Re: Think 09-27-09

Written on September 28, 2009 by Matt

This is our Sunday Re: Think, an opportunity for us to continue to think on the events of last Sunday.Continuing our journey through the Old Testament, we stopped over in the book of Judges yesterday.  While there are several truths to be gleaned from Judges, including but not limited to; what happens when there is a leadership void, the need for right thinking about God, and creative ways to use a tent stake, we zeroed in on what happens when we say NO to God.

If there is anything we learn from Judges, one thing that is clear is that when we live a lifestyle of saying NO to God, disastrous consequences result.  First and foremost, when we say NO to God, we end up doing what is right in our own eyes.  One overarching theme in Judges is best summarized by the last verse in the book, “In those days there was no king in Israel, everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” Our desire is always to wrestle control from God and do things are own way, and when this occurs we end up doing things horrifically wrong! Instead of obeying God, conquering their enemies and destroying the idols in the land, the people of Israel inner married and took the false gods of the people for their own.

When we say NO to God and do what is right in our own eyes, we incur God’s righteous judgment.  Often we need to be reminded that God is not playing around when it comes to sin.  He doesn’t find it cute, treat it as no big deal or realize, or look the other way.  Rather, He justly punishes for sin.

If God did not punish, He wouldn’t be Holy, Righteous or Just, not to mention Mighty to Save!  Far from being unloving, this is the most loving thing God can do, for in His Righteousness and Justice, God sent Christ to bear our sin and the sin of the world as the one and only perfect Sacrifice, so that we may have new life in a relationship with Him!

Part of the beauty of Judges is that even though we say NO to God, He still saves, and save to the fullest.  While all of the deliverers God raises up in Judges are able to save momentarily and provide peace, inevitably their ministry is flawed, temporary and passing.  Conversely, in Christ we have a Judge who saves perfectly, eternally, and forever!

In what ways do we often say NO to God?  How can we begin to say YES more?

Posted in Beliefs, Re: Think