Judges 7:2 “And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.”
When the angel of the Lord called Gideon a “mighty man of valour” (Judges 6:12), it was not based on what Gideon was, but what he would and could be. In other words, potential is based on obedience, not ability. The point was not some great quality of Gideon, but rather his obedience with what he had. In fact, the greatest “thing” that Gideon had-an army of 32,000-was what God diminished!
Ability does not equal potential, and sometimes your abilities can even keep you from doing what you should. Try this: think of three strengths you have. Do you have your list of strengths? Now think of three weaknesses you have. Are you finished? Most of the time our strengths and weaknesses are not two different lists-they are the same! For example, if a person is determined, that is good; if he is stubborn, that is bad. Being merciful is a strength; being a push-over is a weakness. Being unhurried and carefree can be a strength; being lazy is a weakness. Ambitious is a good thing; ruthless is not. Who and what you are can be a strength or weakness, depending on your obedience to the right master.
Potential is what God will do if I am obedient.
In Gideon’s case, he had too much strength to be strong. God whittled down his army from 32,000 to 300 so that, as God said, “Lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.” Later in this chapter of Judges, who killed the most Midianites? The Midianites themselves!What is a weakness or a strength for you is dependent upon your obedience to the Master.
Today, you can live up to your past or live up to your potential. Your past may be full of failure or full of success, but potential is not about what you have been-it is about what you can be. May God help us to say with the Apostle Paul, “For when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Who is in control of your abilities?
Prayer Requests: 1. Revival services tonight in Markleton, PA; Manistique, MI; and Pocatello, ID 2. West Branch Ladies on the Move Conference in Flagstaff, AZ (Sat., 4/25)
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