September 3, 2024
Derek Smith
Lead Pastor
Judges 3:31
After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel.
The time of the Judges was a dark time in Israel’s history. Scripture tells us that every man simply did what was right in his own eyes instead of following the Lord. In the midst of this dark period, however, there were some bright spots. Israel would fall into seasons of sin and then cry out for deliverance, and every time God answered their prayers and raised up a deliverer, a judge for Israel. In this we see a beautiful picture of the gospel. We too are a depraved people in bondage to the enemy, but God raised up a deliverer, His own Son Jesus Christ!
Snuck quietly within the pages of the book of Judges is a one sentence testimony of an obscure judge named Shamgar. Shamgar was a simple man from a no-name town and a non-descript family. There was nothing particularly miraculous or supernatural about Shamgar, at least in the world’s eyes, yet God also used Him to deliver Israel. Shamgar is a powerful testimony of faithfulness. As one Pastor I know once said, “Shamgar did what he could with what he had right where he was for the glory of God.” It encourages me so much to know this is all God asks of us! Child of God, know today that all the Lord asks of you and I is to do the best we can with what we have right where we are for His glory. He’s not asking us to change the world or to save mankind. He’s asking us to just serve the person right in front of us today and share the good news of Jesus to one person at a time. He asks us to simply follow His will and rely on His grace to accomplish the purpose for which He sends us. It’s not for us to question the tasks we are assigned or the gifts we are given to accomplish those assignments. It is our job to just be faithful to use whatever resources, gifts, and abilities we have to point others to the cross of Christ.
One sentence….that’s all that was said about Shamgar....but that one sentence is a mouth full of faithfulness. If only one sentence was written about your life what would it say? Would it be a one-liner of faithfulness or an epitaph of selfishness? Would it include giving and serving? Would it refer to the deliverance of others from their futile way of life or just a note about the comfortable worldly life you live? At our funerals someone will stand and talk about our lives. Our obituaries will be on the funeral home website or in the paper one day. What will they say? Let’s live in such a way that history will declare we lived a simple life of faithfulness to the Lord.
Lead Pastor
Judges 3:31
After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel.
The time of the Judges was a dark time in Israel’s history. Scripture tells us that every man simply did what was right in his own eyes instead of following the Lord. In the midst of this dark period, however, there were some bright spots. Israel would fall into seasons of sin and then cry out for deliverance, and every time God answered their prayers and raised up a deliverer, a judge for Israel. In this we see a beautiful picture of the gospel. We too are a depraved people in bondage to the enemy, but God raised up a deliverer, His own Son Jesus Christ!
Snuck quietly within the pages of the book of Judges is a one sentence testimony of an obscure judge named Shamgar. Shamgar was a simple man from a no-name town and a non-descript family. There was nothing particularly miraculous or supernatural about Shamgar, at least in the world’s eyes, yet God also used Him to deliver Israel. Shamgar is a powerful testimony of faithfulness. As one Pastor I know once said, “Shamgar did what he could with what he had right where he was for the glory of God.” It encourages me so much to know this is all God asks of us! Child of God, know today that all the Lord asks of you and I is to do the best we can with what we have right where we are for His glory. He’s not asking us to change the world or to save mankind. He’s asking us to just serve the person right in front of us today and share the good news of Jesus to one person at a time. He asks us to simply follow His will and rely on His grace to accomplish the purpose for which He sends us. It’s not for us to question the tasks we are assigned or the gifts we are given to accomplish those assignments. It is our job to just be faithful to use whatever resources, gifts, and abilities we have to point others to the cross of Christ.
One sentence….that’s all that was said about Shamgar....but that one sentence is a mouth full of faithfulness. If only one sentence was written about your life what would it say? Would it be a one-liner of faithfulness or an epitaph of selfishness? Would it include giving and serving? Would it refer to the deliverance of others from their futile way of life or just a note about the comfortable worldly life you live? At our funerals someone will stand and talk about our lives. Our obituaries will be on the funeral home website or in the paper one day. What will they say? Let’s live in such a way that history will declare we lived a simple life of faithfulness to the Lord.
Posted in Daily Devos