That said, I've been thinking lately about what it looks like when we're living for the Lord. About a month ago I wrote a paper for a Grad class about Gideon. I hardly remembered anything about him. He was that guy in the book of Judges who had the whole fleece episode. And apparently he was regarded as someone of great faith because the author of Hebrews includes him in his "Faith Hall of Fame" along with other less-savory Judges (Heb. 11:32). I assumed that Gideon was there because the whole fleece episode was some great act of faith (do you remember? He asked God to show him a sign that He would really do all that He had said).
But I was wrong. See, Gideon was actually a man of fear. He came from a lowly family and thought he wouldn't amount to much (Judges 6:15). He was afraid to live life as a follower of Yahweh, so when asked to tear down the altar of Baal, he did it at night so he wouldn't be caught (vs. 27). The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon and emboldened him to deliver Israel from the Midianites. But even though Gideon had been visited by the angel of the Lord (actually, the Lord Himself!), and had been given boldness and opportunity, he was still scared. And that's why he asked God for a sign. And God used all of these things to grow him into the man of faith he was intended to be. In fact, God knew ahead of time what He was going to do with Gideon--when He first approached Gideon, He addressed him as a valiant warrior. He saw the end-product, even if Gideon didn't.
Interesting to think about. Let's take this beyond coffee (yes, I'm drinking mine right now!). Sometimes God comes down and speaks to us clearly about our purpose. But let's be honest - we're not all Gideons and, for most of us, living a life of faith involves a much higher degree of mystery. What then, has God asked YOU to do? Specific life situations and callings aside (that's another post!), God has told us exactly what to do in life:
He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)If you're like Gideon, weak of faith (chronically, or even just occasionally), know that God isn't shaking His finger at you. He dealt graciously with Gideon, and He does the same with each of us, in our own way. Live for Him in whatever way He puts in front of you....and enjoy your coffee!
1 comment:
I, for one, love this blog post :). Its fitting to be reminded of this idea of "fleece casting". I often find myself casting out my own fleece for many decisions, or begging God for a sign. Maybe not so much because I don't have faith that He can do anything, but moreso because I doubt myself and my own ideas to which I worry so much are mine and NOT leadings.. therefore my fleece is often attributed to the need for God to clarify.
But recently a very good friend of mine mentioned being obedient to God in what you know for the season you are in. Some things in life take planning, but as for a full scope, God rarely gives that to us.. they just make us comfortable. She helped me to see that God wants us to fall madly in love with Him, and to be a good steward of today before He will necessarily give us the next step. But He is always faithful to provide the manna needed for not only today, but also the faith that the right portion will be provided for tomorrow.
My reading yesterday was ironically a favorite passage of mine:
"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you y being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or "What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:25-34
(Love you Laura.. so glad I can be here with you this month :) ~pook
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