JUDGES MOMENT – (21MAR19) After God gave Gideon the victory
over the Midianites, the Israelites wanted to make him their ruler, but Gideon
rightly declined and told them that God was their leader. Unfortunately, he did
something that caused them to worship him instead of God by making himself a
golden ephod and setting it up in the town. The Bible says that the Israelites prostituted
themselves by worshiping it and it became a thorn in Gideon and his family’s
side. One of the huge mistakes that many Christian leaders do today is allow
for their members, congregants, and followers to worship them. Many leaders
have allowed their titles, status, fame, popularity, and money to prevent them
from being servant-leaders. The people have become more concerned with
preserving the reputation of their leader than following the guidelines of the
Bible in holding their leaders accountable as being true servants of God. Leaders
are brainwashing their people to protect them at all cost rather than hold them
up to Godly standards as written in the Word of God. Unfortunately, this is
causing many people to follow their man-made gods over the cliff into ungodly
compromise and fellowship with the things of the world. Judgment, however,
begins at the house of God and those who follow down this path will see that its
end leads to destruction if they do not repent. God will have no other god
before Him and that includes His leaders. Something to ponder…
QUESTION OF THE DAY – (21MAR19) As soon as Gideon died, the
Israelites turned back to their idolatrous ways. Why was it that Israel only
remained faithful as long as they had a righteous judge to lead them? Could it
be that they were following the man rather than following God? Could it be that
their hearts were not sold out for God and this is why they were easily able to
revert back to idolatry? Time and time again, we keep seeing the same rebellion
against Israel take place throughout the chapters of the Bible, which lets us
know that man has a natural rebellion against the things of God. Nevertheless,
one can choose to serve Him with all their heart, soul, and mind. Loving God
and being obedient is a choice that we all have. We should never follow after
man, but follow after God. In that way, our dedication to Him will be opposite
of what Israel’s was, and that is – unwavering. Something to ponder…
JUDGES MOMENT – (21MAR19) Abimelek, Gideon’s son with his
concubine, decided that he wanted to be in power. Therefore, he thought that he
would rally some people behind him and eliminate what he deemed to be
competition. Gideon had seventy sons with his many wives, so Abimelek killed
all of his brothers with the exception of the youngest one because he had hidden
himself. This caused division in the family because a town sided with one to do
harm to the others, but in the end, they each turned on one another. The lust
for power has caused many to fall into sin. Politicians tear each other down
every election season for the sake of power with lies, digging up dirt on their
opponent, malicious propaganda and more. Church leaders compete with one
another to have the highest status, build the largest church, get the most
money, and score the largest attendance numbers. Organizations and their ambitious
employees will sometimes sleep their way to the top or walk over others to get
there despite who they have to hurt. Families will often use manipulation,
deception, scapegoating, gossip, and lying to obtain power over things, places,
and money. Many want power and will do anything to get it, but this is not God’s
way. God punished Abimelek for what he did, and he died in the end. People’s
lust for power comes from the devil because he too wanted power, but it did not
belong to him – it belonged to God. God elevates those He chooses in His timing.
When elevation is done His way, it will not be at the expense of hurting others.
Something to ponder…
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