Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Tuesday March 31, 2009 and we are completing our studies on the book of Judges. Please read chapters 20-21 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read them online. If the link does not work you can copy and paste this link into your browser: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%2020-21&version=9

Today's Message: Repentance & Forgiveness
Sin always becomes progressively worse, lust eventually becomes action and its wages lead to death. The only cure is repentance and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

The Book of Judges closes with illustrations of the moral and spiritual corruption that existed at that time. The loyalty to the Lord that prevailed in Joshua's day was followed by lawlessness, immorality, and finally apostasy. Perverted spiritual and moral standards always exist when the Word of God is ignored and everyone does what they think is right rather than what is right in the eyes of God.

When the Word of God is ignored, people follow their own self will and soon turn to the immoral conduct of their sin nature. Conscience is only a true guide when it is guided by His Word. The tribe of Benjamin refused to allow justice to be done to the homosexual mob that gang raped a defenseless Israelite woman causing her death. So the rest of the tribes sought revenge. "Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh. And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword. (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness? And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge. And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead." (Judges 20:1-5).

After two defeats, in deep humility, the Israelites committed themselves to the Lord, "Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD." (20:26). It was only after they had built an altar and offered the required sacrifices for their own sins that God said He would be with them and the tribe of Benjamin was almost destroyed before the consequences of this wicked sin had been meted out. "And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour." (20:44).

There is growing indifference to immorality in our society that is similar to what existed in the tribe of Benjamin. We have redefined sin, adultery has be referred to as having an affair, homosexuality is referred to as an alternative lifestyle, and fornication is known as living together. The purpose of these word changes is to remove the sense of guilt for violating God's moral Law and to make the sinner feel more comfortable with themselves as they did when the Israelites did the same thing. "And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance. In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." (21:24-25).

The truth is that these acts are in fact sin and all sin is abominable to our holy God. However, all sin that is truly repented of and forsaken is forgiven through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (I Corinthians 6:9-11).

In the midst of anarchy and unbelief, God always has a faithful remnant who withstand the pressures and pleasures of sin and live to please Him. Everyone lives to please someone whether it be ourselves, other people, or the Lord, but it's the choices that we make that will determine our relationship with God. Therefore it is of great importance that we as Christians stop and think about what we are about to do before we do it. I for one have tasted all the world had to offer, but I was never satisfied, always longing for something to fill the emptiness. It was not until I devoted myself to Jesus that I realized it was Him that I needed and everything else was superficial. Eventually, we all come to that conclusion if we stop doing what we think is right and doing what we know is right, and that is only found in God's Word.

Today's Psalm: 86:4-5
"Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee."

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
We’re grateful for the Scriptures that make us wise unto salvation; for the godly wisdom that plants us in the fertile soil of Christian fruitfulness. When tempted to look to the wisdom of man or expertise based on godless counsel prompt us instead to look to You, our Wonderful Counselor. In Jesus' Name.......Amen.

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

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