Verse of the day: Judges 7:3, 5, Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ ” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained. 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.”
The process by which God brought Gideon’s army down to 300 may seem a bit strange, but we can learn much from it. The character of those who were eliminated very much applies to the kind of service we will find today amongst God’s people. We might even find that we fall into one of these categories. The first group was eliminated because of their fear. They were afraid to go into battle, probably because they knew what kind of challenge they were facing and were not willing to die for the cause. Sadly, there are too many Christians today who fear serving God because of one little question: “What if?” “What if they don’t like me because I talked about Jesus?” “What if I give this, but then don’t have enough to pay my bills?” I believe you understand where I’m going with this. Fear is one of the enemy’s greatest tactics he uses against God’s people. Yet, the Word of God is filled with verses about not being overcome by fear, but instead trusting God. Isaiah 41:10-11 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ 11 ‘Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; they shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish.’” Psalm 56:2-3, says, “My enemies would hound me all day, for there are many who fight against me, O Most High. 3 Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” Sadly, these are the folks who will talk a good game, and promise that they will stand with us, but will be nowhere to be found when it comes time to put forth action to back up their words. The first opportunity the people were given to abandon the cause, because of fear, took flight as soon as Gideon announced they could go back home. The other group of Christians is much like the soldiers who lapped up the water like dogs. They are self-centered, and are so focused on self that they are oblivious to the enemies’ tactics in their lives that keep them from truly serving God. They are so focused on accomplishing their own goals, and living out their lives the way they think it should be lived, that they cannot be trusted to do anything of any worth for the kingdom. These are the folks who have one foot in Christianity and one foot in the world. 1 John 2:15-17 reminds us, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” There will be those moments in our Christian walk when we will face great challenges, only to find that very few people will be around to support us and stand by us. However, let us be reminded that God may allow this in certain situations so that we can praise Him for the fact that we can trust Him to get us through, and know that when everyone else failed us, He did not. The bottom line you ask? The only Person we only ever need, when everyone else is eliminated, is God. He will never fail us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6).
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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