Bond...

I was reading in the book of Judges and came across an important key to our lives, so I wanted to encourage you all with this treasure. 

A warning comes to the people: 

Judges 2:1-4 The angel of the Lord went up to Gilgal and Bokim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their alters. ‘Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.” When the angel of the Lord had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people wept aloud, and they called that place Bokim. There they offered sacrifices to the Lord.   

But it wasn’t long before they were at it again disobeying God and running toward evil. Later they get straightened out and return to the Lord, phew! 

Judges 2:18 & 19 Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. But when the judge died, the people returned to the ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshipping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. 

You see it is important to establish and have our own bond with the Lord, following others in their walk with God is not enough, we need our own personal deep connection with God so we don’t fall away. A connection following others is not enough. We need a strong relationship with God so we are not easily influenced. As you read in Judges the people we swept away easily when the one they were following was no more when the Judge died so did, they, by easily perusing evil, when the judge stood, they followed in the right ways, so I feel deep and heartfelt about each and every one of your relationships with the Lord. When we build a strong deep bond with God we are not easily swayed away into desires of the world or wrong motives or evil ways when we are established in God we prevail and when we aren’t we fail, we may struggle in both ways but I'd rather struggle in finding the right way out with the Lord than struggling without Him and find myself near death. All things with God lead to life and all things without Him lead to death we cannot enter the gates of heaven with our  belief in the Lord this is why Jesus is so important and as we have studied the Old Testament today we are that much more appreciative of our relationship we are building with not only God but His Son and Holy Spirit as the three in one give us the ability today to power through life and always come out right side up on the other side. Please establish a bond a deep connected relationship with our Lord, trust me you’ll never regret it but you will if you don’t. 

Heavenly Father, I am grateful for You and the foundation You have set up before us, I am thankful for the relation in Judges that helps us walk today knowing what the Israelites did before our time and the example they set for us to learn the warnings and the proper ways to live with You know. I pray we can all establish a deep meaningful bond with You in an unfaltering relationship. I thank You for building up those who are strong in Your Word and are great leaders to advance Your Kingdom, those helping us all to learn more and understand Biblical teachings. I pray that even though we have great teachers and leaders that we always look to You for Holy Spirit wisdom and Heavens out pouring to establish each one of us in a personal way because we are not always going to have teachers and leaders with us at all times so it is best we each are influenced by You and learn from You in our own intimate way for the ultimate bond with us and You is the best way to live life and life it to the fullest without You we are lost, broken, dead into sin, with You we are alive, strong, brave, and fulfilled by every gift You desire us to have, thank You! Plead the Precious Blood of Jesus over every one established in You, protect each one and our relationship with You God and I pray we keep going deeper and deeper with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.