Judges 17

Ever wonder how religions get started? They start when a young man steals 1,100 pieces of silver from his mother, has a change of heart, and returns the 1,100 pieces of silver. In turn, the mother blesses him instead of curses, gives the money to the guy, and sets up a false god in the middle of their living room. This is how religions get started. Or maybe when a man has a vision of the angel MoronI and is "given" this book which only he received. This is possible. It could be when societies outcast is sitting in a cave and receives a message from an angel which tells him he is the great prophet. Either way, religions start in funny ways, and they typically have one purpose, to expand upon the truth.

"In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his eyes" (Judges 17:6).

Religions start because one man does not want to sacrifice his life in the way the Bible tells us to. hey have no direction, therefore they do what is right in their own eyes. We live i a very frightening world today. We live in a world of absolute relativism, or complete randomness. There is no order in this world. We cannot say what is right and wrong because there are no morale absolutes. Abortion, homosexuality, sensual lifestyles run rampant because they are people's rights. Children are being taught evolution. Jesus cannot be mentioned in as public school.

All this is happening and people long for more. They fantasize about reality. In our lesson today we read of a man who created his own religion because he needed something more than 1,100 pieces of silver. He needed something he could see, something which was real. The world is full of Micah's. They are tired of what the world has offered. They are seeking something more, and that something is Jesus. Do not hide your light under anything. Be a light to this world. Pray for each other that we would be looking for opportunities daily to reach out to bless someone. Often times it will mean self sacrifice on our part, but that should be okay. Show someone Jesus, they do not need anymore relativism.