How do you think about God? Is it something like this?
For many people, God is a bit like the AA man (Automobile Association) - he's there when your car breaks down on the motorway, but when your car is working fine you don't give him a second thought. When we experience a crisis in our lives we call out to God for help, but when things are going well we hardly give him a thought.
This week in our E100 Bible readings we have been reading from Judges and Ruth. And in Judges the people of Israel go through this cycle of good times - they forget about God and follow false gods - they are oppressed by their enemies - they cry out to God - God rescues them - they experience good times - and the whole cycle repeats itself.
There are a whole range of reasons why we experience crisis in our lives. It is not the case that we can simply say that suffering and hardship are God punishing us for sin. In the New Testament, Jesus, the disciples, and the apostle Paul are just some of the people to experience hardship because of their obedience to God.
But sometimes it may be the case that God sends a crisis in order to get our attention. We are happily following a road that will lead to destruction and God wants us to stop and choose the road that will lead to life. But the only way at times for God to get our attention is when we reach rock bottom - a bit like the prodigal son.
It is good to know that if we have reached rock bottom and there is no where else to turn, no matter how far we've walked from God, no matter how long we have been away - God is loving and forgiving, and has promised that if we turn around he is there to welcome us back and give us a new start.
To be continued...
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