Click the icon & UPDATE YOUR INFO! ...even if you think we have it. We are working to update all church databases and promise not to spam or sell your info.

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:

  • 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

Categories

no categories

Tags

no tags