Daily Accountability
Thoughts from the Book of Judges
Some thoughts as we read through the book of Judges:
The pattern for the book of Judges begins early by telling us what it looks like to ignore God and then to acknowledge Him again. Each time God and His law is ignored the people are overtaken and oppressed with slavery to other nations. They are personally defeated spiritually, as they begin to worship the gods of their enemies and captors. Eventually there arises a leader who is willing to take on the enemies and listen to God again. This brings about a period of "peace" with God.
There are a few things that will help us as we notice this:
1. God is serious about keeping His part of a "covenant".
2. God is always there looking for and waiting for His children to "return".
3. When we obey God and cherish the covenant relationship we have with Him... then He will provide "peace".
4. God doesn't fight our battles for us but when we "arise" and acknowledge God's instruction... there is victory.
A covenant is a two-sided promise. We know what God has promised us through Christ but what about our side? Are we keeping our side of the covenant to become a new creature and separate ourselves from the world? Or are we mingling with the world among the enemies of Christ and do we worship their gods? 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
When we do mingle with the enemies of God and worship their gods then we pay the consequence of separation from Him and the blessings in Christ. But..... He is watching for us to "come to ourselves" and return to Him and then He will celebrate with us, Luke 15:17-20.
Submission and obedience to God brings consequences too... but wonderful ones. He comes near to us with a "peace" that is indescribable! Philippians 4:4-7
We must ARISE!!! Recognize we are in a battle for our lives every day. If we are serious about our part of the covenant relationship we have with God through Christ, then we have to drive out those enemies from our lives. Those enemies include anything that keeps us from growing and maturing into the fullness of the image of Christ who is the model of what God wants His people to be. Ephesians 5:6-21
A soldier of Christ will not give up on the battlefield. A soldier of Christ will not go to sleep while on duty in battle. A good soldier of Christ will not be contentious with fellow soldiers or their leaders but have their backs and protect them as much as possible. Hebrews 13:17 & Romans 15:30-33
If Christ were to call you in for an interview to assess your skills and mindset as a "soldier" in his army.... how would that go today???
