Bows and arrows, guns and bullets! Which item in each pair do you spend the most time researching when making a purchase? I have absolutely no experience in either pair but I would say the bow and the gun are the major purchase, the most important of the pair, albeit you have to have the bow and arrow, gun and bullet, to matter. But for my post today, the importance of our view of one over the other is my subject.
We tend to view spiritual gifts that way. The outward and seemingly more prestigious, we tend to hold in higher esteem. But we do wrong in that kind of thinking and must be diligent to turn away from that human tendency. When God is using us or anyone else, whatever the work is, we must be in awe and amazed at His use, not necessarily the work. We should be praying for each other in EVERY work we do int eh name of Christ Jesus. Every work needs God's power, protection and provision.
So back to "bows and arrows". In Zechariah 9:13a, God is describing His use of Judah and Ephraim as "bows and arrows". So you might think a measly arrow is expendable. It's shot and may or may not be retrieved again by the owner. However, it can and does strike fear in the enemy and many times puts an eternal end to that enemy. And the bow continues to be used over and over again. But the point to be made is, "I will bend Judah as My bow, I will fill the bow with Ephraim." It is God's use, not the instrument!! In His Hand, whether it's a one time act or something done over and over again, it is a sovereign, designated plan with a purpose.
We tend to view spiritual gifts that way. The outward and seemingly more prestigious, we tend to hold in higher esteem. But we do wrong in that kind of thinking and must be diligent to turn away from that human tendency. When God is using us or anyone else, whatever the work is, we must be in awe and amazed at His use, not necessarily the work. We should be praying for each other in EVERY work we do int eh name of Christ Jesus. Every work needs God's power, protection and provision.
So back to "bows and arrows". In Zechariah 9:13a, God is describing His use of Judah and Ephraim as "bows and arrows". So you might think a measly arrow is expendable. It's shot and may or may not be retrieved again by the owner. However, it can and does strike fear in the enemy and many times puts an eternal end to that enemy. And the bow continues to be used over and over again. But the point to be made is, "I will bend Judah as My bow, I will fill the bow with Ephraim." It is God's use, not the instrument!! In His Hand, whether it's a one time act or something done over and over again, it is a sovereign, designated plan with a purpose.
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