What steps can we take to rediscover God's Word in our lives? The Lost Book Found “Then Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.’ And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.” (2 Chronicles 34:15) Why Rediscovery Matters • God’s Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and equips for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • When the book was lost, Judah drifted; when it was found, revival followed. • The same pattern holds today: neglect brings dryness, rediscovery brings renewal. Step 1: Return to the House of the Lord • Make gathered worship a priority (Hebrews 10:25). • Set apart a space and time in your week that signals, like Josiah’s temple repairs, a fresh commitment to God’s presence. • Invite God to search and cleanse the heart, preparing it to receive His Word (Psalm 139:23-24). Step 2: Open the Book • Keep a physical Bible within reach; tangibility counters distraction. • Follow a plan: read through a Gospel, a Psalm a day, or the whole Bible in a year (Deuteronomy 17:18-19). • Pray “Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law” (Psalm 119:18). Step 3: Read Attentively • Read aloud when possible, as Ezra did so the people understood (Nehemiah 8:8). • Note repeated words, connecting ideas, and direct commands. • Compare Scripture with Scripture: let clearer passages shed light on the harder ones (Acts 17:11). Step 4: Respond with Humble Obedience • When Josiah heard the words, he tore his clothes in repentance (2 Chronicles 34:19). • Make prompt application: – Confess sin revealed (1 John 1:9). – Adjust attitudes and actions (James 1:22). – Meditate day and night to do all that is written (Joshua 1:8). Step 5: Share the Word Together • Read with family or friends; discuss insights, encourage accountability (Colossians 3:16). • Join or start a small group focused on Scripture rather than opinion (Malachi 3:16). • Testimonies of what the Word is changing in you spark faith in others (Revelation 12:11). Step 6: Sustain the Renewal • Memorize key verses; hide them in the heart for daily guidance (Psalm 119:11). • Keep a journal of discoveries, prayers, and fulfilled promises. • Return to the Word in every season: delightful days and difficult ones alike (Psalm 1:2-3; Matthew 4:4). • Expect ongoing blessing: “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written” (Revelation 1:3). A Final Encouragement The same God who preserved His Book through centuries delights to plant it deeply in willing hearts today. Rediscover it, live it, and watch renewal spread just as surely as it did in Josiah’s day. |
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