Seventh-Day Adventist Devotional For Children: “Trust And Obey”

DAILY BREAD – A DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN

Eastern Nigeria Union Conference Children’s Ministries

THEME: I WILL GO

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Topic: Trust and Obey

The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has Saved me.’(7.2)

Once Gideon has had his faith reassured, God decides to put on a real show.If Gideon had been afraid to face the Midianites with 22,000, But then the real Commander of the army reduced the troops to 300. There is nothing special about the men whom God chooses. This is the story of God overcoming rational odds, radical fighting methods, and hesitant leadership. He continues to use broken people, in ridiculous ways, to do His work in this world. The size of Gideon’s army had little to do with defeating the Midianites. The shock and awe of the trumpets, torches, shouting, and breaking of jars in the darkness were intimidating, but they were only instruments in God’s hand – a unique military strategy. And “if God is for us, who can be against us?
What God wanted to show Gideon, and Israel, was who’s in charge. He wanted the odds to be stacked against Israel, for the chances of success to be ridiculously low, so Israel could never claim the glory for themselves. They could never say they won by their own strength, or tactics, or weaponry. The only way they could account for their win was the fact that the Lord fought for them. There was no standing army—fully trained and ready for a fight— in Israel. The people Gideon had gathered were ordinary Israelites. No wonder Gideon was afraid to attack. But the Lord gave them victory.
The struggle for faith often seems impossible. Not only do we ourselves struggle to hold on, but the path of destruction by sin and death can be overwhelming. There are times we face seemingly impossible circumstances, when we know what the Lord would have us to do, but the odds are stacked against our success, or it seems too hard to do. If we truly believe that God is sovereign, and God is all-powerful, then we know such concerns are not an issue to Him.
All the Lord is concerned about is that we focus on Him, and seek to give Him the glory for accomplishing His will through us. He is more than capable of taking care of our circumstances. God takes care not only of the “big” concerns in our life but also of the “little” things. We often think we’re in control of everyday details, but then we miss seeing how God provides and leads even in the ordinary things of life. Heroes of faith are led by God in all they do, and by no one else. May the Lord, by His Spirit, enable us to trust Him to complete the work He has purposed to do through us, even when we struggle to believe it possible.

Song
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
Refrain
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

Prayer
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ, our Lord! Help me Lord to trust in your provisions rather than my own abilities. When I am prideful of my gifts, remind me that they come from your hand. Keep me close to you. Amen.