Scripture:
Judges 9:22-24 “After Abimelech had ruled over Israel for three years, God stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the people of Shechem, and they revolted. In the events that followed, God punished Abimelech and the men of Shechem for murdering Gideon’s seventy sons.”
Observation:
I think that Christ’s death changed how God addresses injustice – maybe not? In any case – what I can be sure of is that God is just. He will make things right. This particular injustice took three years before the correction began to percolate. Sometimes it seems that when we are wronged (or someone we love) it is soon forgotten by most – even the wrongdoers – and we are left with our scars alone. But God sees everything, He remembers everything, He is the final judge and He will make things right.
Application:
First I need to quickly and humbly recognize and repair when I screw up – or God will do it for me. Second, I need to be patient and trust that God will correct any injustices to me more appropriately than I could. Revenge is not mine to take – I am not the corrector of injustice.
Scripture:
1 Cor. 15:10 The man I am is only by the grace of God; every noble and righteous action is not mine, but is God’s grace working through me. (paraphrased for what I felt like God was speaking to me)
Observation:
Sometimes I feel any testimony I could offer would be dull and unmoving. Though I’ve lived less than a perfect walk with Christ, I have more or less always followed him . I never “hit bottom,” there was not “turning point, there was not an epiphany of need for God. However, I am constantly aware that without God, I would lead a life of self indulgence until it completely destroyed me. When I consider my circumstances – adopted by a genuine pastor, surrounded by mostly Christian friends, married at a young age, and employed by a church – I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has carefully padded my surroundings. Any good I do – any action that does not speak of self indulgence is an incredible testimony to the grace of God.
Prayer:
Thank you Lord for the boundaries in my life.
Scripture:
Judges 2:18-19 “Whenever the Lord placed a judge of Israel, he was with the judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. But when the judge died the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who lived before them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and corrupt ways.” (Edited for content)
Observation:
Leadership matters. The nation of Israel is carefully passed from Moses to Joshua and THEIR passion for God is reflected on the entire nation. But there is no succession laid after Joshua’s death – what happened?! Then God sees we need to be led and raises a leader, things turn around, but leader dies, passion for God dies in the nation, and we return to evil – what gives? (I’m honestly at somewhat of a loss why God didn’t create/provide continuous leadership.)
Application:
In many ways the Holy Spirit has supplanted our need for external leadership – we have access to God’s thoughts through the Spirit as well as scripture: a constant teacher of history and philosophy. But the importance of leadership stands – I need to find and follow leaders who will correct me to God.
Prayer:
Let me not go un lead. (I ran out of room on my page for the day – don’t judge my short prayer)
Scripture:
1 Cor 11:21-32 “If we judge ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.” (NASB)
Observation:
The motivation for my quiet time comes from the desire to allow God a daily intervention in my life. Taking the time to “judge myself” or reflect on my actions and attitudes on a weekly basis would add another opportunity for me to change a course of action or attitude and allow me to forgo the pain of discipline. However – that discipline, when it comes to me, needs to be loved and respected, as well as course-altering; its purpose is to save me from condemnation.
Application:
I need to identify a weekly opportunity to reflect and adjust how I am living. Perhaps adding a section to my daily journal entries about the things on my mind – a log on which I could reflect.
Prayer:
Lord, I need your strength and your will to continue this practice so early in the morning. Please call me and motivate me to get out of bed.
Scripture:
1 Cor 10 :29-31 “It might not be a matter of conscience for me, but it is for the other person. Now, why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it why should I be condemned for eating it? [Because*] Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God.” *(added by me)
Observation:
This whole concept is such a constant struggle for me. My self-righteous temptation is to leave out vs 31 and leave the questions posed as rhetorical justifications to do what I feel is okay. Rather, I need to humbly lay down my “freedom” and consider the good of those around me. Even now, I go back to Paul’s statement in vs. 25 “Don’t ask and your conscience won’t be bothered.” But then he says “If you find it bothers another – don’t do it!”
Application:
The direction given here is so simple and straightforward – sacrifice all for God’s glory. But the practice of releasing freedom … so difficult and complex.
Prayer:
Give me the wisdom to know when, the humility to follow through, and grace for when I fail.
