Scripture Text: Judges 2:11-15
And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger. They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.
Judges 2:11-13
In our passage, immediately we can clearly see the unfaithfulness of Israel's new generation to God (after Joshua's generation). They totally abandoned the Lord and gave their hearts to human-created gods. In times of troubles or wars, those gods or idols were helpless and useless to protect or even save God's people. They embraced the curse instead of God's blessing. They totally embraced the dark side of their lives and denied the holiness of God.
God wanted His people (Israelites) to be a proper kingdom people. However, they ignored and rejected the good plans of God for them. They followed their evil ways and desires instead of following God's perspective.
In Mark 8:31, Jesus taught His disciples that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the Jewish elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Remember, when the Lord Jesus was brought to Pilate, the Jews rejected Him and they requested from Pilate to release a murderer instead of Jesus.
Is there any possibility that Christians would also abandon Jesus Christ?
As Gentile Christian believers-followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, who are we to abandon the Holy God? I'm pretty sure that Jesus would not allow this to happen because He already owns us. He redeemed us by His precious blood.
Therefore, as redeemed people, chosen and citizen of His kingdom, all we have to do is to fulfill our covenant with our Lord Jesus and be faithful to Him. That's why we need to oblige to obey, worship, serve the Lord forever. We need to teach and prepare also our children for this matter so that the Lord's blessings will continue up to the last of our generation until Jesus comes!
Reflect
1. Are you aware that abandoning God leads you to eternal destruction?
2. Are you aware that without God, you will suffer terrible distress and you will not win any battle in your life?
Remember
God loves His kingdom people and He will continue to protect them until they receive the eternal inheritance in heaven. Who are these people? They are the ones who do the will of God and who are faithful to Jesus Christ.
Read
Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 28:16
1 Peter 2:1-11
Romans 11:1-36
Pray
Dear God, please do not allow Your people (believers-followers of Jesus Christ) to abandon God, to commit sins against Your Holiness to avoid eternal destruction. Protect us, Your people, from being swayed and tempted by the pleasures of this world.
Please Father, drag us to holiness, to find pleasure only in being faithful to You, obeying You regardless of our circumstances. I beg You Father, to never allow us to look back and find delight in the pleasures of this world, but purely from making You pleased by aiming to do only what is of the Spirit. All these things I pray in Jesus name. AMEN!
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