Initiative

Based on Judges 1-3, Psalm 45

"My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer."

Psalms 45:1

Are we ready for a new beginning? Are we ready for change? I know we want it, but are we prepared for it? Just like a tongue being then pen of a ready writer, we have to be ready to take the initiative. We can change things right now if we want to! It may not seem like a big change, but even just speaking an encouraging word to someone is making progress toward something better. God will give us the strength we need. If we follow His ways & live out His Word, change will happen!

"And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy. And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family." Judges 1:24‭-‬25

Just like Rahab was spared in Jericho after Joshua's victory, so was this man shown mercy when he helped God's people gain Beth-el! In taking initiative, the house of Joseph had access to the excess! We can't be afraid to show our enemies God's mercy-it just might lead us to s victory! Speak that encouraging word. Have mercy. The Truth will allow people to be saved from destruction!


"And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtoreth. And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies." Judges 2:13‭-‬14



Chapter 2 of Judges was pretty different-there was a change for the worst! Instead of being able to stand against their enemies, the Israelites were put directly into the enemies' hands! All because they took the initiative for evil instead of good. They forsook The Lord, and therefore were not in favor with Him. They put all their effort into serving gods instead of The One True God!


"And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord; but they did not so." Judges 2:17



Let's not turn quickly out of the righteous way of following God's commandments. Not only are we making a bad choice, we are hurting God's heart! Take the initiative to make steps toward God instead of away from Him!


"And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the Lord delivered Chushan–rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan–rishathaim." Judges 3:9‭-‬10



God sent different judges to lead His people in the right direction. In standing out & serving The Lord, Othniel was successful in gaining ground against the enemy. It took someone to turn quickly out of the way of sin instead of quickly turning toward sin. God raised him up to do it. Let's let God raise us up too!

"And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out." Judges 3:21‭-‬22

Ehud also caused a victory to take place against a very gluttonous enemy. He had his weapon ready. It was just him & God that went into that room to defeat the enemy-Ehud did not have an army by his side. Let's take that same initiative for God! God's got good news in His Word, and we need to share it! Let's cause an uplift!