JANUARY 21, 2010

SURRENDER TO CHRIST

Scripture Reading--Judges 6:25

"And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take

thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and

throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath,

and cut down the grove that is by it."

God called Gideon to full consecration on the night after he had a face-to-face encounter with Christ. Gideon came from a family of idol worshipers. The Lord told him to tear down the altar of Baal. This instruction was quite a challenge for a man who was afraid the Midianites might steal his wheat! But God's calling is accompanied by His enabling. God enables us for the task He calls us to fulfill. Gideon obeyed and threw down the altar of Baal. He had to make a clean break with false religion.

The idols Gideon smashed were statues or images representing false gods. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." ( Ex. 20:3 ) was God's command through Moses.

Unearthing ruins in Mexico, archeologists found idols of every size, shape, and description. They were made of glass, gold, silver, and bronze. This ancient civilization was totally given over to idolatry, prompting archeologists to name the site "The City of the Gods."

We who live in western culture are prone to think idolatry is confined to pagan religion and primitive cultures. An idol, however, can be any object of excessive attachment--anything that takes God's place, including a person, a habit, or a job. God deserves full allegiance from His creation, and whatever comes between us and God is our god. Spurgeon said, "Idolatry is the greatest insult the creature can offer the Creator." Nothing could be worse than putting something or someone in God's place.

Gideon dedicated himself fully to the Lord. The best day in our lives is when we run up the white flag of surrender to the Lordship of Christ. He alone is worthy of our devotion.

INVITATION: "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" is a great song. Read through the verses, discuss them, and sing the song.

--Harold Vaughan--

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN " 1 " YEAR: Job cc. 18-21