Learn From Gideon, 47

~ Strive To Finish Well ~

The Biblical account of the life of Gideon provides for one of the most interesting character studies in all of Scripture.  In this series we will discover practical lessons for living the Christian life today.  

Scripture  ~  “Then Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.  Gideon had 70 sons who were his own offspring, for he had many wives.  And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.  Now Gideon the son of Joash died at a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.”  (Judges 8:29-32)

Learn From Gideon  ~  We come to a negative lesson from Gideon. 

1. Strive to finish well—Gideon didn’t finish well!
2. Following a great spiritual victory and celebration (“Gideon made an ephod from Midianite gold”) the people and Gideon departed from God’s ways (the ephod “became an idol to his people.  He also took a foreigner for a concubine, fathering a son [Abimelech] who turned evil”).
3. Gideon we learn took many wives, at least one concubine, and had a child through a concubine.  That child, Abimelech, murdered all 70 of his half-brothers.  Abimelech died in battle following sinful and short reign. 

Challenge For Us  ~  Are you continuing on regardless of circumstances and consequences?  Are you going to finish strong?

concluding comment  ~  We learn about Gideon primarily from Judges 6-8, but also Isaiah 9:1-7, and Hebrews 11:1-3, 32-34.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Acceptable Thankfulness

~ Who Is Capable of Giving Thanks To God? ~

There is only one category of people who are capable of giving acceptable thanksgiving to God.  They are listed two ways in Scripture. 

The Redeemed of the Lord  ~  “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south” (Psalm 107:1-3 nkjv).

Those Individuals Who Know The Truth  ~  “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.  Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.  They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.  For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer (1 Timothy 4:1-5 niv). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Water In John’s Gospel, 8of11

~ John 9 – The Pool of Saloam ~

Introduction  ~  The Gospel of John contains numerous references to water.  In fact over half (11 of 21) the chapters reference water.  We are looking at these passages in this series. 

Scripture  ~  “Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.  And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ 

Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.  I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’  When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.  And He said to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which is translated, Sent).  So he went and washed, and came back seeing. 

Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, ‘Is not this he who sat and begged?’  Some said, ‘This is he.’  Others said, ‘He is like him.’  

He said, ‘I am he.’   

Therefore they said to him, ‘How were your eyes opened?’  He answered and said, ‘A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, “Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.”  So I went and washed, and I received sight.’  Then they said to him, ‘Where is He?’  He said, ‘I do not know’” (John 9:1-12). 

Notes  ~  1. Jesus clearly taught that physical infirmities are not necessarily a result of anyone’s sin. 

2.  The Scripture above tells us that the Saloam means “sent.”  With this in mind consider that the Son of God who was Himself “sent” by God, the Father, to earth now “sent” a blind man to a pool called “Sent.” 

The Key Question  ~  Do you possess the abundance of “living water” which is only available through Jesus Christ. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .