
Am I prone to stand and watch or am I willing to help repair and rebuild the works of God?

Living in Grace
D3LM3