– Scripture:

              Fighting for Your Blessings

A time came after the death of Joshua when the People of Israel asked God, “Who will take the lead in going up against the Canaanites to fight them?” And God said, “Judah will go. I’ve given the land to him.” The men of Judah said to those of their brother Simeon, “Go up with us to our territory, and we’ll fight the Canaanites. Then we’ll go with you to your territory.” And Simeon went with them. So Judah went up. God gave them the Canaanites and the Perizzites. They defeated them at Bezek’s ten military units! They caught up with My-Master-Bezek there and fought him. They smashed the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My-Master-Bezek ran, but they gave chase and caught him. They cut off his thumbs and big toes. My Master Bezek said, “Seventy kings with thumbs and big toes cut off used to crawl under my table, scavenging. Now God has done to me what I did to them.” They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there. The people of Judah attacked and captured Jerusalem, subduing the city with a sword and then sending it up in flames. After that, they fought the Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev, and the foothills. Judah had gone on to the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba) and brought Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai to their knees.

                          Judges 1:1–10 MSG

Key Verse – The people of Judah attacked and captured Jerusalem, subduing the city with a sword and then sending it up in flames.

 – Reflection:

God blessed Israel, the people of his choice, with a promised land. They wandered around in the desert for 40 years, so close to what would soon be theirs. Once, they were told where to go and who was on the land they had been given. The people occupying the land were living Godless lives and without any care for other’s lives, only pleasure and idol worship. To take this land was going to be bloody, but that was the way it had to come to them. The people who were on the land had to go and all the reminders of them as well. 

Where do we go from here?

To get what GOD has for you, you will have to fight for it. Nothing is going to be easy; Christians all over the world know this and choose just as we have to be a follower of Christ. We all will have to make decisions that are uncomfortable but align with the path that GOD has placed on. Even though the choices are hard and the road tough, it was placed in us that this is our lot to carry to the finish line, No Matter What !!

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank you for the abilities you have placed in us all; may we all use them to bring Glory to your name. Give us the strength and sticktoitiveness to complete the missions that are impressed on hearts. Moving through life with a song in our hearts, doing the work we are supposed to do. It is with great honor that we can say, in Jesus’ name, Amen.