Here’s one of my life’s greatest rewards: baptising my foster son Nelson.

Scripture
Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to provoke him to anger. 2 Kings 23:25-26

Observation
In the days before Lowes and Home Depot, Steve Jones Landscape and Hardware was the biggest outfit in our town. Every house and lawn in the sprawling subdivision came out of his sheds. Year by year his fleet of trucks grew. Steve himself was often seen at the big hardware operation with his dog keeping an eye on things. One day the mutt went missing. I say mutt, because it was hard to tell just neighborhood of breeds the dog came from. He looked a bit like a dog pound on spin cycle. I was out for my morning jaunt when I saw the poster on the phone poles There was the doggy’s face with promise of a reward if found. Then low and behold I found the dog.

Now for this story to make sense, you have to understand that times were tough at our house. Money was especially tight. So the thought of a reward brightened my day. We gave the lost dog the best we could find. I was out of the house when Steve Jones came by to pick up his pooch. When I got home I tried to act nonchalant with my wife while talking over Steve’s visit. My heart sank when she added, “He offered money, but I said to forget about a reward!”

Serving without reward tests the motives of the heart. That’s just what happened to King Josiah. No king in all of Israel ‘s history had turned to the Lord more thoroughly than he. But God still did not change his mind. The Egyptians and the Babylonians were not called off. God kept with his plan to judge the people because they were too far gone.

But what is amazing about King Josiah, though God did not change his mind, the reforming king did not change his. He kept serving God even though there was no reward in it for him. That’s discipleship.

Application
How much of my obedience hinges on the prospect of God fulfilling his promises? Probably more than I’d like to think. What would happen if before taking a step of obedience I asked myself, “Would I do this simply for the sake of love?” That would certainly deepen my journey.

Prayer
Father, today I offer up my life to you simply for the sake of love. There are rewards I ask for. Heaven is the ultimate and I’d like to see the kingdom come along the way there. But still if you need me to serve you simply because that’s the right thing to do, I’m yours. Amen.