Hidden In Christ For The Win {DWITW 365}
The story of Gideon resounds with the symphony of the gospel. Gideon's’ story portrays the reality of an upside down kingdom - where God sent the weakest, most unassuming man to an oppressed people who needed a Savior in order that they might enter into fellowship with Him!
Gideon’s life not only reflects the meekness of the Lamb of God, but also the fierceness of the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
Ironically, Hebrews 11 starts the famous “hall of faith” with this man, Gideon. However, when we delve into the actual storyline of his life in Judges 6-9, where we find the record of his life, he is frightened and insecure, hiding in a winepress in order to do the job of threshing. Why was he hiding? Simply put: he was afraid - he was hiding so that the enemy armies would not plunder his meager lot of rations. It is easy to forget that the great men and women of the Bible were just like you and me. We, like them, can be frightened of the enemy and of his tactics against those we love - unsure of what the Lord is ultimately doing in allowing us to undergo some of the suffering we must endure. Gideon’s life not only reflects the meekness of the Lamb of God, but also the fierceness of the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
One thing is consistent throughout the biblical narrative, and that is that God uses the weakest and the least of us to show forth His power, and in so doing the powers are disarmed and brought to open shame!
“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”
- Colossians 2:13-15 ESV
Gideon started out insecure and unsure and as God spoke to him and encouraged him he grew to see and experience first hand the faithfulness of God. God discipled him throughout his journey of faith! Gideon’s confidence was in the Lord. He did not become arrogant but continued to declare the Lord as the Victor. His life is an example of someone who was discipled well. Gideon was always ready to listen and ask of God to ensure that he was not being presumptuous in his understanding of what God was doing through him. When we allow the Lord to disciple us, we too, can be used in mighty ways to confound the enemy and his cohorts. In order to be good disciples of Christ we must first be good listeners.
Have you ever noticed that your best friends are those who listen to you and, in turn, the ones to whom you learn to listen to? Good friendships are built on the principle of reciprocity in which each person values and responds to what the other is saying. Gideon and God had a friendship. When Gideon was unsure the Lord allowed him to talk and then assured him that He was with him.
“Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand. But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant. And you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.”
- Judges 7:9-11 ESV
We can have the same relationship with the Lord. God does not expect that we come to Him as a victorious foot soldier in His army, but He does show up in our weakness to make His name great through His power. When we respond to His voice, trusting in His power he strengthens our hands for the battle.
“Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues the peoples under me.”
- Psalm 144:1-2
In order to be good disciples of Christ we must first be good listeners.
You see, when we are desperate, the Lord shows up! We do not need to prove to God that we are capable, but we do need to admit our utter dependence upon Him and His strength in order to come out victorious in the battle. Overcoming is not about our human victories, but it is about declaring who has helped us to win - just like Gideon did. When we declare that our right standing with God is based on the blood of Jesus and not on anything you or I have accomplished, then just as Rend Collective sings we are more than conquerors through Christ! Let us run to the safety of our great refuge which is Christ. Let us die to our own strength and hide in Him! Let us testify as we ride on the steed of our victorious Conquering King!
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to seperate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- Romans 8:36-39 ESV
‘Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.’
- Revelation 12:10-11 ESV
Karen Savage wants to live in a world where Christ is Glorified. When she's not serving her family, you can find her serving others. Her favorite Scripture is John 15:7-8 ESV.