And So It Begins

Major issues of life:

domestic abuse, terrorism, war upon war, child abuse, moral decline, the collapse of society, how to treat those who believe differently, abuse of power, lack of leaders, a relative concept of truth, practical over principle. Oh you thought I was talking about 2021, didn’t you? I’m not sorry.

Ecclesiastes 1:9–10 NIV

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.

Change is hard.

This is true of everyone, myself included. Some of us are more acceptable of change than others but it is rarely easy. If it were easy everyone would be doing it. Yet, many individuals and even churches do not make changes even when it becomes overwhelming necessary. As we enter into post-covid phase of life we must be careful of the pull to go back to “as if nothing ever happened”. This is comforting but in so doing we may miss what God is asking of us next.

Life is full of small choices.

The “big choices” of life someitmes may seem easier. This is because we are actively seeking out the wisdom of others, of God himself, and spending more time in prayer. However life, is about the small choices. No I am not asking to become paralyzed by possibly messing up with the small choices but we must remember,

Small choices add up.

Just like pennies turn into dollars so it is true of the choices we make.

God wants His people to obey His word!

The book of Judges, like our lives, start with small choices that are not in obedience to God’s Word.

Seek the spiritual blessings.

This is the story, to some extent we find in these chapters of Caleb’s daughter Aksah.

Respond to God’s correction.

The story of the beginning of chapter 2 is a good reminder for us. The grace of God provides us with opportunities to be corrected and times of repentance.

Spiritual information does not equal spiritual formation.

One may not know much information but be more like Jesus than those of us who know much much more. I think of the children coming to Jesus, I think of Timothy, I think of new believers.

Who will rise up?

The challenge o