Who wants to be like Gideon?

Who wants to be like Gideon?

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Scriptures: Judges 6:11-24; Judges 7:7; Judges 8:4-10; Hebrews 11:32

Gideon....Hiding on a threshing floor from the enemy. Israel was being oppressed by the Midianites. The Israelites cried out to the Lord for help.

God chose Gideon...a man who at the time was hiding on a threshing floor. He (God) called Gideon a mighty man of valor. God must have seen what Gideon would be when he would step out and start to trust in God.

God allowed Gideon to step out in “smaller steps” of faith as He (God) was preparing Gideon to be used in the deliverance of Israel from the Midianites.

32,000 against 135,000 or 300 against 135,000? . 32,000 troops against 135,000 doesn't sound like good odds....but 300 against 135,000?!? But wait....Israel had God on their side! Guess that was bad odds for the 135,000 troops!

In the end, Gideon and his army of 300 prevail and God gets all of the glory! And Gideon is now a hero!

Oh...almost forgot to mention...God honors Gideon in the “hall of faith” in the 11^th chapter of Hebrews!

So....Who wants to be like Gideon?

In Christ our Lord,

Don 

Daniel in the Lion's Den....Remaining Faithful

Daniel in the Lion's Den....Remaining Faithful

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Scriptures: Daniel 6:1 - 28

In the 6^th chapter of the book of Daniel, is the story of persecution that Daniel experienced in his later years. It is estimated that Daniel was probably around 80 years old at the time. He was one of three governors over the Persian Empire. Darius was the ruler of Babylon.

Daniel was faithful to performing the duties of the “secular” job (governor) that God had placed him in. He also faithfully sought God three times a day.   Because of his faithfulness, Daniel was recognized by the king. The bible says that he (Daniel) “distinguished himself above the governors and satraps.”  See Daniel 6:3.  So, the other governors and satraps were jealous and sought to find something against Daniel.  Knowing Daniel's habit of praying and seeking God three times a day, they wrote a decree and convinced king Darius to sign it.  It forbid anyone petitioning any god or man other than the king for thirty days.

But even though Daniel knew of the petition, he continued to pray to God. Simply being faithful to God.  The others told the king of this.  Even though Darius didn't want to, he saw no way around the decree he signed....He threw Daniel in the lion's den.  In fact, Darius was so distraught that he fasted and could not sleep through the night.

God had a different plan though.   Through this set of circumstances, in a culture that seemed “anti-God”, God used this.  He (God) saved Daniel from the den of lions.  Darius recognized that Daniel's God had saved him from the lions.  It caused a change of heart in Darius.  Darius passed another decree.  This one gave glory and honor to God.  It recognized God as the living God “who rules forever”.

In effect, the actions and faith of one man (Daniel) who chose to remain faithful to his God indirectly influenced a nation for God.

How could God use each of us in our daily “hum-drum” lives if we were to simply be faithful to what He has shown us and called us to?

In Christ our Lord,

Don 

Contentment....

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Scriptures: Philippians 4:4 – 13; Matthew 11:28 - 30

Contentment....True contentment.....

Being at peace within ourselves.....truly at peace.

Resting in the arms of our savior (Jesus).

It seems that none of the above comes “naturally”.  Each of us has burdens.

Maybe it's a spouse that just doesn't hear what you have to say. The two of you just don't seem to be communicating on the level that you should be. Maybe it's a child. You just can't seem to get through to them. That “home” seems more like a “war zone” then a home. You'd rather be on the roof in the cold eating a cold sandwich, than in your house with your family.

Whatever the burden is, true contentment and that peace that passes all understanding sometimes escapes us because of the burden.

In the first book of the new testament, is a quote from Jesus. He tells us to come to Him. All of us who are weary....Heavy laden. Emotionally feeling like we have been “drug through the mud”. He says “come to me. All who are weary.” He says that He (Jesus) will give us rest.

Then Jesus says to take His yoke and learn from Him....willfully submit to His direction in our lives. He (Jesus) is gentle. He states that if we take His yoke and learn from Him that we will find rest for our souls. And then He wraps it up by saying that His yoke is easy and the burden that He gives us is light.

In Philippians, Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) writes to be anxious for nothing but with prayer and thanksgiving to bring our requests to God....Cast that burden on Him.

Then the peace of God which passes our understanding will guard our hearts and minds through Christ.

What a promise from our Lord!

How great is His love for us! He doesn't want us carrying burdens that we weren't meant to carry.

When we come to Him and bring those burdens to Him, it doesn't mean that the situation will go away or we'll have an “instant cure” to our problems. God isn't a “spiritual microwave”. But now, that burden will be on the “back” of the One who has the strength to carry it. And we can have that peace that passes all understanding...knowing that He will work all things for good in our lives.

In Christ our Lord,

Don