Corona Devo 561

Gideon had a problem. Most of "his" people (the people in his family, his town and his region) were not choosing to live for God or to serve God.

They were living in fear of death (the Midiantes were seeking to destroy them), and they were giving-in-to and worshiping false gods and idols (Baal and the Asherah pole) in their lives.

In contrast to almost everyone else around him, God asked Gideon to step out in faith for Him.

And Gideon obeyed God's command to stop compromising in his faith and to start following and worshiping God only. And then a couple things happened:

People noticed that someone had done something different.

Those that knew and loved Gideon stood by him.

People realized/remembered/recommitted to the Truth of God, which is what Gideon was standing up for, and their eyes were opened to the emptiness and lack-of-power in the false gods they had been giving their hearts and attention to.

People responded to God's call to serve and follow Him because of Gideon's leadership, obedience and faithfulness to God.

That night the Lord said to Gideon, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one that is seven years old. Pull down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole standing beside it. (26) Then build an altar to the Lord your God here on this hilltop sanctuary, laying the stones carefully. Sacrifice the bull as a burnt offering on the altar, using as fuel the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down.”

(27) So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord had commanded. But he did it at night because he was afraid of the other members of his father’s household and the people of the town.

(28) Early the next morning, as the people of the town began to stir, someone discovered that the altar of Baal had been broken down and that the Asherah pole beside it had been cut down. In their place a new altar had been built, and on it were the remains of the bull that had been sacrificed. (29) The people said to each other, “Who did this?” And after asking around and making a careful search, they learned that it was Gideon, the son of Joash.

(30) “Bring out your son,” the men of the town demanded of Joash. “He must die for destroying the altar of Baal and for cutting down the Asherah pole.”

(31) But Joash shouted to the mob that confronted him, “Why are you defending Baal? Will you argue his case? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal truly is a god, let him defend himself and destroy the one who broke down his altar!” (32) From then on Gideon was called Jerub-baal, which means “Let Baal defend himself,” because he broke down Baal’s altar.

(33) Soon afterward the armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east formed an alliance against Israel and crossed the Jordan, camping in the valley of Jezreel. (34) Then the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with power. He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him. (35) He also sent messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, summoning their warriors, and all of them responded. ~Judges 6:25-35

Gideon had a choice and He chose God. He chose not-to-compromise even though everyone in his circle was.

People noticed that someone had done something different. (Someone discovered that the altar of Baal had been broken down...The people said to each other, “Who did this?” ~ Judges 6:28-29.) And people will notice when we choose God over what's socially-popular, God over greed, God over fear, God over the headlines.

Those that knew and loved Gideon stood by him. Gideon's dad knew and loved his son well-enough to realize that Gideon was obeying God. His son's faith also opened his eyes to the allegiance that he and many were placing in false gods of their day. May those that know and love us see something different in us because of our faith and our faith-in-action, and may they stand by us and join us in serving God.

People responded to God's call to serve and follow Him because of Gideon's leadership, obedience and faithfulness to God. (...and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him. He also sent messengers...summoning their warriors, and all of them responded. ~Judges 6:34-35).

Friends, if we will be bold enough to step out in faith and live differently then people will notice.

God is real and His Word is relevant, and the world is watching us.

Gideon had a problem and we have the same one. Most of "his" people were not choosing to live for God or to serve God, and neither are ours.

They were living in fear of death, and they were giving-in-to and worshiping false gods and idols in their lives. The exact same scenario holds true in our families, cities, and world today.

God asked Gideon to step out in faith for Him. God is challenging us with the exact same mission today.

Gideon obeyed God's command to stop compromising in his faith and to start following and worshiping God only. Will we?

People are watching for authentic leaders and they are starving for truth among a world crowded with false gods.

How can the next clans and warriors for God respond (Judges 6:34-35) if there are no "Gideon's" leading them?

Heavenly Father and God of Heaven's Armies, we pray for your Spirit to clothe us today with power. We are afraid and we are powerless, but make us bold and obedient to Your Word and Your ways. There is nothing special about us except You-in-us. May others see Your reflection and respond. Amen.

Then the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with power. ~Judges 6:34

Blessings, 

sarah     

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com