http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%206-7&version=NIV
Today we continue to read about the Israelites, their disobedience, and the faithfulness of God to raise up a rescuer from among the people. Our reading focuses on Gideon – a less than significant man who God called to fight for his people. Why such an ordinary man? Like the men God has worked through in the past, Gideon’s weakness makes God’s power perfect. God’s strength and glory is much more evident when he uses the ordinary man to work a supernatural deliverance.
But today I want to focus on a different deliverer. This man was a humble man- born in a stable, a carpenter’s son. He is a man who came in humility and yet would rescue His people. This man was delivered God’s chosen people from the bondage of sin and death forever. This man was Jesus – God’s own son -- and HE IS RISEN!
There’s not much more to say except this – God is the God he says he is. He will do the things he says he will do. He is perfect in unfailing love and faithfulness and has proved himself over and over. I urge you today to pick up your fleece if you’ve been asking God to prove himself in your life, and instead put your weight fully down on the promises of God. Celebrate today that he is a God that made a promise thousands of years ago to rescue his people and still rescues us today. Make this your year of jubilee as He has come to proclaim freedom for the captives.
I pray that today you dance with Joy before the Lord for His love and His faithfulness! I pray that the words of the following hymn are not just an Easter hymn for you, but your life’s song!
Jesus lives! The victory is won!
Death no longer can appall me;
Jesus lives! Death’s reign is done!
From the grave will Christ recall me.
Brighter scenes will then commence;
This shall be my confidence.
Jesus lives! To him the throne
there above all things is given.
I shall go where he is gone,
live and reign with him in heaven.
God is faithful; doubtings, hence!
This shall be my confidence.
Jesus lives! For me he died
Hence will I, to Jesus living
Pure in heart and act abide,
Praise to him and glory giving
All I need God will dispense;
This shall be my confidence.
Jesus lives! And I am sure
Neither life nor death shall severe
Me from him – I shall endure
In his love, through death, forever.
God will be my sure defense;
This shall be my confidence.
Jesus lives! And now is death
But the gate of life immortal;
This shall calm my trembling breath
When I pass its gloomy portal.
Faith shall cry, as fails each sense;
Jesus is my confidence!
Today we continue to read about the Israelites, their disobedience, and the faithfulness of God to raise up a rescuer from among the people. Our reading focuses on Gideon – a less than significant man who God called to fight for his people. Why such an ordinary man? Like the men God has worked through in the past, Gideon’s weakness makes God’s power perfect. God’s strength and glory is much more evident when he uses the ordinary man to work a supernatural deliverance.
But today I want to focus on a different deliverer. This man was a humble man- born in a stable, a carpenter’s son. He is a man who came in humility and yet would rescue His people. This man was delivered God’s chosen people from the bondage of sin and death forever. This man was Jesus – God’s own son -- and HE IS RISEN!
There’s not much more to say except this – God is the God he says he is. He will do the things he says he will do. He is perfect in unfailing love and faithfulness and has proved himself over and over. I urge you today to pick up your fleece if you’ve been asking God to prove himself in your life, and instead put your weight fully down on the promises of God. Celebrate today that he is a God that made a promise thousands of years ago to rescue his people and still rescues us today. Make this your year of jubilee as He has come to proclaim freedom for the captives.
I pray that today you dance with Joy before the Lord for His love and His faithfulness! I pray that the words of the following hymn are not just an Easter hymn for you, but your life’s song!
Jesus lives! The victory is won!
Death no longer can appall me;
Jesus lives! Death’s reign is done!
From the grave will Christ recall me.
Brighter scenes will then commence;
This shall be my confidence.
Jesus lives! To him the throne
there above all things is given.
I shall go where he is gone,
live and reign with him in heaven.
God is faithful; doubtings, hence!
This shall be my confidence.
Jesus lives! For me he died
Hence will I, to Jesus living
Pure in heart and act abide,
Praise to him and glory giving
All I need God will dispense;
This shall be my confidence.
Jesus lives! And I am sure
Neither life nor death shall severe
Me from him – I shall endure
In his love, through death, forever.
God will be my sure defense;
This shall be my confidence.
Jesus lives! And now is death
But the gate of life immortal;
This shall calm my trembling breath
When I pass its gloomy portal.
Faith shall cry, as fails each sense;
Jesus is my confidence!
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Amen! Happy Easter. Yes God specializes in taking ordinary people and causes them do some extraordinary acts by the power of His Spirit. We believe in the One who is the Resurrection and the Life. By the power of His Resurrection, He turns our mourning into joy. By the power of His resurrection, He turns our defeats into victories.
ReplyDeleteDon’t be surprised when we face impossible circumstances like Gideon. This is no accident. God wants us to call out to Him so He can demonstrate His ability to solve the impossible and to change what we think is unchangeable. Over and over and over we read in the Word of God and see demonstrated in our own life this concept: "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” 2 Chr 16:9a This is why the Apostle Paul said he would rather boast in is weaknesses for He knew the power of Christ would rest upon him. This is what we are reading here in Judges. The weak shall be made strong by the power of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ. God is glorified and we get blessed.
I think you will enjoy this testimony. I work with the single parents at 2nd. If you know any single moms, you are familiar with the struggles they face. About 3 years ago, this mom was living with her two young children in an apartment. She really desired to live in a house but as a single mom she didn’t have much money and her job didn’t pay very well. She started to pray. Lord, make it possible for me to get a house and if possible one with a pool. She continued to pray. As you know, the housing market took a big hit about this time. The subprime mortgages started to collapse and a lot of foreclosures hit the market. Through hard work, she had saved up several thousand dollars. At the start of the housing collapse, it was still easy to obtain a loan. She found a foreclosed house she really liked and the price was way below the appraised value. She placed a bid on the house which was just $1,000 dollars above the list price The timing couldn’t have been better. She got the house and as she was moving in she noticed this deck in her backyard. She wondered why this is here. She looked underneath the deck and there was a beautiful swimming pool!!! She now uses the house to entertain the Bible study groups from 2nd. What a God! He made a way for her which seemed utterly impossible for a single mom.
ReplyDeleteHope everyone had a great Easter!!
ReplyDeleteMathew 28:6; Duplicated in Mark 16:6!!
Read it, love it, live it!!
Peace and love friends!