2/17/2011 Extreme DiscipleshipScriptures: Judges 6:11-16, Philippians 3:14
In our society the word "extreme" is used regularly: extreme sports, extreme politics, etc. The word "extreme" is defined as: "very intense, far beyond the norm, drastic, and on the edge." Our society directs us to be moderate, average, and calm, not extreme. God is a discomforter and following God sometimes takes us through a crisis with personal discomfort. Let's look at Gideon's story from the book of Judges. Gideon is threshing some wheat, but not out in the open. He is behind a winepress, which is a vat where the juice is pressed from grapes. The juice is in the grape, but only pressure will extract it. God began to put pressure on Gideon, and an angel said to him: "The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour." Gideon responded asking where his help could be found. God was telling Gideon that he was the help that his people needed, saying: "go in this thy might and thou shall save Israel...have not I sent thee?" Gideon was called to extreme discipleship and to face his crisis with action initiatives. Our time is the hour for extreme discipleship: its our time to stop hiding from the pressure. Its time to press towards the mark and strive towards our high calling. When we put ourselves in a position where we may fail then we can grow! We must face the crisis of personal discomfort, because God does not see us as average. "The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour," our crisis is purposed to release the possibility out of us. Comments are closed.
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