The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the power of Midian. Am I not sending you?” He said to Him, “Please Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father's house.” “But I will be with you,” the Lord said to him. “You will strike Midian down as if it were one man.” Judges 6:14-16 HCSB
One of my greatest challenges in my role as a minister has always been recruiting new volunteer leaders to serve as teachers in the church. I have heard just about every excuse under heaven such as, “I am too old” or “I am getting ready to retire” or “I don't have the time” and “I don't think God is leading me to work in the church.” The list of excuses that people give to avoid serving seems endless. Just like Moses and Gideon, we tend to make excuses instead of stepping up to the plate and serving as God leads.
Even though God promised Gideon that He would be with him, Gideon was afraid and tried to convince God that He had the wrong person for the job. Gideon considered only his weaknesses and limitations instead of his great potential. He failed to believe that God could work through him.
Challenge: God has gifted every believer and expects us to use our gifts to bring honor and glory to Him. Reminding God of our limitations implies that God does not know what He is doing and that He does not really understand us or our abilities. Do not make excuses for failing to do what God has told you to do. Trust God at His Word and get started doing whatever God desires for you to do.
Read The Bible Through In Two Years: Genesis 37:1-36; Matthew 24:1-51