“Better to Obey”
“It came
about when Israel became strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor,
but they did not drive them out completely.” (v.28)
Chapter
1 is the story of the seven tribes of Israel that did not completely possess
their “promised land”. God said to drive out these Canaanites, for their cup of
sin was full. Instead of destroying them or driving them out as God had
commanded, the Israelites (in many areas) allowed them to live in their midst,
exposing themselves to their sinful practices.
Just
like Israel, there are things that God has told us to get rid of in our lives
as well. And there is no need for us to protest that we cannot, because Christ
died and rose again to make it possible for us to do so.
Therefore,
through the power of His Holy Spirit, we can overcome in the battle of
spiritual warfare and be victors through Christ if we obey His Word. Better to
obey, than to suffer the consequences of sin.
The
Truth
“Do you not
know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading
to death, or of obedience leading
to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16)
