TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

Please read Judges 6:1-14

Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord gave them into the hands of Midian seven years.

Judges 6:1

DEVOTIONAL

by Sandra Chua

Sigh… That was my first reaction to the first verse of the passage. Israel had fallen into idol worship… again. It was not the first time. If you read Judges 1-5, it looks like a commercial pocket book series with a pre-cut cookie mold plot: Israel sins, Israel cries out, and God delivers.

Have you ever written a New Year’s resolution at year-end, hopeful for the renewed coming year? I’m going to exercise regularly. I will eat more healthy food. I will have my quiet time every day. I will use my time more efficiently. I will be more organized. I will control my temper. Then, find yourself setting and resetting the calendar “when” you would start the resolution again, on a clean slate.

It is easy to condemn the Israelites. Why do they keep turning away from God? Have they not learned their lessons yet? But think for a moment: are there things we struggle with every so often? We may not have physical idols to which we bow down and make offerings. These are things that we keep promising ourselves that we will do better tomorrow. Have you promised to read your Bible more regularly? Set a prayer time before doing anything else in the morning. Have you struggled to concentrate on the message during worship service? Is there someone you need to forgive over and over again in your heart? Is there a habit that, like a weed, keeps growing back, something that needs constant pulling out?

We are fallen creatures, and it’s so easy for us to fall back into what comes naturally to us, even with our new nature. We are a work in progress, and daily, we struggle to be more and more like Christ. Thanks be to God, who is ready to hear us cry out for help and forgiveness every time we go to Him In prayer.

 

PRAYER