Morning Devotional 121525 Celebrating the Underdog

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

December 15, 2025 

Judges 6:14-17, 22-24

14 Then the LORD turned to him and said, “You have strength, so go and rescue Israel from the power of Midian. Am I not personally sending you?” 15 But again Gideon said to him, “With all due respect, my Lord, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I’m the youngest in my household.” 16 The LORD replied, “Because I’m with you, you’ll defeat the Midianites as if they were just one person.” 17 Then Gideon said to him, “If I’ve gained your approval, please show me a sign that it’s really you speaking with me. 22 Then Gideon realized that it had been the LORD’s messenger. Gideon exclaimed, “Oh no, LORD God! I have seen the LORD’s messenger face-to-face!” 23 But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Don’t be afraid! You won’t die.” 24 So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and called it “The LORD makes peace.” It still stands today in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 

Good Morning! Listen for the angel's song!

Gideon was minding his own business, living his life to the best of his ability, and the Lord’s messenger came and called him to go and rescue Israel. Gideon’s story is one of many in which God calls an ordinary person to do extraordinary things. 

It fascinates me that God sees things in us that we often don’t recognize for ourselves. Over my years, I have often chosen to root for the underdog. I often did this because I wanted to see the long-standing powerhouse brought down.

During March Madness, we get pulled in by a smaller school living out its “Cinderella” story. In the Olympics, sports analysts build empathy for athletes by sharing their backstories. We love a good story where hard work defies the odds and an ordinary person or team succeeds. 

God fills us with these stories of might vs. right. Moses vs. the Pharaoh, David vs. Goliath, and in today’s passage, Gideon was sent to save Israel from the Midianites. God chooses the most unlikely people to lead us. Abraham and Sarah (both in their 90s) to father a new nation, Elizabeth and Zechariah (also in old age) to conceive John the Baptist to prepare the world for the Messiah’s coming, and, of course, Mary, an unwed teenager, to be the mother of Jesus. These examples are just a snippet of God’s calling the underdogs.

I am an ordinary person called to preach the Gospel at an age when most enter retirement. Listen! Pay Attention! What is God calling you to do? 

Lord, you bless us abundantly! We are uncertain of how to serve you. Help us clearly hear your call. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: We can bless others by following God’s call!

Let it be to me to serve God as called! Pastor Liz