See You at the Pole 2009

I participated in this morning’s See You at the Pole event at Clearfield High School. This is what I shared.

Engage: Go and Pray
“Go and pray to God for me and for the people …” (2 Kings 22.13a, The Message)

Israel and Judah had a history of waning back and forth in their commitment to God. Sometimes they followed wholeheartedly, sometimes they didn’t follow God at all.

During the period of the kings, the people’s commitment to God could be traced to the king’s commitment to God. If the king followed God wholeheartedly, the people followed God wholeheartedly. The books of 1-2 Kings and 1-2 Chronicles, chronicle the reign of the kings. Some did right in the sight of God, some did evil in the sight of God.

Along comes Josiah. Josiah is in the family succession to become king and becomes kings at the age of 8 years old. (If you have any little brothers or sisters at home, that kind of a scary thought, isn’t it? An 8 year old leading a nation.) But the Scriptures tell us that as Josiah becomes 16 years old, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father, David, not turning aside to the right or to the left” (2 Kings 22.2).

Josiah was on fire for God. He had all the idols and places of worship to gods other than the Lord God, torn down and destroyed. He was rebuilding the temple, the place of worship of the Lord God. And as they were reconstructing the temple, the workers found a book, a long forgotten book, The Law of the Lord, The Bible.

The Scriptures say of Josiah, “When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.” Tearing one’s clothes was a sign of grief, of mourning. Josiah was saddened that they had not been reading the Word of God and furthermore, they had not be obeying the Word of God.

It was at this time he sent word to the priest to “Go and pray for me and the people.”

Engage: Go and Pray.

Engage means to make a connection. It describes two pieces fitting perfectly together as in a gear or two puzzle pieces. An engaging personality, someone you like to be with, someone who upon first meeting them, you feel comfortable around. Engaging the audience (something I hope I’m doing right now.) You get and keep their attention. Engage in conversation. Those participating in the conversation are interested: interested in one another, interested in the topic of conversation.

This year, this school year, you are challenged to engage.

  • To engage with God in prayer.
  • To engage with God’s Word and grow in your relationship with him and your obedience to his Word. To passionately pursue God and his will.
  • To engage others. To, like Josiah, not only tear down the idols in your life, but as you live as wholly following God, you will impact your world around you. Josiah wasn’t concerned just for his own life and his own family. He was concerned for all the people. He asked the priest to pray not just for him, but for all the people. He desired that everyone have a heart for God. Therefore, Josiah not only engaged with God in prayer and engaged with God’s Word. Josiah engaged with others.

Engage others with your unique personality, that is a reflection of Christ’s love for them. Engage others as a speaker engages an audience. That doesn’t mean you have to speak a word; let your life speak volumes. Engage others in conversation about God, about the difference God makes in your life. Engage God in prayer for the others your life can and will touch!

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