WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: ‘Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from wilful sins; may they not rule over me’ (Psalm 19:12,13, NIV). Be honest to God and confess. Only human Perhaps, like me, you know older Christians who seem enormously impressive. They have served God faithfully all their lives, given up worldly ambitions, endured hardship and God has used them to achieve wonderful things for his kingdom. Don’t forget, however, that they are still human and slip up in ways that perhaps only they and God know. Even the apostle Paul recognised his struggle with sin (see Romans 7:7–25). What a hero? Gideon has become the mighty warrior God planned him to be. He has led Israel in an inspiring victory over their enemies and wisely declined the invitation to become king, proclaiming ‘The LORD is your ruler.’ What a hero! Yet he cannot resist the opportunity to take something for himself. At today’s rates, the gold he collects is valued at over £600,000 or nearly a million Australian dollars. A weakness for gold More seriously, though, he uses the gold to create an idol (an ephod was a kind of religious vestment which was revered and sometimes worshipped). See Deuteronomy 7:23–26. God promised Israel victory but warned them that Canaanite gold could become a trap for them. After learning and achieving so much, Gideon still has weaknesses. Respond: ‘People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap’ (1 Timothy 6:9, NIV). What measures can you take to ensure that you have ‘no other gods’ (Exodus 20:3, NIV)? http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-08-13