JUDGES 8:4 – “And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the 300 men who were with him, exhausted yet pursuing.”

THEME OF THE DAY: A PRICE TO PAY. J. Oswald Sanders, wrote, “If a Christian is not willing to rise early and work late, to expend greater effort in diligent study and faithful work, that person will not change a generation. No lasting good can be accomplished without expenditure of nervous energy and personal power. Mediocrity is the result of never getting tired.” Though the target audience of his statement is likely leadership in churches and mission fields, the applications and principles apply to all Christians. Yes, all Christians. Heads of home, mothers, singles, widows, widowers, young adults, even teenagers . . . it doesn’t matter. All Christians are called to influence a next generation and that requires “spiritual sweat.” Without weighing the high cost to follow Christ and then putting in the time and effort to pay the cost, we will be mediocre. How sad to be a Christian satisfied with spiritual status quo and have no passion to make a difference in the world for Christ. What would grieve the Spirit of God more than for Him to live in Christians contented with being worldly and mediocre? But it will be costly to be otherwise. And one of the high costs to pay will be fatigue and exhaustion. It has to be so. It was for Jesus, the Apostles, and every Christian throughout church history who left a lasting spiritual legacy. It was even so for God’s man Gideon and his army in today’s scripture. So, how do we learn to pay the cost in following the Lord when the flesh and devil scream to us, “Rest, rest” while the world needs us to “work, work, pray, pray”, even spend ourselves, in reaching the lost and encouraging the saints? Here are two things to consider.

First, don’t underestimate the persuasive power of the flesh and devil to convince us we are too tired for spiritual work or faithfulness to the things of the Lord. Isn’t it amazing when we set aside time to read the Bible and pray, we get drowsy? And it isn’t “chance” that we find ourselves too exhausted to attend mid-week prayer meeting, come back for a Sunday evening service, or serve in a ministry that might keep us out till 9:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m. Yet evaluate how many times we were not too tired or weary to attend a late-night concert, social event, or some other secular gathering. And what about movies, social media, or watching sporting events? I confess finding myself often “dozing off” after thirty minutes of reading and put my book or Bible down whispering, “Later, when I am more awake”, but I can stay glued to a football, basketball or baseball game for hours taking me late into the night and never stop due to sleepiness. Fatigue and exhaustion are great tools of the flesh and devil. They will go to great lengths convincing us we are too exhausted to do anything of spiritual and eternal value. And if we don’t do battle against the flesh and devil in these areas, our lives will become habitually “too tired” for spiritual things.

Next, learn to really “test” the promise of the Lord to enable us to pay the high and exhausting cost of walking with and serving Him. And the promise? It is found in the book of Nehemiah – “Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Friends, the Lord would never tell us the high cost of following Him, then weigh the high cost of following Him, and not provide the strength to pay the cost. He will empower us to do all we are required and privileged to do. I think too often, we don’t “test” the promise of His joy being our strength. We listen to the flesh and devil whisper “too tired” and we just give in, instead of saying, “Yes, I am tired, but I have a promise. I have the joy of my Lord able to strengthen and rejuvenate me.” And He will. Let me share a personal testimony on this, but before I do, a disclaimer. I am not a “super Christian” or “super pastor” on some special spiritual plane. I am not above you, but with you. And I can say with absolute confidence and certainty that there were so many times of pure exhaustion that I thought, “I cannot go to prayer meeting. I cannot go back for evening service. I cannot give any more of myself.” There have been eighty hour weeks when I felt spent beyond words and yet, calling out for the “joy of the Lord to be my strength” has never once failed me. And it won’t you either. Beloved, life is short. The work is hard, noble, and exhausting, but God will provide strength. He will help us not only weigh the cost of following and serving Him, but enable us to pay the high cost required of both.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to experience Your joy as my strength to do all You call me to do.

REFLECTION: Fatigue is simply a reality in life which will be the price to pay in walking and serving the Lord.