Category: Devotionals

How often in life do we reject the help or advice of someone until it is past time that we need it? As a father, it seems like my children do not listen to my advice until it is too late. Then they want my help! If I look at my own life, it’s the…

In Judges 10, we are exposed to the further decline of Israel’s attitude to God, and their increased apostasy. In the face of stricter punishment, Israel once again made gestures towards behaving themselves. Yet God’s compassion to Israel was not based on their acts, but on God’s love.

Book of Judges is not like your standard history book. While it covers the high and low points of the Judges period of Israel’s time in the Promised Land, it also majors on the minors. Immediately following the account of Abimelech, two minor Judges are covered. They remind us that the highs and lows of…

Our National Anthem asks God (somewhat ironically perhaps, due to our pagan nature) to defend New Zealand. It includes a request to guard our country from the “shafts of strife and war” – that is, from troubles caused by foreign invaders and domestic trouble-makers.  While we often think of the former, we don’t always think…

It is hard to stay strong. Harder still when you were never particularly strong to begin with, and when those around you are weak. For all the strength of Gideon’s victories over Midian, empowered by God, his latter years are a story of weakness. Weakness in Gideon’s own behaviour, and weakness in the Israelite people…

Why do people seek status and security? Usually, because it places you in a position of strength. With status, you can influence others for your own benefit or to avoid discomfort. With security, you can rest knowing that others view you as strong or solidly on-side, so why bother attacking? e problem with these positions…

There is truth to the saying that your greatest strength can also be your greatest weakness. In the areas you are most confident, pride and negligence often take hold. Pride, as Proverbs tells us, comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. n the fright of night. For Gideon’s army, their weakness and…

or invading other countries who have something you would like. Weakness is not a virtue, or a place from which victory is expected. Those that win through strength of body, supporters, or numbers, live in boastful pride that none can stop them. But this position is not true. God humbles the proud, and lays low…

The Christian walk can feel like a constant conflict between strength and weakness. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we step out in faith and trust God’s promises, turning away from sinful patterns of life. Yet at the same time, our faith is still weak and requires reassurance, and our old ways still live within us.…