Have you ever found yourself doing the right things but seeing little or no result?
As we look at the process of being a disciple, one of the best examples of being an effective follower of Christ is the story of Gideon.
When we first see Gideon, he’s hiding from the Midianites, grinding wheat in a wine press. He was hiding because he feared he would be discovered and the Midianites would steal what he had. Fear had forced him out of the place where he could get the most out of what he had. Gideon wasn’t lazy; he wasn’t rebellious; he was just trying to preserve what little he had. He had allowed fear to arrange his life.
There is a profound lesson in this picture.
Fear rarely convinces us to stop doing what is right altogether. Instead, it will suggest to us that we can do the right thing, but in the wrong environment. We pray, but timidly; We witness but only when it’s safe and comfortable; We don’t mind obeying as long as we can do it from a place of convenience rather than total abandonment.
We must understand that the enemy is content to push the disciple of Christ into the shadows of fear rather than to stop them completely.
Wheat was to be ground on a threshing floor; wine belongs in the wine press. A threshing floor was built on elevated ground where the wind could separate the grain from the chaff. A winepress was cut into the ground and designed to collect the crushed grapes.
Gideon was trying to accomplish something in a place that wasn’t designed for it. His work became more difficult with minimal result because he let fear displace him.
Sadly, many believers live this way. We will compromise our boldness to protect our comfort. We shrink from our call to avoid criticism and discomfort. We lower expectations because of disappointments from past failures. Maybe it’s others’ opinions, financial insecurity, or spiritual intimidation.
The Kingdom of God advances through people who refuse to let fear dictate where they live, serve, and stand.
The beautiful truth of Gideon’s story is that God specializes in relocating people from fear to faith. He doesn’t condemn us for where he finds us; he transforms us into people he intended us to be. The same God that called Gideon at the winepress is still calling his people today.
- Come out of hiding
- Step onto the threshing floor
- Stand in faith and reject fear.
- Your calling has always been greater than your fear.
A spiritual winepress may preserve your harvest for a season, but a spiritual threshing floor sustains your harvest for God’s greatest purpose.
