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Today is Monday March 23, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of Judges. Please read chapters 3-5 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read them online. If the link does not work you can copy and paste this one into your browser: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%203-5&version=9

Today's Message: Destruction By Compromise
It may be easier to compromise with the world, but such actions only serve to withhold the blessings of God in our lives and bring about our eventual destruction.

We continue to learn from the Israelites the dangers of compromising with the world and the destruction that occurs by doing so. Although Joshua had executed all of the Canaanite kings, some of the people still occupied the promised land. "Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof; Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath. And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves." (Judges 3:1-7).

The major mistake in the downfall of the Israelites was their disregard for following God's commandments. "And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments........" (Exodus 20:1-6). Had they followed God's commandments they would have never made an alliance with the Canaanites which led them to dwell with them, interact with them, and intermarry with them. This could only prove disastrous as the Israelites fell away from God completely and into the control of an enemy nation.

The outcome was certain because sin separates the sinner from the protective love of God. Several times we read about the Israelites falling away from God, living in sin for years, then crying out to Him. "Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim (Chu-shan-rish-a-tha-im) king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years. And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died." (Judges 3:8-11). Failing to learn from their sinful past, the Israelites continued the same cycle of sin, repentance, and deliverance for about 450 years.

When we continue to live in sin, knowing well that we are doing wrong we too are put to side so to speak until we come to God and cry out to Him. We learn from Israel's history that, regardless of how far we have back slidden into sin, our merciful God in heaven always hears the prayers of those who confess their sins and commit their lives to Him. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9). Often we are so taken up with condemning ourselves and others that, when we fall short of being what we know is right, we forget that God does love us and forgives us no matter what we have done. So don't give up. We need to recognize that God loves to forgive. "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22).

Although God is a forgivable God do not make the mistake of thinking that it is okay to continue to sin. God will not be mocked, "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:6-10).

Today's Psalm: 97:10-12
"Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Jesus,
I will never fully comprehend the depth of Your sacrificial death where we see man at his worst and God at His best. In my place You took my guilt and shame as You became the guilt offering pouring out Your life unto death and taking on my iniquity. You gave all so that I could be forgiven. Though my sins were as scarlet they were washed white as snow, cleansed by the saving blood of the sinless Lamb. You turned my hopeless condition into a life full of hope for this life and glorious anticipation for eternal life beyond the grave. Nothing in all of history will ever compare to the Divine Exchange where my sins were exchanged for Your pardon. I walk in newness of life and in the power of You. In Your Mighty Name, Jesus........Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed night/day and week.
God Bless You,
Christina

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