Taking our spiritual pulse

Judges 1-3 was of my readings this morning. In them there is this recurrent pattern:

1. God leads his people;
2. They follow God for a while;
3. And then they don't live up to their trust in God by worshiping idols of their own work;
4. Therefore, 'the anger of the LORD is kindled';
5. National tragedy occurs;
6. Israel repents turning to God;
7. He sends them a human deliverer;
8. They praise God;
9. God leads his people ...

And then again they follow God for a while.

For me the central consistency to this pattern is ...

• God allows Israel and all human beings freedom to love him or turn away from him;
• God loves Israel like a good parent who disciplines his child in a healthy way;
• God just sticks with us in spite of us.

This causes me to say to God, "Thank you for sticking with me! Just may I always be following you!"

May you and I both keep taking our spiritual pulse -- how well we are relating to God!