Friday's devo - God's Economy

Friday Devo -
Read Judges 6:11-26
The Midianite armies came in like locusts, killing all their livestock, eating or burning all their fields so that they were reduced to poverty. Gideon is hiding oout in the winepress threshing his grain, which is not where you would normally thresh grain. A winepress is underground and hidden. This is where the angel finds him. The angel calls him a "mighty man of valor". I'm sure Gideon did not feel like he was a mighty man in any way. He was a hungry, scared, lonely man with little hope for his people or his family. God always sees us as what He can do through us; not as we are in ourselves. He is mighty and can be mighty through us. All we have to do is obey. Gideon's response is so typical: "Who am I? My family is poor and I am the least of my family." Notice how God loves to choose the least likely. Remember when Samuel was looking for the next king of Israel and God sent him to Jesse who brought out his 7 sons. God told Samuel not to look on the outward appearance because God looks at the heart. After all 7 had passed in front of Samuel and God said "no" to each of them. He asked Jesse if he had another son. Jesse remembered David, the youngest who was out tending the sheep. Samuel told him to go get him. When he saw him God said, "Arise, anoint him for this is he."
Look at who Jesus chose for his disciples: most of them were the lowest of society. This should encourage us. If we think we are worthy, we need to humble ourselves. If we think we are unworthy, we need to put our confidence in God and GO.
In vs. 19 when Gideon perceived that he was talking to the angel of God he went and killed a goat and made unleavened bread and prepared broth. A big sacrifice seeing they were starving. Later in vs. 25 he kills a young bull. God always asks of us what we think we need. They needed food. But most of all, they needed to be free from their enemy. A sacrifice needs to cost us something for it to be a sacrifice. God was going to give them back much more than they lost.
What do you need God to do for you? What is he asking from you? Our church is going through a building program in the midst of financial disaster in our country. I love it!!! Whose economy are we a part of? I am in God's economy and have invested in His savings program. He never, never, never runs out of money, oil, land, food, gas, or anything. He is my banker and I will not let the world's economy rob me of my peace.
Lord, give us your vision of our future. Let us see "the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."