Thurs., 7/28/16 Devotion (Judg. 11:24)

Today's encouragement comes from Judges 11:24, where we read these words:

"Will you not possess whatever Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whatever the LORD our God takes possession of before us, we will possess."

These are the words of Jephthah (above), as he communicated to the king of Ammon. What he is basically saying is this: "Hey, if you want to worship your false god—go ahead and do so—and receive from it whatever it can deliver to you. But let us play fair: on the same basis *we*, the church in covenant with the True God, will receive good things from Him, the Lord (Yahweh)."

Of course, on these grounds, the unbelieving and idolatrous world is not only at a disadvantage—it is also sure to be defeated (by the One God of the true religion). Even today, let all faithful Christians recognize that the "gates of Ha-des cannot prevail against" Christ's church, (Matt. 16:18).

[Puritan quote of the day: "One word of God can do more than ten thousand words of men to relieve a distressed soul.” —John Flavel, in, "The Mystery of Providence"]