DAY 1 – October 26, 2009

TITLE: “Criticism”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 8:1-9 & 22- 27

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 8:1-3

KEY VERSE: “Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?” And they criticized him sharply.” Judges 8:1

In his book, The Youth Builder, Jim Burns talks about the importance of building up young people with affirmation and trust. What he says about criticism applies to every age group, “For every critical comment we receive, it takes nine affirming comments to even out the negative effect in our life. Most young people receive more critical comments a day than encouraging ones. You can have a very positive, life transforming effect when you develop a ministry of affirmation.”

Gideon faced criticism from the Ephraimites. They were jealous of Gideon, questioning why he had not called them to fight Midian. The scriptures say they criticized him sharply. It is interesting that Gideon had done what God had called him to do, the way God had told him to do it, yet he was still criticized. Living for God and doing what God calls you to do does not exempt you from criticism.

Gideon was able to deal with the criticism knowing that he was in the center of God’s will, doing what God had called him to do. Our priority must always be to please God first. English Evangelist, George Whitefield (1714-1770), learned that it was more important to please God than to please men. Knowing he was doing what was honoring to the Lord kept him from discouragement when he was falsely accused by his enemies. At one point in his ministry, Whitefield received a vicious letter accusing him of wrongdoing. His reply was brief and courteous, "I thank you heartily for your letter. As for what you and my other enemies are saying against me, I know worse things about myself than you will ever say about me. With love in Christ, George Whitefield." He didn't try to defend himself. He was much more concerned about pleasing the Lord. 

Criticism can come in a variety of colors from a variety of sources. It can come at times when we least expect it. Criticism is something we all have to deal with in our lives at one time or another. The real issue is how we deal with it.

Gideon responded to the criticism with a humble spirit of meekness. He points out that God had given the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb into their hands. In humility Gideon said, “What was I able to do compared to you?” Gideon also responded with grace and wisdom. The answer of Gideon was an excellent illustration of the maxim of Proverbs 15:1, it says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Seek to please God in all you do. Surrender the criticism to the Lord and ask Him to help you always respond in the way that He would have you to.

DAY 2 – October 27, 2009

TITLE: “PERSEVERE!”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 8:1-9 & 22- 27

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 8:4-5

KEY VERSE: “Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it.” Judges 8:4

The story is told that Andrew Jackson's boyhood friends just couldn't understand how he became a famous general and the President of the United States. They knew of other men who had greater talent, but who never succeeded. One of Jackson's friends said, "Why, Jim Brown, who lived right down the pike from Jackson, was not only smarter but he could throw Andy three times out of four in a wrestling match. But look where Andy is now." Another friend responded, "How did there happen to be a fourth time? Didn't they usually say three times and out?" "Sure, they were supposed to, but not Andy. He would never admit he was beat -- he would never stay 'throwed.' Jim would get tired, and on the fourth try Andy would throw him and be the winner." Picking up on that idea, someone has said, "The thing that counts is not how many times you are 'throwed,' but whether you are willing to stay 'throwed'."

Like Gideon and the 300 men, we may face many setbacks and disappointments in our journey. We may find ourselves exhausted from the day. However, like Gideon and his men, we must keep up the pursuit. Paul wrote, “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” II Timothy 2:22

We must keep on keeping on. Others may let us down, but we must keep on keeping on pursing the things God has laid on our hearts. The apostle Paul wrote, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

The word persevere comes to mind as we reflect on this story of Gideon. God has called each of us to persevere and complete the race He has given us to run. Scripture instructs, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

Run your race today with perseverance and don’t give up. Keep leaning on the Lord for the strength you need to keep on keeping on. Pursue faithfully the mission and call God has placed upon your heart. Persevere!

DAY 3 – October 28, 2009

TITLE: “WHY SHOULD WE?”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 8:1-9 & 22- 27

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 8:6-9

KEY VERSE: “But the officials of Succoth said, “Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread to your troops?” Judges 8:6

Years ago, my wife and I decided to purchase a Beta format instead of a VHS format of a VCR. It was a big mistake for us as we later realized the VHS format became the main format used in VCR’s. It has been reported that selfishness was at the heart of why the Beta Technology died.

In its January 25, l988 issue, TIME provided an insight on selfishness and its corollary, sharing about the introduction of the videocassette recorder, the article said, "The company had made a crucial mistake. While at first Sony kept its Beta technology mostly to itself, JVC, the Japanese inventor of the VHS format, shared its secret with a raft of other firms. As a result, the market was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the VHS machines being produced."

This drastically undercut Sony's market share. The first year, Sony lost 40% of the market, and by 1987, it controlled only 10%. So, now Sony has, jumped on the VHS bandwagon. While it still continues to make Beta-format VCRs (interestingly a higher quality technology) Sony's switch to VHS, according to TIME, will likely send Beta machines to "the consumer-electronics graveyard." As history revealed, it did.

Selfishness is the opposite of sharing. Gideon came to the officials of Succoth and later to Peniel, asking them to share bread with them. Instead of discovering a spirit of sharing, they encountered a spirit of selfishness. Gideon and his men were met with inhospitality. The people were more concerned about their own welfare than the needs of Gideon and his men. With selfishness they turned Gideon and his men away hungry.

Selfishness will always get in the way of ministering to others. The amazing thing about selfishness is the way it can come back to impact and hurt the one who is selfish, as it did in the case of those who were selfish towards Gideon and his men. C.R. Gibson in his book, Wellsprings of Wisdom tells of Ralph L. Woods, an ambitious farmer unhappy about the yield of his crops, heard of a highly recommended new seed corn. He bought some and produced a crop that was so abundant, his astonished neighbors asked him to sell them a portion of the new seed. But the farmer, afraid that he would lose a profitable competitive advantage, refused. The second year the new seed did not produce as good a crop, and when the third-year crop was still worse, it dawned upon the farmer that his prize corn was being pollinated by the inferior grade of corn from his neighbors' fields. Selfishness carries with it a cost. Surrender selfishness to the Lord and ask God to give you a sharing and generous heart.

DAY 4 – October 29, 2009

TITLE: “THE RULERSHIP DECISION”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 8:1-9 & 22- 27

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 8:22-23

KEY VERSE: “But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you.” Judges 8:23

Gideon made a rulership decision. The Israelites had come to him when the victory was completed with a request. They said to Gideon, “Rule over us-you, your son, and your grandson-because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.” Judges 8:22. From the Israelites perspective, Gideon had earned the right to be king. He had delivered them from the bondage they were in.

Their request was not only that Gideon would rule over them, but that rulership would be passed on to his son and grandson. From a human perspective, this would seem like a wonderful legacy to leave his family. Yet Gideon refused the invitation.

Gideon knew that he could not rule over them for they already had a ruler. God, Himself, was on the throne. He was the one who won the victory over the Gideonites. The reduction of the army of Gideon to 300 men served as a visual reminder that the victory was the Lord’s. He alone was King.

Gideon honored the Lord and reminded them that the Lord would be their ruler. God alone is King. Have you made the rulership decision in your life? God alone is King. He alone is to sit on the throne of our heart and lives. The throne cannot be shared with another. He alone is the King of Kings and worthy of our worship.

“O worship the King, all glorious above,
O gratefully sing His power and His love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

O tell of His might, O sing of His grace,
Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space,
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.” Robert Grant

DAY 5 – October 30, 2009

TITLE: “SNARES”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 8:1-9 & 22- 27

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: JUDGES 8:24-27

KEY VERSE: “Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.” Judges 8:27

Last weekend, Amanda had a day off of school on my day off, so we decided to go “yurting” at the coast. We had reserved a yurt at Bandon State Park. Since the weather seemed nice, I tied my bike to the rack on top of the van and put Amanda’s bike in the back. While there we were able to do a couple of nice bike rides together. On one of those rides, we rode by the river before it flows into the ocean and noticed several floats signifying crab pots that had been placed there. At the campfire ring by the yurt, there were crab legs left in the fire pit. They served as evidence that crabs had been caught.

Gideon had made some choices that had resulted in a snare to himself and his family. The scripture says that Gideon asked the people to give an earring from the share of the plunder. They gladly gave it to him. Gideon spread out a garment and had each one throw a ring into it. The weight of the gold rings came to seventeen hundred shekels. Gideon then took the gold and made it into an ephod which he placed in his town.

This ephod became an object of worship. It seems the people began to worship the ephod instead of the Lord, who gave the victory. They were unfaithful to the Lord.

The additional tragedy is reported that it became a snare to Gideon. The choice we make today can result in challenges in our tomorrows. Sometimes things that seem innocent can become snares. Due to the potential danger of snares, we must keep our eyes always on the Lord, looking to Him for guidance in the choices we make and strength to do what is right. The Psalmist said, “My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare.” Psalm 25:15. With sensitivity to the Spirit of the Lord and His leading, we must be alert. Paul instructed the church, “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.” I Thessalonians 5:6

Ask the Lord to open your eyes to the snares that the enemy wants to use in your life. Seek His face and will in every choice you make. Peter warned, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” I Peter 5:8. Watch for the snares.