“When Every Man Does His Own Thing”
March 2, 2012
This quaint spring house is on Musser Road, about 1/2 mile east of our home, a relatively straight walk through now dormant farm fields.
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“When Every Man Does His Own Thing“
Earlier this week we shared a message titled “Rebuilding The Ancient Ruins”, which was a call to being a faithful remnant in these increasingly evil days. I alluded to a recent poll that showed 74% of Americans believe our nation is in moral decline but only 36% believe we should live by God’s principles of right and wrong.
“74% of Americans believe our nation is in moral decline” Although I suppose it’s heartening that a clear majority still acknowledge the moral decline it’s astounding that over 25% don’t! But the extremely revealing fact that grieves my spirit, in understanding the current state of affairs, is that “only 36% believe we should live by God’s principles of right and wrong.”
That really got me thinking and the daily verse came to mind. A sense of interpreting the survey result is that a majority realize the consequences of people doing their own thing (“moral decline”), but only a minority acknowledge the need for God’s standards (to live by God’s principles of right and wrong.”)
Where is our culture heading? When will the Judge of the universe act in a dramatic way to judge evil as He has done so all throughout history? These are questions I have today particularly as I consider the moral apostasy evident throughout the world.
The Book of Judges ends with the summary statement that describes the moral climate of Israel as expressed in the daily text. The early part of the verse describes the period as a time when “there was no king in Israel.”
As later history proved, this in itself was not necessarily significant. Even when the nation had kings there were periods when the people earnestly followed and obeyed God. But there were also periods of spiritual decline and apostasy. However if we understand “king” in the sense of “moral authority” this portion has enduring meaning.
The latter part of the verse really sums up the period: “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” The NIV phrases it, “everyone did as he saw fit.” The period of the Judges was one of the most barbaric times in history. Some are troubled at the events recorded and even wonder why they are mentioned in the Bible, but they merely document the sordid history of the period and the consequences of living without regard to God. Details were very possibly worse than recorded in Scripture due to the sensitivities of the writer.
Is it that much different than our day? Stories of barbarism are far too common in our own time. Listen to the news any given day and the increase in lawlessness is evidenced all around us. Surely the phrase, “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” describes our times as well.
Fellow believer, let us who follow the Lord heed the words of Scripture through Moses: “Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 12:28). Today, let’s strive to do what’s good and right in the eyes of the Lord!
Let us live under the realization that “the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). Let us commit our hearts fully to Him this day and receive His strength and blessing as we live in these very challenging times.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we read throughout the period of the Judges that the people of Israel endured great heartache and spiritual defeat because each one became his own authority and acted on his own opinions of what was right and wrong. They did not look to You as the final authority; they disregarded Your holy laws and chose to do that which was right in their own eyes. We see this prevailing attitude in our own day. But as believers we acknowledge that our judgment is flawed and our motives are selfish when we do not submit our will to a holy God who knows what is best for His children. We want to obey Your laws and surrender our will as we seek to do what is good and right in Your eyes. This will result in our hearts being strengthened and our lives being blessed as we walk in the ways of Christ in whose name we pray. Amen.
Can anyone tell me what this says?“Draw Me” Video Keith Green
An Example Of “dogged” Persistence: Ester made a YouTube video of Mollie’s astounding agility and jumping ability. She was jumping to reach one of her rope toys we had on a tree branch stub some six feet off the ground! She gets it and is immediately ready to do it again! In fact Brooksyne went out today and there she was under the tree, rope in her mouth looking up waiting for Brooksyne to dangle it on the edge of the limb.
I received word this week that Edward Menaldino, who had a brief but significant impact on my life, went to be with the Lord at 86. The story of his impact was shared in this message.
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