R³ Devotional - Day 92
R³ Devotional - Day 92 Judges Chapter 8
By: Kyle Childress
The Crossing Over of Gideon
Gideon has led the people of Israel out of idolatry. He has defeated the Midianites with just 300 men. A great story of a man fulfilling his God given calling. Gideon’s faithfulness and pursuit of God’s direction has been one for the history books. Now he crosses the Jordan River. As he crosses the river, Gideon seems to cross over from a man seeking the will of God to a man seeking his own will. His men are exhausted, he has defeated Midian, now he wants the trophies of their Kings. In verse 5 we see Gideon stating, “I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna…” When asking for bread for his men, the officials of Succoth and Penuel turn him down thinking that he would fail. His response to these officials is littered with the reference of “I” will do this and this. Gideon has seemed to cross over from serving God to serving self. When he is successful the downward spiral continues. While he has the where with all to not become their King, he does take the spoils of war and creates a rival to Aarons golden calf that becomes a snare to himself and his family.
Real Life Principles:
Relevant Life Application:
When serving the Lord, we must always be careful to “get ourselves out of the way.” Gideon had a score to settle with the Kings of Midian. They had killed his brothers at Mt. Tabor and he was going to make them pay. While this attitude might be understandable and even justified, his agenda was not God’s agenda. His agenda was revenge. So many times in life we feel that we have to be the one who settles debt or an offense, when we just should pursue God’s direction and let him take care of the offender.
Ready- Life Action Steps:
Gideon has led the people of Israel out of idolatry. He has defeated the Midianites with just 300 men. A great story of a man fulfilling his God given calling. Gideon’s faithfulness and pursuit of God’s direction has been one for the history books. Now he crosses the Jordan River. As he crosses the river, Gideon seems to cross over from a man seeking the will of God to a man seeking his own will. His men are exhausted, he has defeated Midian, now he wants the trophies of their Kings. In verse 5 we see Gideon stating, “I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna…” When asking for bread for his men, the officials of Succoth and Penuel turn him down thinking that he would fail. His response to these officials is littered with the reference of “I” will do this and this. Gideon has seemed to cross over from serving God to serving self. When he is successful the downward spiral continues. While he has the where with all to not become their King, he does take the spoils of war and creates a rival to Aarons golden calf that becomes a snare to himself and his family.
Real Life Principles:
- It is so easy, even in our service to the Lord to get off track.
- Success in life, careers, and even ministry, can lead one to begin pursuing their own agenda.
- The fade from pursuing God to pursuing self can be gradual and almost unidentifiable to the person who begins to seek their own desires.
Relevant Life Application:
When serving the Lord, we must always be careful to “get ourselves out of the way.” Gideon had a score to settle with the Kings of Midian. They had killed his brothers at Mt. Tabor and he was going to make them pay. While this attitude might be understandable and even justified, his agenda was not God’s agenda. His agenda was revenge. So many times in life we feel that we have to be the one who settles debt or an offense, when we just should pursue God’s direction and let him take care of the offender.
Ready- Life Action Steps:
- Pray for God’s guidance and direction in all areas of your life.
- Find an accountability partner. Meet with them and pray with them regularly. Seek out someone who will tell you the truth when you need to hear it. Someone you can trust to help you stay on track and not become self-serving.
- Stay in God’s word. God’s word will help guide us and direct us in the right paths
Recent
Archive
2025
January
R³ Devotional - Day 1R³ Devotional - Day 2R³ Devotional - Day 3R³ Devotional - Day 4R³ Devotional - Day 5 R³ Devotional - Day 6R³ Devotional - Day 7R³ Devotional - Day 8R³ Devotional - Day 9R³ Devotional - Day 10R³ Devotional - Day 11R³ Devotional - Day 12R³ Devotional - Day 13R³ Devotional - Day 14R³ Devotional - Day 15R³ Devotional - Day 16R³ Devotional - Day 17R³ Devotional - Day 18R³ Devotional - Day 19R³ Devotional - Day 20R³ Devotional - Day 21R³ Devotional - Day 22R³ Devotional - Day 23R³ Devotional - Day 24R³ Devotional - Day 25R³ Devotional - Day 26R³ Devotional - Day 27R³ Devotional - Day 28R³ Devotional - Day 29R³ Devotional - Day 30R³ Devotional - Day 31
February
R³ Devotional - Day 32R³ Devotional - Day 33R³ Devotional - Day 34R³ Devotional - Day 35R³ Devotional - Day 36R³ Devotional - Day 37R³ Devotional - Day 38R³ Devotional - Day 39R³ Devotional - Day 40R³ Devotional - Day 41R³ Devotional - Day 42R³ Devotional - Day 43R³ Devotional - Day 44R³ Devotional - Day 45R³ Devotional - Day 46R³ Devotional - Day 47R³ Devotional - Day 48R³ Devotional - Day 49R³ Devotional - Day 50R³ Devotional - Day 51R³ Devotional - Day 52R³ Devotional - Day 53R³ Devotional - Day 54R³ Devotional - Day 55R³ Devotional - Day 56R³ Devotional - Day 57R³ Devotional - Day 58R³ Devotional - Day 59
March
R³ Devotional - Day 60R³ Devotional - Day 61R³ Devotional - Day 62R³ Devotional - Day 63R³ Devotional - Day 64R³ Devotional - Day 65R³ Devotional - Day 66R³ Devotional - Day 67R³ Devotional - Day 68R³ Devotional - Day 69R³ Devotional - Day 70R³ Devotional - Day 71R³ Devotional - Day 72R³ Devotional - Day 73R³ Devotional - Day 74R³ Devotional - Day 75R³ Devotional - Day 76R³ Devotional - Day 77R³ Devotional - Day 78 R³ Devotional - Day 79R³ Devotional - Day 80R³ Devotional - Day 81R³ Devotional - Day 82R³ Devotional - Day 83R³ Devotional - Day 84R³ Devotional - Day 85R³ Devotional - Day 86R³ Devotional - Day 87R³ Devotional - Day 88R³ Devotional - Day 89R³ Devotional - Day 90
Categories
no categories