Hi Church Family!

In my devotions this morning I was reminded that when we aren't sure of something that God has said to us, it's okay to ask Him for a sign. In Judges 6:36-40, Gideon asked the Lord for a sign, not just one sign, but two. Guess what, the Lord answered Gideon's request, not once, but twice. "Then Gideon said to God, 'If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece it wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.' And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, 'Please don't be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.' So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.'" Following Gideon's interaction with God, he proceeded forward to conquer the armies of Midian. But the LORD said to Gideon, 'You have too many warriors with you.' So through the testing of his warriors, God whittled down Gideon's army from 32,000 men to 300 men, and the Lord said, "With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites."

I don't know about you, but I'm a bit intimidated to ask God for additional signs when I already know what He has asked me to do and that "nothing is impossible" for God. How about you? However, it is refreshes my soul to know that God does allow us to ask for a "confirmation." Just like Gideon, in our humanity we often want a "sign or signs" to be sure of what God has asked of us. I also know that as our faith in Him grows the need for signs of confirmation become less. The Hebrew writer said it this way. "Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him." (Hebrews 11:1-2 & 6) The Hebrew writer also tells us that Gideon was a man of faith despite asking God for signs of confirmation. "How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthan, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them." (11:32-33)

I hope it's your desire to be a follower of Jesus who lives by faith on mission for our God and Savior. As we continue to grown in our faith, let's remember that God allows us to ask Him for a "confirmation" when needed. Even though we have a Father who we can ask anything of, we must remember that we are to be obedient in what He has told us and move forward in faith even when it doesn't make sense. "Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely." (1 Corinthians 12:12) 

We welcome Kirk Jostad back this Sunday as our guest speaker as we continue in our series from Colossians. 

God loves you and so do I!

PK