Faithfully Walk
As I’ve planned out posts, and scheduled them for this space, I thought it would be helpful to share with you all a little more about my heart. Below you will find the third of four posts, spread out over the next few weeks, that invite you in to more of my vision this website.
I remember the time Matthew scored 300 in bowling. This is a perfect score for those who might not know. True, it was Wii bowling, but still, an exciting moment. Both of us animatedly acknowledged each strike until he got closer to a perfect round. Gradually, as we neared the end and as he readied to throw (…is that what you call it..?) we no longer cheered. Our unspoken hope was to not “jinx” his big victory. Finally, he rolled (nowwwww I remember), one final time, and all of the pins fell down!! While certainly not magical to everyone, for sure a fun moment for me to recall.
I’ve never scored a 300 in bowling, but once I did score nearly a 180 in an actual game. You know, the kind played with a heavy ball on a wooden floor. I’m proud enough of that moment that it is chronicled somewhere in a Facebook album from the past. I do love any kind of bowling, though – the video game variety and the sport known, in part, for its less than fashionable shoes. They really couldn’t come up with a better design? Or at least colors?
In college, at NC State, with a bowling alley located just across Hillsborough street there was an opportunity to take bowling for necessary PE credit. Throughout the class you learned various fundamentals of bowling, including where to stand, how to keep score anddddd lots more technical things, I am sure. I just no longer recall those. That wasn’t the fun part, afterall.
The lanes in that super old bowling alley were certainly uneven. And I do not think I knew anyone in that class. For insecure me, this would have also been a handicap. Still, as the class progressed so did my skills. By the end of those weeks I was a much more confident bowler. Not a perfect score, but at least once, I even managed to pick up a pretty legit spare by knocking down significantly split pens. I wish those had been the days of fancy video camera phones.
If you’ve perused the website at all or made your way to the what I’m reading page, you may have noted that I’ve been studying 2 Kings. Short context will be helpful here. The books of 1 and 2 Kings showcase a stream of different kings reigning throughout the divided nations of Israel and Judah. Each of these nations eventually fall and are judged because of their disobedience to God. These two tell of kings who are evil beyond comprehension and about many who seek to honor the Lord. As you wind down the second book, we see two of Judah’s greatest kings and find the stories I’ve been camped out in for the last couple of weeks.
Josiah, was only eight years old when he became king in Jerusalem (2 Kings 22:1). His father, Amon, had been an evil king but somehow, as is noted, Josiah was a king who did right in the eyes of the Lord. Eighteen years into his reign, as he sends men to repair the Temple, the Book of the Law is found. This would have been a part of the whole Bible we have today – the Holy Scriptures, if you will. The importance to the people of God, however, would have been no less crucial. The Book of the Law was a written record of God’s covenantal relationship with His people. A treasure for them the same way the Holy Bible is a treasure now for God’s Church.
Continuing to read through chapters 22 and 23 we see Josiah’s response as he learns that this book has been found. We also learn about how he responds to it’s reading and the action he takes because of that. I’ve included below a few passages.
“When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest….saying, ‘Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book….”
2 Kings 22:11-12a, 13a
“Because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord…I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.”
2 Kings 22:19a, 20b
In Chapter 23 we see Josiah go on to gather together all of Judah for a reading of the Book of the Law. The rest of the chapter chronicles the actions that are taken as Josiah leads out in responding to the Word of the Lord and has all of the idols, and all of those who lead in the worship of them, removed. There is a significant reform that takes place.
Josiah had encountered the true Lord and God. He had heard his word. Once this happened it was impossible for him to not respond. In fact, it brought about complete and total change. He now knew there was a better way and taking the time to learn this brought about a more full way of living.
When that college bowling class began my goal was to get to the bowling – right away! Realistically, it was probably less than half the length of a semester we had to wait to truly bowl. Yet, the way I remember it was most of the time we spent learning instead of actually doing. Not nearly as much fun as how I imagined the PE class to be when I’d registered. The reality was that I had so very much that I needed to learn in order to most effectively practice the skill. And that learning, when put into practice, is undoubtedly what had enabled me to achieve a decently admirable score all those years ago. Practice makes perfect, right? Discipline in something usually leads us to a positive progression.
If we have learned and accepted what it is to genuinely know God the next step is to be women who faithfully walk with him. Faithfulness alludes to a commitment. Walking, in general, is usually thought of as forward movement.
A true encounter with the risen Christ will lead to nothing less than a total transformation of our lives.
Our desire and determination will be focused on continuing to learn about and obey the one true God. Saved by faith and given the chance to know him is our greatest privilege. Not by works, or in other words, not done to save ourselves, our hearts will shift more and more with a longing to honor the One who has.
But how do we know what honors Him? Well, the same that King Josiah did.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
The Word of the Lord, the Scriptures, the Holy Bible, whatever you may call it, is a powerful tool and beautiful gift given to us to allow us to faithfully walk with God for a lifetime. Within it’s 66 books we see a glorious picture of the character and beauty of the true King. Throughout it’s pages we have a chance to fall more and more in love with Him. The study of our Bibles will allow us to know God, learn of his commands and understand how his ways really are the best – leading us to a transformed and better life.
This won’t come easy. That bowling class was fun but it still required effort. The fruit of it was cool but not lasting without more practice and study. The same will be true of our spiritual walks if we don’t immerse ourselves in his Word and then choose to act upon it.
I still love bowling. And competitive me really loves when those limited things I learned pay off and allow me to beat my husband at a game. But, even a 300 score would never offer lasting joy or fulfilling peace. To faithfully walk with God won’t secure our salvation – Christ has already done that. A commitment, however, to love the Word and respond as Josiah did will result in significant and obvious conversion of our lifestyles and our priorities. Idols and chains will fall. Our thoughts, our actions, our lives will bring due praise and glory to our King. And we will be confident that we lack no good thing.
My sweet friends, let’s embrace what it means to faithfully walk with God. Won’t you study God’s Word, seek to understand his commands and choose to follow Him in every area of our life? The transformation that comes will be life changing – necessary and promising forward movement. And what could be better than that?
It’s almost Christmas and I love gifts! Stay tuned for the details about one more giveaway, coming next week, as we look to close out the year!
Ashley M Spivey 