Made For More- Just As We Are

Just As We Are

Psalm 1 ESV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Judges 3:31 ESV

After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel.

A pattern repeats throughout the book: 1) the people abandoned the Lord; 2) God punished them by raising up a foreign power to oppress them; 3) the people cried out to God for deliverance; and 4) God raised up a deliverer, or judge, for them. The author of the book is unknown, although some Jewish tradition ascribes it to Samuel.

He, whose heart is fixed, trusting in Christ, need not be afraid of any evil tidings. ‘As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so Christ is round about them that fear him.’ Johnathan Edwards

I. God never selects the idle when choosing his work.

Shamgar was working in the Field and went from one noble job to the next when confronted by the Philistine army. We must be busy about the Father’s work.

II. The workman is more than his tools.

Shamgar used what he had. The power in his battle was in the Lord.

III. The workman works best with his natural talents.

God used Shamgar’s natural talents in a supernatural work. What are some natural talents that you have? Dedicate those to the Lord.

applied to our mission statement...