Tiny Wins

Tiny Wins

Genesis 14: ¹³ Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by ^[c]the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram. ¹⁴ Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. ¹⁵ He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. ¹⁶ So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.

 

¹⁷ And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.

 

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Weeks after Lot’s capture, someone who had escaped, made it back to Abram. He told Abram everything that happened. Abram gathered a tiny army of three hundred eighteen trained servants, born in his house. Abram may have trained them himself, because he learned the ways of the Chaldeans and picked up ways of the Amorites, where he lived.

 

Abram’s tiny army would probably blend in during the day and sneak into camp at night, killing off the defense, little by little. Soon the rebellious king Chedorlaomer’s army was defeated.

 

My Observations:

• Abram’s army was tiny in comparison to the thousands they face from other armies.
• This encounter is the first of many battles between humans that showed a clear separation between those who followed GOD and those who did not.
• The king of Sodom, still remaining cowardly, met Abram in a valley where Abram’s forces could be seen on all aides.

 

When GOD wiped out humans with the flood because their thoughts were violent and evil, HE saved only a handful of people to propagate the earth. BUT HE knew evil was still among the handful. This evil was from Satan himself. The attitude of developing a replica of the Garden of Eden, showed that humans did not need GOD.

 

Cities, towers and currency ruled instead of bowing down to GOD. Abram and his tiny army may have bowed to GOD and also understood that there were no negotiations with those who would kill first and steal others. GOD allowed humans to take justice into their own hands. Abram retrieved Lot, Sodom’s stuff, the women and the people. He set everyone free from captivity.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think Abram’s tiny army was successful in freeing those who were taken into captivity?
• Have you ever felt small, but were faced with something big?
• Can you have faith that GOD can use your small numbers to show HIS greatness?

Consider the Menial

Consider the Menial

Romans 16: ²¹ Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.

²² I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.

²³ Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. ²⁴ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

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“You are invited to the meeting” were words that delighted me. I did not know why I was invited because it included high ranking officers in the company. “Maybe they recognize ‘my’ potential” I arrogantly thought to myself.

 

“You are here to take notes.” I was dejected, but did so anyway. After a while, I was known amongst the officers. They promoted me and I did not have to ask for it.

 

• There have been tasks that I felt were beneath me.
• There have been things that needed to be done that I felt someone else should do.
• There have been menial jobs, assignments and projects I have been given that I labeled as low visibility, meanwhile I looked with envy at thing I labeled as “high” visibility, meaning the high people would see it.

 

If I were to ask “Who wrote the letter to the Romans?” everyone would say Paul and they would be partially correct. These are Pauls’ words as given to him by the HOLY SPIRIT, but the real “writer” of the letter is Tertius. He mentions that he “wrote” the letter.

 

• GOD wants me to not think more highly of myself.
• GOD wants me to be faithful with small things so HE can trust me with the large.
• GOD wants me to see every person as “high” and keep away from labeling people with levels.

 

Tertius was obedient to GOD and did not think it to be too low to receive dictation from Paul. He probably felt quite the opposite. I wonder if he felt he had a sense of duty to get this important message out from Paul who was oppressed everywhere he went. This menial  task led to a great letter. I am grateful for all those who are like Tertius, serving the LORD and knowing what they do is important.

 

• Do you feel lower than other people?
• Do you think that what GOD has you doing is menial?
• Will you stop comparing yourself to other people and know that what you are doing for the LORD is considered great to HIM?

Small is Large

Matthew 13: ³¹ He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. ³² Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

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“Go and evangelize the neighborhood” was the overwhelming message I felt. This was very scary because I did not know anyone in the area and some of the neighbors were into some dangerous things. I felt small and did not know where to start.

• Sometimes I feel insignificant.
• Sometimes I feel like I’m facing giants as an ant.
• Sometimes I feel so small that the issues, situations and circumstances seem to be overwhelming.

“What powers do I have?” I mean I’m no one special, am I? Yes!

• GOD does not expect me to be powerful but believe HE is the most powerful.
• GOD does not expect me to be the answer; rather believe HE is the only answer.
• GOD does not expect me to be a savior but believe JESUS is my savior.

Millions of people saved begins with the one person I talk to about the Great News of being rescued by JESUS. I don’t have to “be” special or “do” anything special. HE sends people to me! How much easier can it get?! GOD’s only requirement is that I have the tiniest bit of faith to follow HIS leading.

• Do you feel small?
• Do you feel overwhelmed?
• Can you have the tiniest bit of faith and let GOD handle the rest?

My little help can be powerful

Exodus 38: ²⁵ The silver that was received from the men in the community who were listed and counted weighed four tons. It was weighed out in keeping with the weights used in the sacred tent. 

²⁶ It amounted to a fifth of an ounce for each person. It was weighed out in keeping with the weights used in the sacred tent. The silver was received from the men who had been listed and counted. All of them were 20 years old or more. Their total number was 603,550.

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Darkness appeared in the west but we were hungry and wanted some dinner. I felt a drip hit my head then is starter to drizzle. Four miles into the trip it began to rain, but not too hard. Winds picked up and leaves blew off trees, then twigs then branches.

Finally, trees were lying in the street, on cars and in houses. The wind was strong but a drizzle or light rain hit this territory every day for the prior month which caused the ground to be saturated making it easy for the trees to topple over. How powerful is a drizzle?

• Major problems don’t happen all at once.
• Serious issues don’t happen right away but over time.
• Big trouble seems to happen with tiny issues complied.

Sometimes the issues with mankind seem too big for me. I mean large groups of people are doing what they want to do. I seem so tiny compared to the issues mankind is facing. Besides, I have my own sins that I’m dealing with. Maybe I should give up. BUT GOD says different.

• GOD says do a little and I will do the rest.
• GOD says I made you with a purpose but MY SON did the ultimate purpose.
• GOD says since I am with you who can be against you?

Each person gave less than five ounces of silver which is easy to carry. When put together it weighed four tons! GOD doesn’t want me to save the world, that’s HIS job. HE does want me to reach “that” person because HE made me special and I am the only one who can.

• Are you trying too hard to please GOD?
• Do you think you have to save an entire nation?
• Can you just reach the person GOD sends you today?
• Won’t you encourage someone to do a little instead of doing a lot?