Another good morning! Judges chapter 8.
Resentment seems to be a theme for this chapter. What is resentment? How do we define it? In short, I think resentment is when we can't be happy for another's success or display of gifts and talents because our eyes are on ourselves. We want to make it all about us and not about the other person.
Resentment seems to be a breeding ground for jealousy and hate. It prevents one from helping others in need. Because we want those that seem better than us to fail so that we look better than they do. Resentment keeps the focus on self rather than on God and others. It promotes gossip. We feel we have to bad-mouth others so that we look better than they do. This goes against Romans chapter 12 verses 1 and 2 where we are told to honor others above ourselves.
Think how differently we would treat those we resent if we put this into practice. Think how we could rejoice together in the God given gifts and abilities of others. Think of how encouraging we could be to those around us if we were not focused on trying to get the focus on us.
I was caught off guard when I read the end of this chapter when Gideon took the gold he had and made an ephod. This ended up being an object that Israel worshipped and became a snare to Gideon and his family. I am reminded how quickly God can lose his place of Glory and be replaced with things of this world, even after a miracle so great!
Lord help me to not replace you with anything or anyone. Help me always give you the glory and praise! Help me be thankful for the successes of others. To encourage others for their God-given gifts and talents. Help me to honor others above myself so they look good versus trying to make myself look good or better than others.
Chapter 8 was another sad chapter to read in my opinion. God did so much for His people and they still didn’t seem to get it. There was selfishness, resentment and I think there was also a lack of belief and commitment to only serve the Lord. I also looked today at Hebrews 3:12-14.
“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”
We are not immune from the attack of the enemy. May we stay close to Jesus and not let our hearts become hardened as we continue to exhort one another.
The ApologetiX song that I chose for today is called That’s Unbelief, a parody of Bad Company.
https://youtu.be/Fdkzv0vumNo