More Lessons from Judges

From the sermon on Sunday, in a study of Gideon, there were several notable thoughts and quotes from my pastor:

• God's unusual rule of leadership is found in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (i.e God choosing the foolish things of the world to shame the wise....)
• God has to be foremost in our lives before we can take our faith public; so, before we deal with what's beyond the doors, we need to deal with what's behind the doors
• Faith is not the absence of fear, but obedience in the face of it; so, obedience to God accompanied by fear still counts as obedience
• When we give of ourselves only half-heartedly, we wouldn't typically see God do something wonderful
• The public generally won't give us a pat on the back when obeying God; but, while not everyone would appreciate it, it can still have a major impact on others
• Spiritual courage will always be met with spiritual opposition; so, put on the armor of God and be ready for battle
• Being "filled with the Spirit", in the original language, is actually being "clothed" by the Spirit (similar to putting on armor)

But, what really got me thinking was the last question at the end of the sermon, "What will be the headline of your life story?"   It's an interesting question. 

My first thought is that, since I am such a quiet introvert, it is unlikely that I will generate any attention grabbing headlines.  But, if an article were being written about my life, what would it highlight?  Firstly, let me consider the content of the story.   I'd like to think that it would talk about my faithfulness to teach Bible Studies in Sunday classes, fellowship groups, and small groups at home, church, and school.  Maybe it would mention my other various areas of voluntary service.  Then, it might include the places I've traveled to (e.g. being baptized in the Jordan River) and the awards I've received.  If my family and close friends were interviewed, maybe they would talk about the hospitality received in my home (e.g. cooking, hosting, etc).  There may also be mention about my educational background and my career in a global industry.   I suppose that because it is not as common, there may be reference to my singleness.   So, since there is nothing really extraordinary in my life story, I suppose the headline would be something along the lines of John Waller's "While I'm Waiting" song - that while I never married, I still served God faithfully, particularly through teaching Bible Studies.