[230 words]
“And when I saw that you would not save me, I took my life in my hand and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?” (Judges 12:3).
Jephthah had tried explaining to the king of the Ammonites that he had no cause for war, but he wouldn’t listen. We’re told in Proverbs 15:1 that a soft answer is supposed to turn away wrath, but that didn’t work. Neither did it work for Jephthah when the Ephraimites were upset that he won the war without them and Jephthah answered them gently. But, some who are supposed to be on your side want to be the cause of your success and want to control the outcome of your spiritual walk. Sometimes it’s family or friends who see you obeying the gospel and walking as Jesus did. Now, they probably won’t threaten to burn your house down over you like the Ephraimites did to Jephthah, but they’ll be upset that they or their way didn’t “save” you. We’ve got one Savior, and it’s He that we must please. As far as it depends on us, we must live at peace with others around us while trusting what God gives to us.
What or who are you trusting in to save you?
Doug Kashorek
Plattsburgh church of Christ
Plattsburgh, NY