I Think I Can

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Judges 21:1 Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife

O
The Israelites are in a battle against the tribe of Benjamin. In the heat of emotion, 400.000 of them make a vow that none of their daughters will ever marry someone from that tribe.

A
It’s pretty basic stuff. I know it in my heart. Yet there are times when I “make a vow” to God. Some promise that I’ll keep if He’ll just do what I need Him to do: or possibly not do something that I don’t want to happen. Either way, a vow is a silly action to take. The Bible even warns about making vows or oaths. Why? Mostly because the basic idea of a vow is, “I can do this. I can see this through. I can accomplish it.” Which, of course, makes it about me and my efforts. So it’s a pretty foolish thing to do. See? Pretty basic.

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Lord, show me the wisdom of trusting You in all things and never trusting my own abilities or strengths.

If You Can Use Anything, You Can Use Me

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Judges 3:31; 15:15; 1 Samuel 17:49

After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel

He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and killed a thousand men with it

Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth

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I have to admit that I find these verses really funny. Visualizing a guy kill 600 with a cattle prod. Another killing a thousand with a donkey jaw. And a kid killing a giant with a stone. It’s funny because we know that the Philistines had the most advanced weaponry of the time. They were considered to be pretty invincible. Yet, in every situation, God uses these nobodies with whatever they had in their hand.

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It’s what God does. He uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. And He uses the weak to overcome the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27). He can use whatever is at hand because it has nothing to do with my skill or my strength or my knowledge. It all has to do with Him! Of course it’s important that I understand what it doesn’t say as well. He doesn’t say that He’ll use MY foolishness. I need to remember that there’s a difference.

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Lord, continue to show me the folly of my own pride and ego when it comes to the Kingdom. Use whatever I have, whenever You can, however You will.

Living The Life

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Psalm 50:16-17
But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth,
Seeing you hate instruction And cast My words behind you

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He’s asking, “Why are you quoting Scripture? Why are you claiming promises when you continue to ignore the rest of my instruction?” In other words, they were acting like and speaking the language of believers. But all the while they were living opposite of the way that He had instructed them to live.

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It’s so easy to involve myself in all of the trappings of Christianity while, at the same time, saying and doing things that actually deny that relationship. And I think that God says, “If you’re gonna live like that, please don’t quote Scripture or try and give spiritual advice or align yourself with My church.” Because that would be misrepresenting Him to those around me. But I also need to remember that He’s not addressing the times when I fail and fall short. He’s addressing an ongoing heart condition that needs to come to grips with genuine relationship with Him.

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Lord, give me strength to live according to Your Word and will; and to represent you well. Show me my need to repent and be forgiven so that I can have the kind of “platform” to share Your life with others.

Give Him Whatever He Wants

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Judges 10:12-14
Also the Sidonians and Amalekites and Maonites oppressed you; and you cried out to Me, and I delivered you from their hand. Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress

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God had blessed them time and time again; over and over. And still they insisted on looking to other gods and serving them. So God says that He’s going to stop helping and blessing them.

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Whenever I’m buying coffee or lunch for someone, I’ll tell the server my order and then I’ll say, “And give my friend here anything he wants.” I’ve always said that the worst thing that can happen to a person is for God to let them have what they think is best for themselves. Because, when that happens, they see the true fruit of their decisions and choices. So He’s telling us to call on the god(s) that we’ve chosen when we get into troubled times. If it’s money, call out to your bank account. If it’s if it’s your stuff, cry out to your possessions. It won’t take long to see what kind of help you’ll receive. But when you cry out to the true, creator God, He’ll be there to help you and strengthen you.

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Lord, teach me to turn to You first in everything. To trust You in difficulties and doubts.

Crybabies

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Judges 2:4-5
So it was, when the Angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voices and wept.
Then they called the name of that place Bochim; and they sacrificed there to the Lord

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When God confronted them about their rebellion, sin, and disobedience, they broke down and cried out loud. Then they offered a sacrifice. Then they rebelled again.

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I’ve been known to cry like a little girl. It’s usually when I look at photos of my kids when they were little ‘cuz they no longer are. Or it might be when I watch those vids of military parents returning from deployment, surprising their kids. The point? Just because you cry, it doesn’t mean that your life has changed. So often, when I’m under the conviction of the Spirit and God is dealing with me about an issue in my life, it hits me emotionally and I begin to weep. But there’s no value in weeping if it’s not accompanied by real change in my heart and definite action in my life.

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Lord, the good news is that You already know my heart. And You know the work that You’re doing by Your Spirit. My desire is to be responsive to that work and to be more conformed to the image of Your Son.

They’re Outta Here!

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Judges 1:27-33
However, Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land. And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites under tribute, but did not completely drive them out.
Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; so the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
Nor did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron or the inhabitants of Nahalol; so the Canaanites dwelt among them, and were put under tribute.
Nor did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Acco or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob. So the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.
Nor did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh or the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but they dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were put under tribute to them

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The main point of the book of Judges is incomplete victory. The Israelites didn’t drive the enemy from the land so they never really took complete possession. They were told in chapter 2 that, if they didn’t completely drive them out, they would become a snare to them. They didn’t obey and, of course, the inevitable happened.

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Romans 13:14 says, “…make no provision for the flesh…” It’s the perfect metaphor for the Canaanites. If I try to make peace with the flesh, it’ll constantly trip me up. Self and holiness just don’t mix. It’s impossible. The enemies of the soul must be driven out or they’ll make havoc of my life.

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Lord, give me strength to deny the flesh; to take up my cross and to follow you. And to make no provision for the stuff that distracts me from serving You.

You Better Slow Down There Old Man

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Joshua 23:1 Now it came to pass, a long time after the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua was old, advanced in age

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“Joshua was old, advanced in age” That’s for sure. He was like 110 years old at this point. But he hadn’t really slowed down at all. He was still encouraging and exhorting and instructing and inspiring the people. He didn’t whine about it or complain. He continued to be faithful and to do what had to be done.

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I spoke with my District Supervisor today about this very thing. And we were both on the same page. I believe that God wants to use me until the day He calls me home. There are things to do today regardless of how old I might be; even if I was a late starter in the Kingdom or in ministry. The Bible is full of accounts of people for whom God had a plan even if they were in the later years of their life. I expect that I’m beginning to be passed more often in this race we’re in. But I do hope to finish with a burst of speed.

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Lord, if you’ll continue to provide opportunities, I’ll commit to taking them on in Your strength.

I’m in! Now what?

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1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall

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God delivered them from Egypt through a bunch of miracles. Then He wanted to take them directly to the promised land. But verses 6-12 tell us that; because of lust, idolatry, immorality, and complaining; Joshua and Caleb were the only ones to reach the land.

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And I begin to realize that, in the same way, God has miraculously delivered me from the bondage of sin. His desire is that I would lead a fruitful life; that I would walk in His Spirit; that I would be used to touch the lives of those around me so that they can experience the same deliverance and freedom. But the same sins that kept the Israelites from the promised land can prevent me from living the kind of full life that He has for me.

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Lord, strengthen my heart with the strength of Your Spirit so that I can actually influence others toward Your love for them.

It’ll Cost Ya

1 Corinthians 9:23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you

Because of Paul’s upbringing, family status, education, and social history, he was the recipient of many privileges. But, for the sake of the gospel, he laid many of them down and denied himself. He was committed to those to whom he ministered. So much so that he was willing to lay down his own rights that they might know the goodness of God and His salvation.

I find that I need to learn this kind of lifestyle regularly and often. We need to understand that ministering good news to people will always cost us something. It might be time; it might be finances; it might be physical help; it might be in prayer. But that’s God’s economy. We give so that others can benefit spiritually and eternally. So I never want to be an obstacle for people. Rather than being a stumbling block, I want to be a stepping stone.

Give me wisdom, Lord, to understand each situation in which I have opportunity to represent you. To comprehend the cost of investing in people and caring for their spirituality.

But I’ve Got So Much “Stuff” To Do

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Mark 6:30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.
31 And He said to them, “ Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat

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I’m in my office right now catching up on some very important stuff. My wife called me. I was expecting the usual chat about the day, the kids, and assorted other stuff. But she said something that went to an important issue. She said, “It’s your day off you know.”
“Yeah, but I was kind of bored at home and there’s stuff to do.”
“We should talk about your time off.”
“Okay.”
Then I read this passage as part of the Advent reading plan I’m doing right now. What a coincidence!

Jesus models something here that I and all of us probably need to understand better. It’s just this. If we don’t get away, we’ll fall apart. So many of the issues of modern man are traceable to daily stress; or as Jesus puts it, “…the cares of this life.” There is a rhythm to life that must not be ignored in which times of doing alternate with times of quietness and solitude, prayer, and contemplation.

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I need to get away daily to have quiet, quality time with the Lord. And then I need to get away weekly for some Sabbath rest in Him.

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Lord, you never fail to meet with me when I take time to meet with you. Remind me regularly of how important it is for me.