Today's Devotion
From Mike MacIntosh
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah. Gilead's wife bore sons; and when his wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out, and said to him, "You shall have no inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman." Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of Tob; and worthless men banded together with Jephthah and went out raiding with him.
Judges 11:1-3
I dropped out of high school when I was a senior. I hung around with a lot of worthless men, and we'd all just sit around in the daytime with a case of beer and get drunk. I realized as I got a little bit older that, you know, sitting around drinking just wasn't where it's at. And it may be possible that you've got worthless people around you that are pulling you down.
Jephthah came along and we see that these worthless men banded together with him. I want to encourage you to get the worthless people out of your life. And the easiest way to do that is for youto get out of their lives. They'll keep hangin' around you as long as you let them. So don't allow them to "band together" with you. Paul said numerous times to "flee," and that's exactly what you may need to do today.
"Flee sexual immorality" (1 Corinthians 6:18a).
"Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:18).
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness" (1 Timothy 6:10-11).
Now remember, it may not be the "huge sins" or the "vile sinners" in your life that are causing you harm (like they were for Jephthah...and for me). It may be people in your life who cause you to gossip, or lie, or tell raunchy jokes. You need to flee from those people. So, my prayer for you is that you will have the courage to get those things and those people out of your life. Take time today and pray to the Lord, asking Him for help. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the strength to get away from certain people who are bringing you down. He's got something better in store for you just around the corner.
"But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us" (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
The Last Call Devotions Network
