Today’s reading: Judg 2:11–3:31, Phil 1:12–18, Ps 63:1–64:10

Today’s theme: The Gospel is central

Today we learn that the Gospel and our faith devotion to God should be the center of our lives in the same way the sun is central and affective to all that surrounds it.

Judges 2:11–3:31

Do not whore away from God

Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the LORD, and they did not do so. Judges 2:17 (ESV)

The children of Israel went from small compromises and a lack of faith to full blown apostasy. They abandoned the Lord and served Baal (idol of the surrounding people). This unfaithfulness is described as whoring because they were in a love based, covenant relationship with God, like a husband and wife in marriage.

What spurred this unfaithfulness and break of allegiance?

Baal was primarily a storm god, which led to his worship as a fertility god. Fertility cults had concerns with acquiring prosperity for the worshiper in terms of family, flocks, herds and crops.

Today we face this same idol in the form of the prosperity “Health and Wealth” gospel which is spreading like wildfire across the globe, exalting materialism, greed and covetousness.

We must guard against the allure of this false teaching and hold steadfastly to our husband (Jesus), knowing the tempting call of material wealth is a false hope and trap for the unfaithful heart. See Luke 12:15, and Hebrews 13:5.

Be faithful to God

But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. Judges 3:9 (ESV)

Boldness and faithfulness to God seem to run in Caleb’s family.

Philippians 1:12–18

The Gospel is central

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. Philippians 1:12–13 (ESV)

Because of Paul’s lifelong desire to see the gospel proclaimed, his mind and life was ordered so that every circumstance he found himself in would lead to the advance of the Gospel…. even prison.

If this is the central vocation of our lives, no matter what happens to us in life it will revolve around the proclamation of the gospel.

The gospel should be the big object our lives revolve around. It should have the same, strong pull of gravity that the sun exercises over the earth. In this context it should affect everything in our lives and be the centre of our lives. It should affect everything and every situation (like the sun’s affect and importance to the earth).

The proclamation of the Gospel should be central and our consuming passion. In that way it’s message will affect everything in both word and action.

Psalm 63:1–64:10

Jesus satisfies

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, Psalm 63:5 (ESV)

True satisfaction comes from the Lord alone, He provides living water to the thirsty. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him (not materialism). See Ephesians 5:5 and Colossians 3:5.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Philippians 1