Challenge Central: a CBC devotional
by: Pastor Alan Rietberg
I don’t know what I would have done if I had been found in the same position as Gideon. I think sometimes we’re very quick to judge someone else when, in fact, we might not fare as well given the same circumstances.
The last few times I led the Wednesday prayer meeting, we looked at the story of Gideon in Judges 6-8. He is first found by an angel of God inside a winepress, threshing grain in fear of discovery. He’s addressed as a “mighty man of valor,” even though he seems to be anything but that at this point in his life. We see Gideon’s faith growing incrementally as God asks him to follow His lead. This obedience ultimately leads to the deliverance of Israel from the Midianite oppression.
God’s divine intervention through the angel, the fleece, and the vision of the opposing soldiers are an attestation of God’s desire to help our faith in Him to grow.
Do you think Gideon would have been willing to obey the final command to lead 300 fearful Israelites into battle with 135,000 Midianites had it not been for the previous steps of obedience which he took?
We see God leading the faltering and somewhat hesitant servant, Gideon, into a deeper faithfulness.
We see a patient God helping Gideon each step of the way.
Judges 7:15 says: “He (Gideon) bowed in worship before the LORD. Then he returned to the Israelite camp and shouted, “Get up! For the LORD has given you victory over the Midianite hordes!”
Quite the change in attitude from when we first see Gideon, so how about us?
Where are we on our own journey of faithfully obeying?
If we had been in Gideon’s shoes (uh…sandals) would we have been as bold?
How bold are we in following the commands that we already KNOW in the Bible?
How hesitant are we in saying something for God in a crowd of people who need to hear about God’s available forgiveness?
We all need to regularly remind ourselves to “…be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10)
Who’s might? God’s might!
How are we made strong? Ephesians 6:13 says “…take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day.”
As we depend on God’s strength, and utilize God’s armour, we will lean on Him and leave the results to Him as well. He has called us to be faithful. As we humbly do this we will see Him supernaturally work in people’s lives and we will bow in worship before the LORD.
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