“Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken…I will gather you to your ancestors and you will be buried in peace” (2 Kings 22:19, 20).

A few years ago, going to church was a challenge for me.  I told myself it wasn’t a faith thing. I had lots of excuses. It was a long drive. I had to get up too early. I was tired from work. I would feel guilty, but I figured God would forgive me.  I was still trying to be a good person doing good things.

Josiah was also a person trying to do good things.  He was trying very hard to live in God’s traditions and had set to work rebuilding the temple.  But his people had turned away from God. They worshiped false idols.  They made sacrifices to false gods.  We learn later that even the efforts and good works of Josiah were not enough.

Then something remarkable happened.  As the people were repairing the temple, they rediscovered the “Book of the Law”.  Maybe it was tucked away in a forgotten room, or perhaps lost behind a wall they had torn down to fix.  When Josiah heard the words from the book, he realized how far the people had moved away from God.  

Josiah’s good works were great acts.  But they weren’t meaningful without his repentance.  The relationship with God had been broken, and Josiah took steps to repair the relationship. From this restored relationship with God, true change would come.  Josiah gathered all the people together, “from the least to the greatest” (23: 1).  He went “all in” with God, declaring to follow the Lord, and “keep his commands, statues, and decrees with all his heart and his soul.” (23: 3).   

I had my own discovery moment when my family attended Chatham Community Church for the first time.  It wasn’t just the music, the warm words of welcome, or even the donuts.  I realized that I had broken my relationship with God.  In that moment, I decided to go “all in”.  Instead of ducking into the back row, I sat up near the front. I sang without fear of judgment. I introduced myself to the pastor afterwards. I was taking the first steps towards restoring my relationship with God.  

Repentance is a wonderful call to change, heal, and renew our relationship with God. What “discovery moment” is God placing in your own life right now? Lean into that moment!