And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? "Therefore I also said, 'I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.'" (Judges 2:2-3)
 
The text above reveals the failures of Israel to dispossess the inhabitants of Canaan.  There are other passages that reveal the same. (Judges 1:21-34)  It was God'’s will to completely destroy the Canaanites because of their false religions and gross immorality. (Dt. 7:1-5)  However, Israel failed and was soon found compromising with the inhabitants of the land. Judges 2:13,14 says, "“They forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies." (Judges 2:13-14) These immoral nations truly became a snare to Israel!
 
Just as Israel was to be a holy people (Dt.7:6), so are God’'s people today to be sanctified.  Like Israel we live in a land in which our neighbors bow before false Gods.  Thus, it is tempting for us to compromise and make a covenant with the ungodly.
 
Such areas of compromise can have an ill affect upon our spiritual lives – “I’'ve quit drinking, but I still go to the bar.”  or “I don’'t dance, but I still go to the dance hall”. “I don’'t smoke, but I still visit the tobacco shop every day.”  I don'’t sleep with my girlfriend, but I spend the night in her apartment.”  “You see, I’'ve changed my life and I'’m living clean morally, but I still hang around the crowd who is worldly”.  Such compromises will surely lead me back into the sins I’'ve supposedly renounced!   See Judges 2:17 - "Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the LORD; they did not do so."”
 
It is time for some of us to clean out the closet and crush those images of pleasure we still have hidden away and come clean of the crowd that tempts us to compromise our faith!  God wants all of our heart!
 
By George Slover

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." 
(Acts 2:42)
 
The first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ was a great day as 3000 souls yielded to God’'s will and were converted to Christ.  These new Christians were soon drawn to each other sharing their new faith in Christ.  The text above states they were wholly given to fellowship.  Just what benefits did they receive from such devotion to each other?  Of what value is such fellowship today?
 
Accountability is one of the great benefits of association with God'’s people.  Fellowship in a local church should involve the spiritual leadership of the spiritually mature – both men and women who set forth an example of excellence in conduct and character.  (Titus 2:1-10)  Its members should expect mutual encouragement from each other.  (Hebrews 10:24,25)  Of all our acquaintances, our brethren should have the highest expectations of us morally and spiritually.  We need that kind of friend.
 
The joy of serving is also another advantage of such fellowship.  God commands mutual service and sacrifice (Galatians 5:13) of his people.  He wants us to use our talents to care (I Corinthians 12:25,26) for each other.  By fulfilling the needs of my brother we learn the true meaning of the Lord’s statement, –"“it is more blessed to give than to receive”." (Acts 20:35).
 
So devote yourself to your brother and you will surely reap the rewards!
 
By George Slover, Jr. 

Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity." (Luke 8:14)
 
Have you ever found yourself enjoying a movie? It may be one of those thrillers that keeps you on the edge of your seat, or that “tear jerker” that stirred the emotions?  However, throughout the entire show the person sitting behind you ruins it all by being a constant distraction.  You fail to understand why this rude jerk can’t find the same appreciation for this wonderful work of art!
 
Life’ greatest joy is simple fellowship with God.  It is appreciating God’'s handiwork and wonderful creation on a mountainside.  To feel the cool breeze and hear the mountain stream causes us to stand in awe of our Creator.  There is the joy of witnessing one obey the gospel.  We are overwhelmed by how profound and simple is the grace of God, and encouraged by the difference it has made in someone’s life.  Or we come to appreciate the majesty of God in a time of worship.  The simple words such as “"God is so good”" have come to mean a great deal to us!
 
However, it is also true that life is filled with those who will never appreciate that simple fellowship.  They defile Him by worshiping the created rather than the Creator.  They demonstrate defiance to God'’s grace by their immoral and unprincipled lives.  They distract us from the worship by their irreverent behavior.  Thus, we ask, “why can’'t they also appreciate God’'s wonderful work of art?”
 
But, before we become too impatient with that rude jerk behind us, we may need to examine our own lives.  It is also easy for us to become so filled with anxious care and so focused on the mundane that we too fail to enjoy the moment!
 
My brother, while laboring and toiling in this old world, don’t forget your purpose and learn to enjoy your Savior and King!
 
By George Slover

With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah." (2 Chronicles 32:7-8)
 
What an encouraging verse!  What a great message of comfort from this godly king.  Hezekiah, the king of Judah, spoke these words.  He was ruling a nation that was surrounded by empires far superior to his in numbers and might.  When the Assyrian army marched up to the gates of Jerusalem it did not look so well for Judah.  However, Hezekiah reminds them that God was on their side.
 
Have you ever felt surrounded by the enemy?  Have you been in situations where you were the only one that stood for what was right?  Have “friends” belittled your integrity or moral purity?  Have they questioned your devotion and desire to worship?  Ever have someone ridicule your “pie in the sky” faith?  Has anyone ever called you a legalist or troublemaker, because you expressed your voice for righteousness?  Or have you faced in your family or personal life so-called “insurmountable” challenges?  Perhaps the above verse can encourage you!
 
Other godly men and women have faced similar difficulties and won!  David, victorious over the giant Goliath, said, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”  (1 Samuel 17:45)  Jonathan, Israel’'s warrior, attacked a garrison of Philistines and won!  This godly warrior understood that: “nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few." 
(1 Samuel 14:6)
  
God did indeed deliver Judah in taking 185,000 Assyrians in one night!  And, God will stand with us as well in the battles of life.  Remember:  “God and one man makes a majority”!
 
By George Slover

You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:27-28)
 
Let’'s be honest about the above passage and what God has to say about the sin of sexual immorality.  Let’'s be honest with ourselves and the temptations we face with regard to this sin.
 
Here are some facts about the sin:  
Fact #1 – the act of fornication is sinful (Colossians 3:5,6)
Fact #2 – certain actions leading to fornication may be sinful.  The Bible calls this unchaste handling of males and females “lasciviousness”. (Galatians 5:16-19)
Fact #3 – certain thoughts leading to fornication may be sinful.  (Matthew 5:27,28)
 
Here are some facts about ourselves:
Fact #1  - we are sexual creatures.  God made us that way.  (I Corinthians 5:1,2)
Fact $2 – we were not made for sexual immorality ( I Corinthians 6:13)
Fact #3 – no man is above temptation (I Corinthians 10:12)
 
Thus, the conclusion to the above is that we all need a plan for winning.  Jesus said, “"And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire-- where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' (Mark 9:47-48)
 
Here are some common sense boundaries for winning:
1)   plan ahead – choose to win
2)   avoid situations that are risky
3)   know your weaknesses
4)   find support from others that may help you
5)   avoid friendships that encourage promiscuity
6)   avoid entertainment that produces immoral thoughts
7)   never be with another of the opposite sex alone
8)   see the value of the above choices and do not compromise them!
 
Determine to win and God will richly bless you!
 
By George Slover