"In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons." Ruth 1:1
"In the days when the judges ruled." If you read through the judges, you will see every man did what was right in his own eyes. The book of Ruth begins in a land of adversity. As is true today, we experience some adversity because we are in a fallen world; however, some adversity is culturally imposed and some adversity is personally chosen.
Culturally, we do what is right in our own eyes.
We have somehow arrived at the place where innocent children are legally murdered, yet we are fined or arrested for imposing on the rights of innocent animals! (60 million since 1973 – the population of Italy) Right in our own eyes.
We have rebelled against God's design by legally distorting marriage for the sake of our sin, yet borrow from God's design to have children in those relationships. Right in our own eyes.
Most recently, we have declared you can be whatever gender you feel like, without considering the impact, privacy or protection of the population. Right in our own eyes.
With each decision, we celebrate our sinfulness by imposing it on our culture and thumbing our noses at God in rebellion.
Personally, we do what is right in our own eyes.
We know that God says sex is permitted only in the context of marriage between one man and one woman, but we make exceptions and excuses for our behavior. Right in our own eyes.
We know God leads us to be good stewards over everything He has allowed us to have, yet we still gamble and play the lotto for the sake of our entertainment. Right in our own eyes.
We know God says to forgive others, yet we choose to whom that will apply. Right in our own eyes.
We know God says to stop using harsh talk and foul language, yet we do it anyway. Right in our own eyes.
We know God says to rid ourselves of sexual immorality and anger, but we ignore Him. Right in our own eyes.
We know God says NOT to be divisive, a gossip or slanderer, but we choose our way. Right in our own eyes.
We know God says to not be unequally yoked in a relationship, but we let our feelings override God’s instruction. Right in our own eyes.
We know what God's word says about alcohol and drugs, but we argue for our personal rights instead of choosing to honor God in our lives. Right in our own eyes.
Therefore, we are also living out what is right in our own eyes culturally and personally.
Now, for the spiritual challenge...
How is it possible for the church to grow more like Christ and behave more like Christ when we choose to live in opposition to Christ? (If you are courageous, personalize this question)
Renewal and transformation cannot, and will not, occur until we personally turn from what we have deemed right in our own eyes.
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