The Man Gideon: A Victim Turned Victor
Week 1: The Lowest of the low…will be used for mightiness.
Scripture Reading: Judges 6:1-16
Synopsis: We kick off our series on Gideon, a man who discovers his identity and calling.
Gideon was a mighty man of valor, but just like most people, he was first a victim; a victim of society’s ills and corruption, and was prey to the Midianites. He was born into the weakest clan in his society and was the weakest person within that clan; That automatically made him the weakest man in the land!
When the time came for God to save Israel, He decided to use the weakest man in the land to shame the wise and strong men. God never chooses the strongest men because if a man is already strong in his own might, how would God strengthen him? If David was the size of Goliath, scientists might have calculated the velocity, distance and the power used in defeating Goliath. This is a story of a man that was born and nurtured to exist and remain timid. However, this is also a story where we get to see and understand the Heart of our Father who predestined a man to save an entire nation of people.
[perfectpullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]This is a story of a man that was born and nurtured to be and stay timid.[/perfectpullquote]
It is strange how the society and conditions we are born into might not look like the right environment for the calling God has placed on us. Gideon was predestined to be a man of valor; a man through whom God would save Israel despite his past, lineage and traits. The Apostle Paul became one of the greatest Apostles that ever lived but he was first the exact opposite of everything he later became.
[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]I have come to realize that you cannot change whatever you have never been a part of; else you will end up breaking that which you have been called to fix.[/perfectpullquote]
If God released the gift of healing on a baby, by human standards, we will expect the child to be born into a Christian family that will help the child develop the gift. But by God’s standard, He might decide that the child will be born to a family of non-believers; a family with generational illness and the child might also have some form of illness. Remember, Jesus was born in a manger not in a palace and brought up in the society where many despised Him, but His call, was to save. The Priesthood that Samuel grew up in was corrupt but he turned out to be a great Prophet. I have come to realize that you cannot change whatever you have never been a part of; else you will end up breaking that which you have been called to fix. Don’t forget, God can use anyone or any circumstance. Will you say “Yes” to His call?
Memory Verse: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-28 NIV
Prayer: Father, remove every negative label that people have given to me. Also, remove every negative label that I have given myself. I choose to see myself through your Word, that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are your works, O God, so I pray that I begin to see myself as You see me. Thank you, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
Action Plan: Here are some activities for this week to help you put what you have read into action.
1. Write out some labels that have been attached to you? List at least three positive labels that you would like to adopt and cultivate?
2. Find Scriptures that match with your list of positive attributes and Speak them out loud to yourself in front of a mirror every day this week.
3. Document your thoughts and feelings regarding the first two task mentioned.
Send at least one of your Action Plan items to gkoffice@Godkulture.org to be entered into our Vision & Valor Raffle.