Long but Sweet Years

[S] 2 Chronicles 35:19 --
 ¹⁹In the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign this Passover was celebrated.

[O] Eighteen years is a long time and what's amazing is King Josiah persisted those eighteen years to restore the Passover celebration into the lives of Israelites.  I'm sure it was a battle fought every day to first cleanse out the old idols both physically as well as mentally from the people, and then establish the respect and worship to the God of Heaven.  This un-doing first before establishing a new culture is a process that requires patience and sustained vision because things like this does not happen overnight with some brute forced revolution.  I'm so encouraged to read this short but heavy verse describing how King Josiah's desire to glorify God came through in the end.

[A] I am so encouraged by King Josiah's dedication to re-establish God's Kingdom and His culture despite the long years of hard work.  It appears doing God's ministry in many ways reflect King Josiah's efforts because it will take time (in earth measures) and demands my persistent pursuing of His dreams put into my heart.  I am going to do just that in the small group ministry at my church.

[P] Dear God, may You allow me to be used by You so I may also leave behind such a short but powerful statement of restoring Your culture in the small group ministry as well as in my own family and life.  I realize this won't be a walk in the park, but I am going to dedicate my energy for this purpose.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.