2 Chronicles 35:20,21 – “After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates; and Josiah went out against him. But he sent messengers to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; for God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you.””
1 Corinthians 1:17 – “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.”
The Old Testament reading concerns king Josiah who was a godly king. The text shows him picking a fight with Necho king of Egypt. Verse 23 says that the words Necho spoke to Josiah were from the mouth of God. Josiah persisted and went out to battle and was severely wounded by archers, a wound which caused his death. A godly king, a great turnaround in the kingdom, but a stupid decision in the end that cost him his life. Lesson: don’t fight battles you are not meant to fight.
The New Testament reading is pretty straightforward. Paul says, “Christ did not send me to baptize…” Many times we hear about what someone is called to do. What about what someone is not called to do?
I think it’s important to know what battles you’re not supposed to fight and what you are not called to do. It doesn’t mean that these are not noble ministries and battles. Baptism is a New Testament command. But Paul knew he was not in the baptizing ministry. There are people who are passionate about a lot of things, a lot of good things, but they’re not your things. What are you supposed to do? Better yet, what are you not supposed to do.