Usefulness to God

"Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time." Judges 4:4

Deborah - the only woman in Israel to become a judge. Who was she? What made her so outstanding that she was given the job? We know that she was a wife (Judges 4:4) and mother (Judges 5:7). How did she juggle her job with her family responsibilities?

The fact that we aren't told these things may be significant. It may be because to her and to the writer of the book of Judges, Deborah herself wasn't the emphasis. Her usefulness to God and to the nation of Israel was what mattered. The fact that she could keep that perspective, rather than thinking about her position, is probably a reason she was uniquely used. Even after the victory over Sisera, when it would have been tempting to take some personal credit, Deborah sang a song in praise of the Lord.

Have you ever experienced a unique time of usefulness to God, then found that in a very short time you had gotten quite far from him? Perhaps it was because you became overwhelmed with your service to God rather than with God himself. The devil has many subtle ways to turn your eyes from God. He knows that if you are all caught up in your own service, regardless of how many people you may be helping you will eventually burn out or become ineffective because your work is simply revolving around you.

Service for the kingdom does not consist of what you do or what you give; it depends on who you are. When you give God control, he will give you ways to serve. You will not need to drum up any areas to be of use to God. He will give you a zestful, fruitful life purely as his gift to you because you gave your life to him.

And then, when he is using you, be careful to keep your eyes on him. To begin to look anywhere else, as Peter discovered when he tried to walk on the water (Matthew 14:30), spells failure.

By June Gunden, taken from "Women's Devotional Bible"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Daniel 1-3
Old and New Testaments Together: Proverbs 22-24 & 2 Cor. 8
Historical: I Chron. 7-8
Chronological: Daniel 4-6
Blended: Lam. 1-2 & John 6:22-44

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible