DCLM Daily Manna 3 March 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Follow My Example!
TOPIC: Follow My Example!
TEXT: Judges 7:16-25 (KJV)
16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.
17 And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.
18 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.
19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.
20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.
21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.
23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.
24 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan.
25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.
KEY VERSE: “And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.” – (Judges 7:17)
MESSAGE:
President Coolidge once invited some friends from Vermont to dine at the White House. They were worried about their table manners, so they decided to do everything their host did. All went well until coffee was served. Coolidge poured his into the saucer. The guests did the same. The president added sugar and cream. So did the visitors. Then Coolidge leaned over and placed his saucer on the floor for the cat.
Someone once said, “Every good leader should understand the power of a good example and following it himself”. Indeed, words are cheap while actions are richer and more convincing. Gideon was an exemplary leader indeed, who matched his words with worthy actions. Little wonder God helped him win a resounding victory against his enemies with a small number of disciplined soldiers.
As leaders in different strata of the society, we must arm ourselves with the philosophy, principle and practice of ‘do as I do’ and not just ‘do as I say’, if we hope to accomplish remarkable outcomes from our teammates and subordinates. The power of good example works in every field of human endeavour.
Paul the apostle once said to the Corinthian Christians, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). No wonder, this great apostle was able to impact his generation and beyond with the glorious gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If our lives and ministries are to amount to anything, we must maintain the principle of exemplary conduct.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Your actions speak volumes.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Corinthians 10-13
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.