To Rule or to Serve

Judges 8:23 (NRSVue) - Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.”

Gideon was a judge and a man of war.

But before he was either, he was a farmer who hid from the Midianites.

Although Gideon’s faith was small, God used him.

God used Gideon and a small army of 300 to defeat the Midianites.

What we learn from God is twofold.

God can and does use those whom He chooses.

God also takes what is initially a small faith and turns it into a bigger one.

After the victory, the Israelites wanted Gideon to rule over them.

Most would be tempted to have both rule and authority.

Gideon declined both.

Centuries later, Christ dwelt among us.

He also spoke of the importance of humility and service.

He spoke of this when he denounced the Scribes and the Pharisees.

Matthew 23:11 (NRSVue) - The greatest among you will be your servant.

But Christ did more than speak about service.

He demonstrated this as well.

In John 13, Christ washes the feet of his disciples.

John 13:13-15 (NRSVue) - You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

In fact, His entire life upon earth was an example of what it means to serve.

Christ reached out to the sick, the outcast, and the downtrodden.

In fact, He served all mankind in the most selfless act of all.

He willingly laid down His life in order that we may live.

So, like Gideon, may we resist the temptations of power and rule.

And, like Christ, may we welcome the opportunities to serve which surround us daily.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 1, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, September 8, 2023

Remember Those Who are in Prison

 

Genesis 39:20-21 (NRSVue) - And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; he remained there in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love; he gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.

There is much wisdom in the Old Testament.

The account of Joseph is a prime example.

Joseph faced much in the way of adversity.

Sold into slavery by his brothers, he wound up in prison after being falsely accused.

But even in prison, God’s steadfast love never diminished.

God was with Joseph even in prison.

As a result, even Joseph’s jailer was moved to find favor in him.

The New Testament finds Paul and Silas imprisoned.

Their crime? They revealed the truth about the abilities of a slave whose owners profited from her.

But like Joseph, God’s steadfast love was with them.

Other prisoners were moved by their prayers and hymns.

Acts 16:25 (NRSVue) - About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

God’s love remains as steadfast today as it was centuries ago.

The life, death and saving power of the resurrected Christ serve as proof.

But it does not take concrete and iron bars to make a prison.

In fact, many are confined in prisons of their own creation.

Doubt, fear, jealousy, anger, bigotry, and the desire for revenge merely begin a list of self-made prisons.

But the steadfast love of God can be found in even the darkest of prisons.

It can even be found in prisons of our own creation.

We must remember this.

Moreover, our lives must bear witness to this.

As we think about those imprisoned, let us pray for them.

Let us also pray for God to reveal to us how we may best serve them.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 18, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, August 25, 2023