OUR LORD WORKS THROUGH WEAKNESS

OUR LORD WORKS THROUGH WEAKNESS

And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” And the LORD said to him, “But I will be with you. —Judges 6:15-16

The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. ⁷ And the LORD said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” —Joshua 7:2-7

As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. —Luke 7:15

            We may feel insignificant, but when God is with us, we are not!  Gideon felt insignificant by himself, but our Lord said He would be with him.  With that Gideon saw our Lord reduce his army from 32,000 to 300 or just under 1% of the men he started out with— 1%!  Our Lord wanted to show Gideon who was actually giving him the victory when it happened.

            So it is with us.  Jesus said, “For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).  But He also said that “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).  He will never leave or forsake those who follow Him and He will be with those who follow Him right to the end of the age (Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20).  We can trust “that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”  We will bear fruit with patience and there will be others that also bear fruit with patience that have believed through our message (John 17:20).

            God is not limited by our limitations.  He can accomplish whatever he desires through whoever He decides to work through.  Are you available for Him to work in and through You.  Be pleased, Dear Father, to do whatever You desire in me and through me.  May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son, Jesus.  And may this all be for You Honor and Glory. Michael W. Smith – Sovereign Over Us (Official Live Video) (youtube.com)