It's been a while...

SO, I'm going to get better at doing this more often... Promise!
But, first here's a favor. I wrote this for our high school youth group's page, and would like your opinion on it... Thanks!

Are you in?

"Very well," Deborah said, "I will go with you. But, because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours..." Judges 4:8

People often ask "If it's God's will and it's going to happen anyway, what's the point of Turing/getting involved/doing anything?"
This is what I came up with from the story of Deborah.

We all know the Israelites were the perfect example of how to keep God's commandments and trusted in Him with everything they did, and were thankful for everything they received from the Lord. Wait, not the same people you read about? : )

Well, they were once again up to no good, and so the Lord sold them into the hands of foreigners. These new bosses of the Israelites (Jabian, a king of Canaan) was particularly cruel to them, and for twenty years they slaved away. During this time, the Israelites had Judges who ruled over them, who settled minor disputes between the people. At this time, the head Judge was Deborah. One day, she sent for Barak, and told him " The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you (and he means business, right?) Goo, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to mount Tabor. I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands."

Here, God was saying to Barak that He was going to put him in charge of delivering His people from their enemy of TWENTY years! Not only put Barak in charge, but hand them to him on a silver platter. And, Barak was to get all the glory and honor that followed such an act. Imagine the parade that would follow that battle. God made it simple. He gave Barak simple, exact instructions to do God's will, and you know what Barak's response is?

Verse 8 says "Barak said to her "If you go with me, I will go, but if you don't go with me, I won't go."
"Very well," Deborah said, "I will go with you. But, because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours..."

Barak's army was, of course victorious, BUT Barak didn't get the glory. His name wasn't on the record books for delivering Israel from this enemy, but Jael, a random housewife, who actually ended up killing Sisera. Barak missed out on the glory the GOD HAND PICKED HIM TO HAVE. This isn't about getting the glory here on earth, but rather enjoying what God has in store for you. God wants more for you. You just have to get out of the way and let Him lead you to what He has in store for you.

This is what stood out to me: 1) God's will is still going to get done, with or without you. You can't change that. and 2) You can either be apart of it, and get in on this glory from God and doing His will or, you can be in the way, and do what you want and miss out on this parade.

Kind of like when your mom asks you to clean your room. More than likely, it will get done one way or another. You can either whine and complain and moan and still clean your room, taking more time (because hey, whining and complaining and moaning takes time and energy) or you can just clean your room, and make your mom happy, and maybe get to go out for the rest of the night, because you're done cleaning your room.


I don't know about you, but I'm tired of standing on the sidelines and watching other people do His work. I want in on this parade. Are you in?