Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and his men camped. (Judg. 7:1)
Gideon was called Jerub-Baal, which means “Baal will contend,” after he tore down his family’s shrine to Baal. I wonder if his family tried to change his mind about following God.
Upon accepting Jesus Christ as her Savior, Van You Dani decided that she could no longer worship Buddha. She stated, “Buddha is not God; Jesus Christ is God. I will only worship Jesus!” Her decision meant that she would no longer burn incense to Buddha or offer sacrifices to him. Her family approached her and tried to persuade her to change her mind. They told her, “Buddha will oppose you and cause you to suffer many bad things! For your own good and the good of your family you need to stop following this person called Jesus Christ and again follow the ways of Buddha.”
However, Van You Dani would not budge in her resolve to follow Christ. While witnessing to a friend, she shared, “I have experienced intense opposition since I became a Christian, but Christ has been so good to me! I never feel alone anymore. When I have had a need I have prayed and he has supplied that need for me. I have also been filled with a peace that I never had before. The best news is that I know that when I die I will go to heaven!”
Resolve to follow Jesus, no matter what opposition you face.
Jim “Umfundisi” Lo is a professor at Indiana Wesleyan University, cross-cultural leader, intercessor, and author of several books including Unholiness: Overcoming the Forces That Attack Your Soul (WPH).
© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.