“Birds of a feather flock together.” I’m not sure about that famous phrase. For throughout my student years I hung out with bright and beautiful people. But I don’t think I’m either. In fact, I’ve often thought: If I could be as talented or as charming as so-and-so, I would be able to draw so many people to Jesus.
When we read the book of Judges, it’s like reading a Marvel comic book of superheroes. We find people like Samson the strong man and Deborah the prophetess. In the line of judges (or deliverers), however, is a hero with near-zero information. His name is Othniel.
When we read his account in Judges 3:1-11, it’s written in a cut-and-dried reporting style. No drama. No display of prowess.
Bible teacher Paul Baxendale comments: “There is nothing but the bare essentials in his account. Hardly anything about Othniel. What you do have is what the Lord has done and what the Lord is doing. The Othniel account helps us to see what is most important—the activity of God. Interesting folk can sometimes obscure that. We end up concentrating on these fascinating characters and we fail to see what the Lord is doing.”
Similarly, we must recognize that there is no such thing as a strong Christian—only submissive ones in whose lives God reveals His strength. In 2 Chronicles 16:9, we read, “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.”
When others look at our life, it’s more important that they see God and praise Him rather than us. Let our prayer be: “May the Word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour, so that all may see that I triumph only through Your power.”
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Samuel 14:1-23
More:
Read 2 Corinthians 12:9 and note what Paul said about true weakness and true power.
Next:
How does God’s view of weakness differ from the world’s? In what ways is your life a reflection of what God is doing?
roxanne robbins on March 25, 2013 at 12:54 pm
This post challenges me think of the number of times I’ve described someone as a “strong Christian” or strived to be a strong Christian in my own power — rather than recognizing the Lord as the One who strengthens us as our hearts (privately I imagine and not for public show) are devoted to Him.
marvin williams on March 28, 2013 at 9:01 am
Roxanne, I was thinking the same thing when I read this devotional. The questions I asked myself in reading this article: In what areas of my life am I not submissive to God? How many times have I forfeited receiving his strength because it was about me and not him? This devotional challenged my heart as well.
tom felten on March 25, 2013 at 4:13 pm
Poh Fang, it’s so true that godly leaders will reveal a submissive heart surrendered to God—living a humble life before Him. Thanks for this reminder!
marvin williams on March 28, 2013 at 9:09 am
Poh Fang, this was spot on for me. I suppose everyone, especially me, wants the strength of Samson, the courage and wisdom of Deborah, and the leadership of Gideon. Who wouldn’t want big chunks written about them and to be trending on Twitter. The truth is God seems to test our hearts in obscurity, on the back side of the desert. Will we trust him in obscurity and let him strengthen us there? This is the challenge for me. Poh Fang, thank you for letting God use you to challenge me.
winn collier on April 3, 2013 at 5:54 pm
Interesting that many of us spend our days and energies attempting to prove that we are something that doesn’t exist: strong.