MESSAGES FROM GIDEON...Part 9 (Last Individual Part)

Don't you want to go out in life on a high note?  Don't you want to finish the "race of life" strong?  If you do not heed to steering away from the old, unsuccessful ways and not learning from your mistakes then the "end note(s)" or the note you go out on in life (i.e. your relationships, ministry, legacy etc..) could be soured or even forgotten.  In Gideon's case, after forty years of peace (and quiet) Gideon dies and with him the memory of what he provided for Israel and the memory of God was forgotten by Israel.

Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. During Gideon's lifetime, the land enjoyed peace forty years. 29 Jerub-Baal son of Joash went back home to live. 30 He had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. 31 His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelech. 32 Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 33 No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god 34 and did not remember the LORD their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. 35 They also failed to show kindness to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) for all the good things he had done for them. (Judges 8:28-35).

Take Away:  End on a great note!  I challenge you, do not only be remembered, but have a desire to be remembered as making a great contribution into the lives of others.  Make a difference, even if you say like Gideon - "My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." - God can still use you as stated before in 1 Corinthians 1:27 - "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong."  He tends to use the weakest to make the most difference!  So, go with God and in His confidence!  God Bless You!