JUDGES

Today is Sunday!  I'm so looking forward to the day and preaching God's Word.  I'm looking forward to getting with God's people as well.  Sunday is always a special day and I'm always glad to see it show up.  Praise the LORD!  I'm reading in Judges, and here are a few tidbits to share with you: 1) PRONOUNCE IT RIGHT- (Judges 12:5,6) When the men of Gilead were battling their brethren in Ephraim, it was hard to tell one from another.  They both came out of the tribe of Ephraim, but a conflict had separated them.  The Ephraimites had attacked the men of Gilead, and the men of Gilead prevailed.  Now they are going after the Ephraimites, but they are not sure who is who.  So they ask them:  "Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay; Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth:  and he said Sibboleth:  for he could not frame to pronounce it right."  It was the subtle difference between properly pronouncing a name.  When people outside of our state say Ore gon, we know they don't live in the state.  If they say:  Ore gun, then we know they have said it right!  So is the case with many states and cities, those who live there know how to properly pronounce it.  Can you properly pronounce and distinguish the difference in these:  I have been born again.  I am saved.  I have been baptized.  I follow Christ.  To say them and to live them are two different things.  Let us be doing both! 2) GOOD QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS TO ASK- In Judges 13, we see that an angel told Manoah's wife that she would have a son.  A special son, Samson.  In verse 8 he asks: "and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born."  and again in verse 12, "How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?"  He wanted to know how to raise the child for the LORD.  Wouldn't that be wonderful if every parent asked the LORD the same question?  It sure would be!  Raise your children for the LORD and do it His way. 3) NO KING- In Judges 17:6, it says:  "In those days thee was no king in Israel, but every man did that which way right in his own eyes."  This phrase "no king in Israel" is mentioned four times in Judges!  Without proper leadership.... everyone goes amuck!  The phrase "but every man did that which was right in his own eyes", is mentioned twice in Judges.  Again when we do what is right in our own eyes, we will most definitely be doing the wrong things!  We justify our actions if there is no leader to guide us.  In Ephesians 4, God gave gifts to men (to the church), and one of these gifts was the gift of "Pastor and Teacher".  This is the same office!  The Pastor who teaches.  Follow his leadership and you can do that which is right in God's eyes, not man's eyes.  Let Christ be our KING, and let us follow the pastor He gives us. Well, there are many more I could share, but I'm excited about getting to Church early enough to greet people to God's house!  Have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler