Fabricating Our Own Spirituality

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Verse: Judges 21:25 "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes."

This chapter records a series of events that unfolded in the absence of a king, where people behaved as they wished, leading to devastating consequences. The Israelites, in their rebellion against God's authority, resorted to violence and bloodshed, all while invoking God's name. This anarchic society fabricated their own rules and justified their actions by adding God's name to their misdeeds.

As we reflect on this chapter, we are reminded that creating our own spiritual system, without adhering to the truth of God, can lead to dire consequences. We see a similar pattern in our own lives, where we often try to create our own spiritual systems, disregarding God's truth. We may add God's name to our actions, but deep down, we know that our ways are not aligned with His.

We may even justify our actions by saying that we are doing it for God, but in reality, we are only serving our own interests. The consequences of such actions are dire. Bloodshed, violence, and chaos can never bring about true peace and harmony. A faith that distorts love and peace can never promise anything meaningful. Commonsense tells us that violence and bloodshed can never be the answer.

As we reflect on this chapter, let us remember that our relationship with God is not about creating our own spiritual systems or justifying our actions by adding God's name. Rather, it is about living a life that reflects God's love and peace - values that can be grasped by commonsense. When our actions are guided by love and peace, we can be confident that we are living a life that is pleasing to Him.

Prayer:

Dear God, forgive us for trying to create our own spiritual systems and justifying our actions by adding Your name. Help us to live a life that reflects Your love and peace, and may our actions be guided by these values. May we never resort to violence and bloodshed, but instead, may we be instruments of Your peace and love. Amen

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