Devotional

On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: "When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves, praise the Lord. (Judges 5:1, 2) 

The question is: “Do we offer ourselves willingly to the Lord or do we submit reluctantly?” 
Some believers give themselves wholly to the Lord and allow the Lord to run their lives while others though they say they have submitted their lives into the Lord’s hands still run their own lives. 

When we try to run our own lives without obeying the Word or taking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, things start going awry. A little allowance here and a little allowance there in regards to walking the ways of the flesh and the world ruins our relationship with the Lord. 

Only each of us and the Lord Jesus knows how much of our lives is submitted to the Lord. Our thoughts, looks, words & actions often betray our proclamation that we are the Lord’s. 

Often we are reluctant to even do the work of the Lord giving excuses like some tribes of Israel did when they were called by Barak & Deborah to join the army to fight against the enemy. 

Regarding Reuben, Dan & Asher, Deborah and Barak sang, “Why did you stay among the campfires to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart. Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves.” (Judges 5:16, 17) 

But good things were sung about Isaachar, Zebulun & Naphtali. “The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; yes, Issachar was with Barak, rushing after him into the valley. The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the heights of the field.” (Judges 5:15, 18) 

Are we among the ones who offer themselves willingly to the Lord or are we among the ones who shrink back and take the back seat? Good if each one of us could evaluate ourselves. Praise the Lord.

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