Judges 6:25-32 "Take a Stand"

"Tear down your father's altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height." ~Judges 6:25-26

Gideon's family had taken to worshiping foreign gods, and God wanted Gideon to do something about it. He must tear their altars down and build new ones to the one, true God. Gideon did it, but he was so afraid of what his family would think, he tore them down at night. He still had some growing to do in his trust of God, but he was experiencing a very real human fear of rejection for his beliefs and for following God's ways.

We're experiencing the same things today. We're not tearing down Asherah poles -- at least I haven't lately. But there are other altars that have been built into our lives that we must tear down and replace with the altar of the one, true God. Maybe we have allowed the god of complacency to enter into our lives. Or the deceiver. What about laziness or anger. Maybe it's a person who is taking all our time and thoughts. Maybe an activity or hobby. Sometimes very innocuous activities that in and of themselves are fine can begin to take a top drawer position in our priorities. There are all kinds of "gods" we allow to take over our lives and maybe we don't even realize it is happening. But when we allow those things to creep in, we are slowing and surely, pushing God aside.

Our God is a jealous God. He does not take being replaced lightly. The very first commandment God gave to Moses was, "You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3) Too often we hear that and think, "Well, I don't worship other gods. I worship just God. I go to church; I pray to God." But whenever we place anyone or anything above God in our hearts, we are worshiping that person or thing. God must take top priority in our lives -- in all our thoughts, actions, motives, emotions, decisions..... He wants to be in every part of our being. And if he isn't, He will encourage us to tear down the altars and build the right one.

He may demand our respect and attention, but it is for our own good. If He is not Lord of our life, if anything else steps in the place where He belongs, we are choosing a path that is outside of His will. It may be unpopular, but we must take a stand. He will be Lord with or without me. I choose to stand with Him.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do you stand for God and His truth, or are you letting other things take priority?
2. What causes us to veer away from standing firmly with God?
3. How can we prevent straying from placing God first in our life?
4. What price do I need to pay to stand with God? Am I willing?

Father, I believe it is going to get harder and harder to stand with You. The world's philosophy is like a giant magnet enticing me to attach and conform. But my heart remains with You. Keep me close, Father. Even though it may be difficult, help me to stand in Your truth and as Your servant. Amen.

Matthew 19:16-30 "Wealth and Humility"

Read Matthew 19:16-30.

"But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." NIV

I don't believe it is a coincidence that in the three gospels that sight this passage, all three follow the "little children" passage. Jesus has just said that the "kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" -- little children. Now a rich young man wants to know how to enter heaven but doesn't like the cost. He has built up a position of wealth and leadership that have become too valuable to him to let go of. He has chosen earth's temporary over heaven's eternal for a few pieces of gold and a little power.

The glitter of this world is an overwhelming enticement for so many -- especially in the U.S. We place such a high value on possessions and positions that we lose perspective on what is right and wrong. We, as a society, will lie, steal, and cheat to keep what we have and to gain more. Jesus is saying that the distance from this point to a submissive, humble heart is very difficult to achieve. We must surrender these man-made things for the humility that He desires. Possessions and power give us a false sense of control and autonomy when God wants us to be completely dependent on Him.

Does this mean we are all to be poor to enter the kingdom? No, but we mustn't rely on our wealth. Jesus does say that "with God all things are possible." Children depend on their parents to supply all their needs. In the same way God wants us to be dependent on Him not on the wealth we can accumulate.

When the "renewal of all things" happens, where do I want to be found -- surrounded by my external mounds of wealth or filled with the wealth of the ages through Jesus Christ?

Further Thoughts:

1. What was Job's priority when it came to wealth and possession? How was He rewarded?
2. In a concordance, look up the words, "possessions" and "wealth." What other passages do you find and what do you learn from them?
3. Sit down and honestly ask yourself this question, What would I do if I lost all my possessions and power today? Who would I be in such a stripped-down position? Would I become more dependent on God or would I become bitter and curse Him?
4. How can we be more dependent on God and less dependent on our things, money, and power?

Matthew 10:17-20 "The Words of His Mouth"

Read Matthew 10:17-20.

“…do not worry about what to say or how to say it.” NIV

Being a wordsmith, this is a very difficult one for me to do. I will work and work to get even a conversation worked out in my head before I have it. But Jesus is saying that when we are faced with opposition, we don’t have to worry about the words to say, God will give us those words.

Now this is only going to happen under two conditions 1) we remain in an intimate relationship with the Father 2) we are listening for His voice.

Remaining intimately close to the Lord involves spending time with Him and learning His character. The more we study who He is and what He is about, the better we recognize His words when they come to mind. The enemy will try to interfere. But because we have known the Father, we will know whether or not the words coming to mind line up with who He is. If they don’t, we discard them as foreign and wait on the Lord. God never does anything or directs anyone contrary to His nature. If we learn as much as we can about His nature, we are prepared to discern anything that is not of Him.

Developing the skill of listening for God’s voice takes patience, solitude and silence – and sometimes fasting. It requires resisting the urge to always talk to Him and remaining silent to receive from Him. Sometimes, God remains silent for reason unknown to us but very clear to Him. But according to this verse, when words are needed, He will not fail to deliver.

Usually when we are confronted like the disciples were, the situation is very chaotic. The moment is urgent and the pressure is high. But if we’ve taken the time to exercise and develop our spiritual muscle of listening, we will know what we are to say when we need to say it.

Further Thoughts:

1. Moses needed God’s words to speak through him to get the Hebrews freed from the Egyptians. Read how Moses got to the place of being used by God in Exodus 3:1-4:31.
2. What words did Stephen use when faced by the Sanhedrin in Acts 7:1-53? How are these words given to Stephen differently than Moses received his words?
3. What words did Jesus use against Satan in the desert in Luke 4:1-13?
4. Are you spending enough time in the word to recognize the character of God? If not, commit to more intimate times with our Lord in His Word.
5. Prayer is not a monologue, it’s a conversation and God wants His share of the talking time. Do your prayers tend to be one-sided and full of “give me’s?” Spend more time in worship, praise, and thanksgiving, then in silence. It’s amazing what the Lord will speak to you. Keep a notebook nearby to record His words. When the Almighty Creator of the Universe takes time to talk to us, we should write it down. It must be very important.

Matthew 9:18-26 "The Touch of Faith"

Read Matthew 9:18-26.

"She said to herself, 'If only I could touch his cloak, I will be healed." NIV

Like the story of the centurion in 8:5, this passage tells of two more tremendous acts of faith. And they were both rewarded with healing. But I have always been partial to the story of the woman. She had been sick for so long -- what could ever change that? But she knows if she just touches Jesus' garment, that's all she needs to be healed.

Did this act come out of desperation? After 12 years, was she willing to try anything. Whether or not she had reached her last straw, she obviously had faith in Jesus because He notes her faith. And she was instantly healed.

How often do I want to simply touch the hem of Jesus' cloak. I often forget that this simple act brings such healing. Caught up in busyness, frustrations, to do lists, fatigue, unending jobs, pain, and even good things like ministry and time with family and friends, knocked out of our thinking like water pouring through a sieve is that we just need to touch His hem.

I need to touch it with praise - declaring Him as my King, Savior, Lord, and Master -- the Lover of my soul. I need to touch His hem with my thanks -- reciting the amazing gifts He has given me in family, friends, salvation, needs provided, joys shared. I need to touch His hem to hear His words of strength and power reminding me I am His and His Spirit lives within me. And after all that, I need to touch His hem to wipe the tears from my eyes. Tears sometimes from self-pity and pain, but also from a deep abiding love for One who loves me so passionately.

If I don't touch His hem by faith every day, my soul shrivels within me and my spirit becomes trapped in the tangled strings that attach me to this world. They hold me down from reaching the heights to which He wants to take me. I'm held bound to the mundane, when I could be living in the miraculous.

But if I will only touch His hem in faith, I will be healed and can "take heart." His comfort penetrates the layers of the world in which I have wrapped myself and restores me from the inside out. I'm bleeding no more, but am alive and well in Him.

Further Thoughts:

1. Research what "take heart" means. Find that phrase in other Scripture passages. That's also a promise for you.
2. If you didn't read it before, look again at my posts on the centurion from Matthew 8:5-13 and the storm in Matthew 8:23-27.
3. Even in the midst of the jostling of the crowd (Mark 5:24), Jesus felt the woman touch His cloak because her faith was so powerful. Has Jesus felt your touch of faith lately? If no, why not? What is standing in the way of your faith. If yes, celebrate again with thanksgiving.
4. Figure out what your method of worship is. Different people worship in different ways, and it is in those times of worship that we are more likely to touch His hem. A great book on different ways to worship is Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas.

Ephesians 3:8

"Although I am the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ...." NIV

How often do you feel inadequate to accomplish what God has called you to do? Maybe you came from the wrong family; you don't have the education you need; you have a limited talents list. I feel this way all the time -- so unprepared, uneducated, completely out of my comfort zone. It's reassuring to know that Paul felt this way, too. Of course, his feelings of being "the least" came from his past life of persecuting the Christians. Why would God reveal His mysteries to him and use him now to spread the gospel? But look how God used Paul in such an amazing way.

You know, feeling inadequate is exactly where God wants us to be. Oh, I'm not saying we shouldn't study and practice to become better at what God has called us to do. He tells us to give our very best in all we do because it is for His honor and glory. BUT, He wants us completely dependent on Him. Sometimes, we want to rely on our own knowledge and talent and forget about God. What do I need Him for? I can do this on my own. (Hello....who gave you the talents?)

But when we rely on Him, we not only humble ourselves and acknowledge His power, but we are serving Him for His glory, not our own. That's where He wants us to be -- in need of Him and only Him. Lord, I've been blessed with education and talents, but I need You more today than ever before to do what you call me to do. I want to walk in Your strength and direction. Holy Spirit, keep me alert to Your detours in my life. Use me up for Your glory and honor. I give You all the praise.

Further Thoughts:

1. Who in the Old Testament were "of the least" that God used in mighty ways?
2. How does Jesus' life here on earth demonstrate "the least?"
3. Reflect on where you've come from -- family, education, experience, talents.
4. Ask the Lord daily to use you up and teach you how to completely rely on Him to accomplish His tasks for your life.