So Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help.
Judges 6:6 NLT
That's the cost of exalting oneself. When we exalt ourselves, God has a way of making us humble. Learning and walking humbly before God is a way of life.
All to often, we point our finger at the ancient Israelites as their continual disobedience brought about what is known... as "the cycle of the judges".
1. Israel would be at peace with their needs provided for.
2. They would drift away from God and His commands and begin to worship other gods.
3. They would fall under God's judgement at the hands of their enemies.
4. They would gather at an altar, repent and turn back to God.
5. Then God would raise up a leader to deliver them.
Repeat! Repeat! Repeat!
If we actually think about it, don't we do the same thing?
1. We walk humbly before God and in the power of His Spirit.
2. We become lax in our devotions, in prayer, in church attendance - following and making gods out of the TV, entertainment figures, sport heroes, hobbies and our family.
3. We fall under the results of our sin - those destructive habits and beliefs that following the other gods mentioned above produce.
4. We hear a sermon that speaks to us and we repent at an altar.
5. God welcomes us back and forgives through the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ.
It's the same cycle. But, don't we get tired of it? Some of us may even be getting dizzy! Christ desires an intimate relationship with each of us. Pride and selfishness starve that relationship. Learning and walking humbly before God feeds it.
Are you selfishly starving or humbly feeding the source that will enable you to really live?
All to often, we point our finger at the ancient Israelites as their continual disobedience brought about what is known... as "the cycle of the judges".
1. Israel would be at peace with their needs provided for.
2. They would drift away from God and His commands and begin to worship other gods.
3. They would fall under God's judgement at the hands of their enemies.
4. They would gather at an altar, repent and turn back to God.
5. Then God would raise up a leader to deliver them.
Repeat! Repeat! Repeat!
If we actually think about it, don't we do the same thing?
1. We walk humbly before God and in the power of His Spirit.
2. We become lax in our devotions, in prayer, in church attendance - following and making gods out of the TV, entertainment figures, sport heroes, hobbies and our family.
3. We fall under the results of our sin - those destructive habits and beliefs that following the other gods mentioned above produce.
4. We hear a sermon that speaks to us and we repent at an altar.
5. God welcomes us back and forgives through the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ.
It's the same cycle. But, don't we get tired of it? Some of us may even be getting dizzy! Christ desires an intimate relationship with each of us. Pride and selfishness starve that relationship. Learning and walking humbly before God feeds it.
Are you selfishly starving or humbly feeding the source that will enable you to really live?
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