Derek Smith, Lead Pastor LHBC

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.

Charles Plumb was a US Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and later lectured on lessons learned from that experience.

One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, “You’re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!” “How in the world did you know that?” asked Plumb. “I packed your parachute,” the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, “I guess it worked!”

Plumb assured him, “It sure did. If your chute hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Plumb couldn’t sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, “I kept wondering what he had looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat; a bib in the back; and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said ‘Good morning, how are you?’ or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor.”

Powerful story. Charles Plumb learned that day that there is no such thing as insignificant service. The same is true in the Kingdom of God. When you think about judges in the Bible, Shamgar is not one that probably comes to mind. Gideon and his band of 300…maybe. Samson and his long haired, lion killing, jawbone wielding exploits….maybe. Shamgar and an oxgoad….not so much. However, Shamgar was equally as important to the deliverance of Israel as the others. I heard the great Baptist Pastor Bob Pitman preach on Shamgar one time, and he said Shamgar did what he could, with what he had, right where he was, for the glory of God. Shamgar wasn’t a rich man or part of a royal family. We don’t gather here that he had any special military or leadership skills per se. His resume wasn’t five pages long with accomplishments, accolades, or earned degrees. He just did what he could, with what he had, right where he was, for the glory of God. He was just a humble man anointed by the Spirit of God. As a result he made a significant impact on the Kingdom.

Never underestimate what God can do through you. Never underestimate the power of one gospel conversation in your workplace, or one Bible study taught to a child, or one meal and a kind word shared with a homeless person in your community, or one monetary gift given to help someone in the name of Jesus. Don’t undervalue the power in just one child of God calling on the Lord in prayer. May we never miscalculate the difference one humble child of God filled with His Spirit can make. How do you change the world for Christ? You do it one person at a time. One prayer at a time. One gospel conversation at a time. One invitation at a time.

Today, know that anything you do in the name of Jesus has incredible power; in fact, the humblest, simplest presentations of faith and of the gospel often make the most difference. Serve. Pray. Share. Give. Know that your labor is not in vain. You’re insignificant service is a true picture of genuine significance.   

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, I often feel so inadequate to the task of making disciples of others.  However, I believe that when I am weak, you are strong. Nothing I do for you with a humble heart is insignificant. I believe this Lord. Fill me today with Your Spirit so I may truly lead others to You. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:

Joshua 24:15

Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.