Jephthah, a rare godly man in apostate Israel, is called from exile to defend the typical church. He makes a pious but rash vow and honours it with an obedience matched by his daughter. Not a human sacrifice, of course, but a challenge of commitment. 

The apostle John describes five aspects of love, in the church, at the same time showing that each one is evidence of true conversion. Here love, helpfulness to fellow believers, and the promised greater instrumentality in prayer, are seen as bulwarks of assurance.

Paul's appeal to the Galatians - shrewd independent thinkers - not to be entranced by the ancient heresy of salvation by works. How easily we, though able thinkers, succumb to the poor arguments of unbelief today! Here are the issues that should lead us to find the Lord. 

The non-cooperation of Succoth, the snare of Gideon's ephod, the fable of Jotham, and the reign of Abimelech the bramble provide lessons on the antagonism of the flesh to spiritual progress, and its longing for human rule, rather than that of the Lord.

Gaining Christian perspective by comprehending all aspects of God's mighty love, then by looking forward to seeing Christ and being transformed, then by appreciating deliverance from the dominion of sin, and then by knowing how to stay close to the Saviour.