Glory. Deborah took time after the victory to give the glory to God. But she also recognized that Israel won because "the people willingly offer[ed] themselves." And she chastised the tribes who didn't provide soldiers.
Surrender. Full surrender to whatever the Lord asks of us - "to the point of death" (v.18) - is required in order to see Him do mighty works through us. Otherwise, we end up on the sidelines watching the triumph of others.
Victory. A wise person, who lives and speaks and works with prudence, joins the victory parade and is satisfied.
Live it Out. Leaders rise to the top as they follow Christ, live pure lives, and teach others how to be like them. We are all trained and taught by the grace of God. When we follow Him, are 100% sold out to Him, it shows in the way we live and speak. That's when God does great things.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Monday, August 13, 2012
Judges 4, Proverbs 12, Titus 1
It doesn't matter who you are. If you have a personal relationship with God and obey Him, He will work through you to accomplish His purposes.
Deborah could have said, "I'm a woman. I can't be a leader." But she obeyed the voice of God. She knew it was His voice because she spent time with Him.
Barak said, "I'll only go if you go, Deborah, but if you go, I will." His obedience was conditioned upon Deborah's. He didn't know God the way she did. Barak didn't have the same faith and trust as Deborah, but he did obey. And I'm sure the experience taught him to know and trust God in a fresh way.
Jael wasn't a soldier or a prophetess. She was a wife. But she evidently had great faith in the Lord. She was a distant relative of Moses and lived in a household that followed the Lord. She could have said, "I'm just a housewife. What You want me to do is dangerous." But she obeyed the leading of God, and His purpose was accomplished.
Righteous living means being honest, truthful, humble, wise, and a hard worker. The difference between a righteous person and an unrighteous is made evident by these qualities, or lack of them. But what makes a person righteous is the Source of wisdom: the Lord. A relationship with Him produces righteous living.
"They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him . . ." Titus1:16. Here is the difference between the righteous and unrighteous. Between those who have faith and those who say they do. Between those who talk the talk and those who walk the walk. Genuine faith is lived out through obedience.
Deborah could have said, "I'm a woman. I can't be a leader." But she obeyed the voice of God. She knew it was His voice because she spent time with Him.
Barak said, "I'll only go if you go, Deborah, but if you go, I will." His obedience was conditioned upon Deborah's. He didn't know God the way she did. Barak didn't have the same faith and trust as Deborah, but he did obey. And I'm sure the experience taught him to know and trust God in a fresh way.
Jael wasn't a soldier or a prophetess. She was a wife. But she evidently had great faith in the Lord. She was a distant relative of Moses and lived in a household that followed the Lord. She could have said, "I'm just a housewife. What You want me to do is dangerous." But she obeyed the leading of God, and His purpose was accomplished.
Righteous living means being honest, truthful, humble, wise, and a hard worker. The difference between a righteous person and an unrighteous is made evident by these qualities, or lack of them. But what makes a person righteous is the Source of wisdom: the Lord. A relationship with Him produces righteous living.
"They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him . . ." Titus1:16. Here is the difference between the righteous and unrighteous. Between those who have faith and those who say they do. Between those who talk the talk and those who walk the walk. Genuine faith is lived out through obedience.
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