Be The First (and The Last)

[S] 2 Kings 23:25 --
25  Before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.

[O] King Josiah's restore the Passover and many lost rituals but all those led to restoration of people's hearts toward God.  With so many kings ahead of him he was the first one to turn to God; and none to follow after him.  There is much to be said about swimming upstream against the downward current of the previous kings to stand up for what he believed.  And this pleased God very much.

[A] While I shouldn't try to show off by doing the toughest things for God, I should be aware of the downward current of the society I live in and as God reveals His will for my life I should not be afraid to swim upstream even if I may be the first (and the last) one to do it.  I also hope such a mindset will be what I can pass down to my children.

[P] Dear Father, thank You for blessing me through the life of my Divine Mentor, Josiah.  His life brings quite a refreshing perspective for me to live my own.  I desire to adhere to Your will even if it may be an unpopular path of this world.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.