Friday, October 26

But I am the least of the least....

A dear friend of mine has stood in the gap with me and has spoke words of God's truth for me to hear. It is visions from people like her that have inspired, edified, and affirmed me in the struggles to be "allowed" by man to do what God has called me to do.

She gave me this verse in Judges 6:12 that she said spoke of me and the struggle I have recently endured about 'people's opinions about my call'.

"The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?""

We all know Gideon's response to this call of the Lord, what could be called a bit of hesistation! Gideon himself has severe issues with the call,

"But Lord ," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

Funny thing is, Gideon asked God why the Israelites were having to endure the Midianite raids if the Lord was with the people....

And Gideon didn't stop there, but requested to have the Lord wait for him to give an offering, and asked again for confirmation of the call to save his people, Israel, with the fleece.....not once, but twice! Finally, though, once Gideon was convinced....he was convinced. He is considered one of the greatest generals Israel ever had, not too bad for the least of the least of the least.

And, as this devotion points out, we need to reach a point of decision; full commitment or full disvowing. There is no in-between.

"Somewhere in your life you should have a vision that humanly speaking makes no sense, something you know could never happen without God. When you first receive it, something inside you will say, "I will" while everything around you is saying, "You can't." ....Quit asking people who they think you are. Ask God! If He endorses you what difference does their opinions make?"

As Paul put it in his letter to the Collossians;

"But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation --IF you continue in your faith, ESTABLISHED and FIRM, NOT removed from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, HAVE BECOME A SERVANT."

I cannot do what I am called to do, humanly speaking, but I have the faith that the gospel I know and the Lord proclaimed in it IS capable. And the promises He has made regarding my submitting to the call are valid and true. It's ridiculous to think that I can defeat other's negative opinion of where God has called me to go. And it is foolish to think that there is something I can do, say, or reveal that will overcome their reluctance to follow suit and support this adventure God has blessed me to go on. So what!

God has called me, and God keeps on proving without a doubt that He is fully capable and fully aware of the demands He's put upon my shoulders and He will be faithful to see me through. I cannot do what He calls me to do, but I can surrender myself to the call for Him to do what He would do.

To share in the Kingdom work that He owns is only possible when I allow Him to work through me, a fragile and broken man who endures for the kingdom.

As the Angel of the Lord told Gideon......

"The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."

I will gladly suit up and stand on the battlefield with the other warriors God has enabled for His glory and praise.

Am I fearful? Yes, but my Lord is just and good and would not call me to harm.

Am I sure? Yes, as much as God has worked in my life so far, there is much He has given to be used for the Kingdom glory.

Am I perfect? No, but as a MAN in quest of God, I will move in my broken and fearful state upon feet supported by a Savior's love and a burden made lighter by my Father's assurance.

I will be Issachar, a rawboned donkey, bent to the burden of others to bear them with love and endurance. As a warrior, I will stand accountable in the Army of the MOST HIGH GOD, shield and broadsword, weld in the imperfect hands of this warrior and swung by the might of the Savior's own.

In victory shall we all be,
Jim