Which Side Are You On?

In the last blog post, I wrote about Gideon and the people of Ephraim and how they came to Gideon mad that they weren't called upon to fight a battle that God had called Gideon to fight with 300 men. While attempting to read the Bible for the 1st time ever from start to finish, I had reached Judges and I read again about this moment in history. Gideon passes away and many more judges take his place after he is gone. When I read Judges 12, I realized the people of Ephraim really didn't learn what Gideon was trying to teach them about staying humble and quit thinking so highly of themselves. Here we are with Jephthah of Gilead. He was an outcast of the family, kicked out by his brothers because they didn't share the same mom and his mom was a harlot. Even though he was a man of valor and they shared the same father, his brothers didn't want to share their inheritance with him so they ran him off to live somewhere else. Sometime after this the people of Ammon started a war with Israel and the elders of Gilead sought Jephthah out and asked him to come back and command their army in this war with Ammon. Jephthah reminded them of their hatred towards him and that they made him flee from his home. He ended up making a deal with them saying he would help if they made him head after God delivers Ammon to him. They brought him back making him head and commander. 

Jephthah fights the war, God delivers the people of Ammon into his hands as he said God would do. Wouldn't you know it, here comes Ephraim again saying "Why did you fight this war and not take us with you? We will burn your house (Gilead) down." Jephthah responds that he in fact asked for help and they didn't help, so he went and took care of it himself. He questions them asking why they are trying to pick a fight with him. The Ephraim people were not gonna be silenced this time and called the people of Gilead traitors and started a war they would loose.

Do you know anyone in your life that is like that? Always picking fights with you because you didn't react the way they thought you should or include them in everything you do, because you don't make them the center of your universe? They can't see or understand that without God they wouldn't have what they have or be where they are. They start believing in self instead of God. They start believing in their own power (or lack of because we all know our true power comes from God). Or, maybe you've been that person or have become that person, where you start believing that you are better than others and you forget who put you where you are and where the many blessing you have has come from? 

I know there are some churches, their pastors, and their leaders that have forgotten that they have what they have and are where they are; the miracles that have taken place is because of God not because of their own doing. There are a lot of family members, friends, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons....you get the picture... that have been given so much by God that they take it for granted and forget it was given to them by God to begin with. They become cruel of sorts to the people they are supposed to care about and mentor and love. They become judgmental of you and others thinking more highly of themselves than of you. Maybe it's because you question their motives, or you try to remind them of who they are and who's they are. They begin to tell you all they've done for you (making it about them and not what God has done through them) and forget that in the relationship it has worked both ways and hasn't been one sided of take, take, take. All the while you are just trying to help them get back to putting self aside and putting God first.

I know I've been on both sides of this scenario and I thank God, He humbled me and brought me back to Him even though the journey back hasn't always been a very pleasant one. I am also thankful that He has had me in the position to be able to say, "Hey, I love you. God loves you but you've lost sight of who you are and why you are doing what you are doing." It's not for our glory but for God's and every time we try to make it about self, God will correct us one way or another and that correction can be a hard lesson to learn at times. 

I have a challenge for you as we go into this new year. Instead of being like Ephraim let's be Jesus with skin on. Let us support one another and hold each other accountable, helping each other stay on track and keeping God as number one focus and priority. You can't go wrong by keeping your focus on God. I'm not saying life will be gravy, cause it wont. But, you will have God and all His glory and love right beside you, going before you, making a way so you can accomplish all He has planned and instore for you for He is Jehovah Jireh. We do need help with doing that and having a like minded and like hearted support system and accountability team beside you can make all the difference in the world, because it's the things of this world we need to avoid and not let into our temples (our body). We need to keep our temples clean and clear of all worldly things and fill it up with only the things of Yeshua (Jesus). Remember to put the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) on and wear it constantly. There is a spiritual war taking place. (Ephesians 6:12) Question is are you the people of Ephraim or are you Gideon and Jephthah. Are you about your self and what this world can offer you or are you fighting for God and His glory? As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! (Joshua 24:15)