MIGHTY MAN OF VALOUR
Today’s Reading: Judges 6
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
Some of the excavations from the tel of Jericho show the foundation of an old tower and walls. The Tower of Jericho is an 8.5-metre-tall (28 ft) stone structure. Regular readers will remember “The Palace of Eglon” and the fact that Jericho was rebuilt by the Midianites who were still settled here at the time of Gideon.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Judges 6:12
And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valour!”
When God calls a person to service, He chooses someone who is humble and has a heart to serve others. That person, genuinely called of God, will be sensitive to God’s leading day by day. It has been said that God is not looking for ability, but availability. He often equips the most unlikely people for His purposes, great and small. God uses people who are willing to risk everything for the cause of God. Gideon did this when he destroyed the altar of Baal and the image which his own father had built. When Gideon built an altar to the Lord and burned the wooden image under the sacrifice to the true God, he established his leadership. He was also very human and needed confirmation from God. The sign of the wet and dry fleece gave him additional confidence.
The God-called leadership of the Church was confirmed with signs of God’s presence. In Acts 2:42-47 we read of God’s confirmation of His call on the lives of the Apostles. The sign which indicated God’s call on Gideon was that the people supported him. When we recognize the call of God on someone’s life, we need to support that person in any way we can.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, help me to find ways to support those You have genuinely called into some form of leadership in Your cause. I know I can’t support everyone, therefore guide me in knowing where to put my support. Bless my Pastor and in particular those who are effective in bringing new people into a relationship with You, O God. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
When the Roman Catholic Bishop of Calgary, Bishop Henry, took a strong stand in favour of “one man, one woman” marriage, he was maligned terribly by those who opposed his stand. I called him on the telephone and my first words were a quote from the angel who appeared to Gideon. I quoted the old translation of the words found in Judges 6:12, “Hail, thou mighty man of valour.” He laughed and so did I. He encouraged me in my campaign to see marriage retained as it had been throughout human history. We lost that battle in the House of Commons and in the Senate of Canada. I received a call from the then Prime Minister, Paul Martin, who wanted to thank me for a book I had sent him. It was kind of him to call. However, the conversation went downhill when I said something to this effect… “Sir, you have led Canada in a direction which will eventually prove to be most destructive to the human family…God’s plan is one man, one woman.” I believed then and still believe that to be true. I love people and, therefore, I want only what I believe would be best for everyone. I believe I’m following Jesus in this. Check out Matthew 19:4-6.
Yours to encourage all who serve the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ to take a stand for what is right in God’s eyes,
David
Here is a view from the tel of Jericho showing some of the modern town of Jericho. In the distance is the traditional Mount of Temptation, where Jesus was tempted by Satan following His baptism in the Jordan, not far east of here.
amen to the stand on marriage! Christians need to speak up and out for issues that God has instituted! we can’t do much about public schools but if we believe in God than we can support Christian schools, We can help children to attend! They are expensive, shouldn’t be but they are! Pray for a friend to stop smoking! Pray for a friend who lost her job! Pray for a husband to raise his son and daughter! They all need God! God bless everyone!
Amen !!!!!
Lianne Hogg
I also believe in one and one women marriage
WOW!
I have just read the front page of the February 2nd Anglican Journal.
The headline “Don’t change canon, says commission” gives me some hope. Andre Forget reports that the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order has urged the Anglican Church of Canada not to amend its marriage canon (church law) to allow the marriage of same sex couples, saying such a move would “cause great distress for the Communion as a whole, and for its ecumenical relationships”.
Let’s continue to pray for wisdom for our leaders.
Shalom,
Graham.
2012 Holy Land Yellow Bus.
Don,t be afraid and let your opinion be known when it is Gods will you are proclaiming. Max. Christ the Redeemer Anglican Mission Pender Harbour BC
What is your feeling on cremation
to me cremation happens after a person dies. I don’t have a problem with it and I know of people who chose cremation because it was a money issue. if a person makes their wishes known and wish cremation than I think it is okay to follow those wishes….any other opinions?????
We lost another battle when the court struck down the ban against doctor assisted suicide last week. The focus should be on pain management and helping those living with challenges to manage more effectively. In my experience most don’t want to die they just want to end their suffering so there needs to be other options other than death to do that. I’m just praying Canada really doesn’t go down this slippery slope. If a person wants to refuse medical intervention so they can die a natural death when there is really no hope of improvement that is one thing, but asking a doctor to give something to cause death that is another thing.
My life has been difficult and I often lose hope situation will ever improve. And I wonder if this is my life with Christ, I shudder to think what it would be like without Him. So I do understand the temptation to end’s one’s life, to want to escape what sometimes feels like a life not worth living. But I know God is a God of life and choosing death deliberately to me feels like I would be choosing Satan over Him.
Yes we all are going to die in our flesh because that is consequence of sin coming into the world, but if for me, living despite the difficulties I am experiencing is the one thing, and maybe the only thing I give our Lord at the moment to show how much I love Him, believe Him, and honor Him as the author and creator of Life.
God bless you Donna! God I pray You will hold Donna safely in Your arms, comfort her, bring her joy, peace and grace and Your unconditional love In Jesus Name We Pray AMEN
Deuteronomy 30: 19 Choose life and blessing, not death and curses so that you and your seed might live.
Amen, Donna and Doreen, my feelings as well. Wonderful sermon on the Beatudes at church this morning. Blessings to all. Eleanor M.
Also agree with you David, Donna and Doreen. The story of Gideon is a statement that God can use all of us as it’s His strength not ours we rely on. Blessings!
Like you Donna I was so sad by the court on assisted suicide I hope that more attention be put to palliative care.
As for the sacred union of marriage I am unshakecable and pray for every denomination to publically refuse to compromise.
God bless you all
Xxx Carole
So great of you to fill Paul Martin in on what happens if we don’t follow God’s plans.
You are such a blessing to mankind Rev. What an honour to be doing a bible study with you and yours. Thank you.
Bill & Gloria Gaither – God Will Take Care of You [Live]: http://youtu.be/-ORXnfjQAXA
Families are under attack as never before: Heavenly Father in Jesus Name I pray for your protection and restoration of families: Where children once again can feel safe in their homes, where Fathers and Mothers are united in their guidance and love for their children.
With one father and one mother, under the guidance of The Heavenly Father.
“What God has joined, let no man separate” were the words that came to me as I was with a counsellor who was pushing for separation. We are all under fire, but my Lord gave me His Word at a time of intense trial and I believed Him. Let Truth and Love live in our hearts, always.
PRAISE THE LORD AND A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SPEAK UP! YES, i AGREE, SPEAK UP WHEN IT IS GOD’S WORD, FOR INSTANCE THE MARRIAGE ISSUE, THE TATOO ISSUE ALSO, I BELIEVE SCRIPTURE SAYS NOT TO CUT OR PIERCE OUR BODIES BECAUSE GOD LIVES INSIDE US, AND IF WE CUT UP THE BODY WE ARE CUTTING INTO GOD
At the end of the day God loves the sinner through the good bad and the ugly! Thank you dear Lord, thank you.