Says Who?

Verse of the day: Judges 11:1-2, Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah. 2 Gilead’s wife bore sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall have no inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.”

Here is a man who was a mighty man of valor, whom God was willing to use, but was rejected by men, because of his background. Sadly, this is still true today. There have been, and are, far too many people God is willing to use that have been discarded and rejected by people in the church, because of their background or past. There are some, in Scripture, whom God used, who would be rejected from serving God within the local church if they were alive today. Men like Moses and King David, who were both murderers, and one an adulterer; men who would have been condemned by hypocritical people, who were called “a man after God’s own heart” and “a friend of God” by God Himself. In this case, Jephthah was judged, by his family and the people, solely on the fact that his mother was a prostitute, something he had no control over. Although he did not choose to be an illegitimate son, he was rejected on that basis. We, as God’s children, must take great care about how we judge others for their past or their background. When we choose to judge someone on that basis, we put ourselves in the position that is held only by God Himself. John 5:26-27 tell us, “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.” Jesus said this in John 8:15-16, “You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.” We can judge nothing because we cannot see the heart of man. We judge on externals and our own biases, while God is the only One who sees what is truly in man’s heart. In 1 Chronicles 8:9 King David said this to Solomon, “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.” The bottom line is that it is not our place to discourage someone from serving God because of their past or their background, and by the same token, we are not to be discouraged by people who want to play God in our lives and determine for us whether or not we are qualified to be used by God, on that basis. God is a God who will use those who desire to live for Him and serve Him, and who make themselves available, regardless of what our background or what our past looked like. Our God is a God of second chances, and can easily turn our failures and flaws into successes and assets for His glory.

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).