When I read how Gideon responded to God in Judges 6, I thought: " this is how I feel sometimes."
God has given Isreal to Midianite oppression and they have lost their food, crops and morale. The angel of the Lord appears to Gideon and says: " The Lord is with you O valiant warrior." Gideon says: " If the Lord is with us, then why is all this happening to us ? Where are all the miracles that our fathers told us about ? "
I feel your pain Gideon.
God' s response comes a few verses later: " Surely I will be with you and you shall defeat Midian as one man." God's confidence in Himself never wavered. Can you imagine God doubting Himself or saying: " Well, Midian does have a good team this year...." ? No, He said: " I am with you... keep moving forward."
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
What we have from God
What do we have from God ?
1. Do we have the promise that we will be alive tomorrow ?
2. Do we have the answer to what city to go to or what job to take ?
3. Do we know that our children are safe from all tragedy ?
The answer to all three questions would be " no." What do we have from God then ? It seems to me after reading several places in the Old testament that we have the promise of His presence. We have the assurance that God is with us and won't fail us. " Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass." ( Joshua 21:45)
After tracking this idea here's what I found:
1. " I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20
2. " And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, 'Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city." ( Acts 18:9-10)
encouragement: go on speaking
3. "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."
( Matthew 18:20)
4. " Certainly, I will be with you..." Exodus 3:12
5. "Now then, go and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say."
Exodus 4:12
encouragement: He equips us
6. From those who brought back the minority report from spying out the land:
" Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us, do not fear them."
Numbers 14:9
notes: 1. if God is for us, who can be against us ?
2. The people's response in the next verse: " STONE THEM !"
3. In our culture, we kind of exalt doubt and questioning as wise. God often punished those who did not believe His word, or act on His commands.
By the way: " What is the difference between 'waiting on God' and 'delayed obedience ' ?
7. " You shall not dread them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God."
Deuteronomy 7:21
8. " No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. I will not fail you or forsake you. "
Joshua 1:5
9. "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."
Deut. 31:6-7
10. "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ' I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you' so that we confidently say, ' The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid, what will man do to me ? ' "
Hebrews 13:5-6
Gideon: see next post
1. Do we have the promise that we will be alive tomorrow ?
2. Do we have the answer to what city to go to or what job to take ?
3. Do we know that our children are safe from all tragedy ?
The answer to all three questions would be " no." What do we have from God then ? It seems to me after reading several places in the Old testament that we have the promise of His presence. We have the assurance that God is with us and won't fail us. " Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass." ( Joshua 21:45)
After tracking this idea here's what I found:
1. " I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20
2. " And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, 'Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city." ( Acts 18:9-10)
encouragement: go on speaking
3. "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."
( Matthew 18:20)
4. " Certainly, I will be with you..." Exodus 3:12
5. "Now then, go and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say."
Exodus 4:12
encouragement: He equips us
6. From those who brought back the minority report from spying out the land:
" Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us, do not fear them."
Numbers 14:9
notes: 1. if God is for us, who can be against us ?
2. The people's response in the next verse: " STONE THEM !"
3. In our culture, we kind of exalt doubt and questioning as wise. God often punished those who did not believe His word, or act on His commands.
By the way: " What is the difference between 'waiting on God' and 'delayed obedience ' ?
7. " You shall not dread them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God."
Deuteronomy 7:21
8. " No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. I will not fail you or forsake you. "
Joshua 1:5
9. "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."
Deut. 31:6-7
10. "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ' I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you' so that we confidently say, ' The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid, what will man do to me ? ' "
Hebrews 13:5-6
Gideon: see next post
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
why comparison doesn't help
In John 21, Jesus describes to Peter the path he is about to walk ( I mean the path Peter will take .)
After thinking about this, Peter points to John and says: " What about him? " Jesus says: " If I want him to remain, what is that to you ? You follow Me !"
I take from this that the Lord may have different paths for people. When we find ourselves looking around at that person or that situation, the Lord may be saying to us: " What is that to you ? You follow Me."
Comparison ( frequently) doesn't help when thinking through your life.
After thinking about this, Peter points to John and says: " What about him? " Jesus says: " If I want him to remain, what is that to you ? You follow Me !"
I take from this that the Lord may have different paths for people. When we find ourselves looking around at that person or that situation, the Lord may be saying to us: " What is that to you ? You follow Me."
Comparison ( frequently) doesn't help when thinking through your life.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
writing blogs or just quoting other people ?
Sometimes I wonder if people actually write their own stuff or just quote other people....
so after thinking about it... I think I will ...quote Spurgeon:
"For we long to see all religious teaching built upon the solid rock of truth, and not upon the sand of imagination; but, at the same time, our grand object is not the revision of opinions, but the regeneration of natures. We would bring men to Christ, and not to our own peculiar views of Christianity. Our first care must be that the sheep should be gathered to the great Shepherd; there will be time enough afterwards to secure them for our various folds. To make proselytes, is a suitable labour for Pharisees: to beget men unto God, is the honourable aim of ministers of Christ!"
( taken from another blog of someone who didn't write their blog either, but quoted Spurgeon)
The reason I felt compelled to pass along this quote was for the phrase: " We would bring men to Christ, and not to our own peculiar views of Christianity." ( ouch)
I definitely am guilty of doing this and feel the sting of this statement. Thanks Charles for telling it like it is.
so after thinking about it... I think I will ...quote Spurgeon:
"For we long to see all religious teaching built upon the solid rock of truth, and not upon the sand of imagination; but, at the same time, our grand object is not the revision of opinions, but the regeneration of natures. We would bring men to Christ, and not to our own peculiar views of Christianity. Our first care must be that the sheep should be gathered to the great Shepherd; there will be time enough afterwards to secure them for our various folds. To make proselytes, is a suitable labour for Pharisees: to beget men unto God, is the honourable aim of ministers of Christ!"
( taken from another blog of someone who didn't write their blog either, but quoted Spurgeon)
The reason I felt compelled to pass along this quote was for the phrase: " We would bring men to Christ, and not to our own peculiar views of Christianity." ( ouch)
I definitely am guilty of doing this and feel the sting of this statement. Thanks Charles for telling it like it is.
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