ADVENTure: The Loud, Noisy, Roaring, Life Changing, Not So Silent NightSample

The Adventure:

When you think of a judge you may think of someone in a big baggy shirt and that bangs a hammer randomly when they hear something they don’t like. (I don’t know about you but I want that hammer everywhere I go.) Or maybe when you hear of judge maybe you think of someone who is judgemental. Someone who says, “No way she wore those shoes with that shirt.” But that is not what the Bible is talking about here. These judges are heroes in the Bible who helped God’s people when they didn’t have a leader.

Now these judges are not perfect and the reason why God’s people needed help was because they refused to make God their leader. When God’s people refused to have God as their leader they chose other things that led to problems. They usually were taken prisoner or made to do things they didn’t want to. So they cried out to God and God in His love would send a judge. Someone who would defeat an evil king and rescue God’s people. God’s people would live better lives, for a little bit. Then they would reject God and this whole cycle would start over again.

The judges teach us that it is easy to choose things above God. It is easy to choose friends, sports, video games, food, and so much more above God. God doesn’t want you to not have friends or to play sports or to eat food but He does want to be first in your life. When God isn’t first bad things usually happen. Not because God does anything but because God has the way of life and every other way leads to destruction. Thankfully God sent a final judge who freed us from the evil king of sin when Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins. We now can go back and live with God forever.

The Destination:

Jesus is the perfect example of so many different people in Scripture. He is the final judge, the perfect slayer of giants, He even is the ark that carries us into Heaven. All of the Old Testament points to a perfect and better way and that way is Jesus. We can celebrate Christmas knowing that Jesus is the perfect hero but He is also a perfect friend to us and we can put Him first.

Songs For The Journey:

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus by Kings MHM