We are looking for a general
The country Jephthah lived in was called Israel. After he ran away from home, he went to live in another land. People that nobody wanted to be with started to come to him. Jephthah became the leader of a group of outlaws that became famous. The people back in Israel began to hear the news about them. They said, “They are very courageous! They are winning battles against their enemies.”
One day the people of another country decided to go to war with Israel. They were a powerful enemy and were planning to destroy the whole country. The leaders of Israel thought, “We need a general who will win this war!” And they chose Jephthah. They came to him and asked him to lead them.
What a change for him! God performed this miracle. Under Jephthah, the Israelites won the battle and he was invited to come back to his own land to live with them and become their leader.
God changed it
God accepts and loves you and me and every person. Even though you sometimes think you are no good, God wants to have you in His family. Isn’t that wonderful?
If you ask God to receive you into His family, remember that He loves you so much. You are precious to Him. He knows about the hurt feelings in your heart. He understands and cares for you. Do you feel rejected by somebody? Are you lonely or unwanted? Talk to God about it in prayer and quietly thank Him that He loves you.
Just as God took care of Jephthah, He will take care of you too if you are in His family. With God, you won’t feel rejected or useless. God has something for you to do, right where you are. You can be a peacemaker in your family or among friends. God will teach you to be kind and gentle to others.
How can you become part of God’s family?
You can’t bring yourself into God’s family – God does everything. So…
Tell God that you are truly sorry for the wrong things you have done. Use your own words and be sincere. Ask Him to forgive you for displeasing Him.
Thank God that His Son Jesus was punished instead of you and He died because of your sins.
Ask God to receive you into His family.
Tell Him that you want to live in a way that pleases Him.
Thank Him for His promise: “The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (“cast out” means “turn away”) (John 6:37). He also promises: “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters” (2 Corinthians 6:18).
You can believe God’s promises. If you came to Him in prayer then He did not turn you away. He did hear your prayer and He has received you into His family!