A 5-year-old boy recognized himself on a TV show about missing children. He had thought he was where he was supposed to be. But when he saw himself on television, he realized that he was separated from the one to whom he rightfully belonged. He told his babysitter, who then called the authorities. Before long, he was in the arms of his mother.

This reminded me of King Josiah. He had assumed that he and his nation were spiritually where they were supposed to be. But when the long-lost Law of God was read, the king realized that he and his people had been disobedient to God and were separated from Him. Josiah tore his clothes (signifying his own repentance) and made a public covenant "to follow the Lord and to keep His commandments" (2 Kings 23:3). As a result, the nation repented and returned to the God to whom they belonged.

It's easy to assume that everything is all right spiritually and that we are where we ought to be, when in fact we have sin in our lives. That's why we must read the Bible and study it as God's personal message to us. He gave it to us so that we could see ourselves reflected in it, recognize our sin, and confess, "Hey, that's me!" Then as we repent, we can be "reunited" with Him.  — Mart De Haan