What your Idols give you.

In Judges Chapter 11, I found a very interesting statement. We all know the story of the mighty warrior Jephithah. How his family sent him away because he was the son of prostitute and didn’t want him to have any of the inheritance. However because his fighting skills he is asked to come and be their commander and lead the armies of Israel against the Ammonites. (That’s a lesson in itself.)  Jephithah agrees and the first thing he does is send of a messenger to Ammonites King wanting to know why they have attacked their country. The king says when the Israelites came out of Egypt that they took away land from the Ammonites and now, (300 hundred years later) he wants it back.  Jephithah send the messenger back the king with a little history lesson about what really happened during Israel’s journey to the promise land, how they were not allowed pass through certain nations, how they had to go around or where attacked.

Then Jephithah says this in Judges 11:21-24 But the LORD, the God of Israel, gave his people victory over King Sihon. So Israel took control of all the land of the Amorites, who lived in that region, from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River, and from the eastern wilderness to the Jordan.  “So you see, it was the LORD, the God of Israel, who took away the land from the Amorites and gave it to Israel. Why, then, should we give it back to you? You keep whatever your god Chemosh gives you, and we will keep whatever the LORD our God gives us.

In others words, Jephithah is saying “Look. Our God whooped up on your god. Your problems are with your god not us.”  The Bible goes on to say that the king ignored the messenger and Israel fought against the Ammonites and was successful.

When we talk today about idol worship let’s face it, there are many things we put in the place of importance instead of God; Time, Money, School, Sports, Jobs, Family. Yes, family is very important. Let me explain it this way. Once I asked my momma when I was little, “Do you love me more than God?” Her reply was “Blan it’s because I love God that I can love you.

 The lesson in Judges Chapter 11 is that nothing is going to able sustain, provide, or help you like Jehovah. NOTHING! So if we start trying to depend on idols then we need to be ready to live with the results, or we can do what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Grace & Peace

Blan

Liver & Onions, Boiled cabbage, and Bible Study

 One of the many reasons I love having grown up in Texas is the food. I have enjoyed the finer taste of elegant Texas cuisines — T-bone steak, Brisket, Fried Chicken, Beans & Cornbread, Banana Pudding, and Iced Tea.   But there are some Texas foods I avoid— Liver & Onions, and Boiled Cabbage, just to name a couple.   I fail to see how these dishes can be appetizing even to Texas taste buds.   While these may be favorites for some, I’ll politely pass.

Luckily a Christian can go to heaven without eating liver & onions, or boiled cabbage.  However, to live and grow as a Christian we must develop a healthy appetite for God’s Word.  Peter instructs us to “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:2-3).

When was the last time that you or I had a craving to reading the Bible?  Do we desire to know God with the same intense hunger we would have when raiding the refrigerator for late night snack?   Our motivation for this desire is because we have “tasted the goodness of the Lord”.  The idea is that God has been so good to us that we crave to know more about Him!   God has instructed each of us to “make every effort, add to your faith...knowledge”(2 Peter 1:5).  We can only add or consume “knowledge” by Bible reading and study. 

God will not “force feed” us.  We must come to the word of God with our own cravings and hunger.  Each week you and I are given opportunities to feast on the milk and meat of the word.   Do you “desire” to participate in worship, and Bible study?  Or have you lost your taste for the bread of life?   Those who avoid Bible reading and study will spiritually starve!    If our faith feels weak, then feeding our faith with the Bible will strengthen it, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”  (Romans 10:17).

The Dinner bell is ringing!  Come and Get it!

Grace & Peace

Blan