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REFLECTION
The theme for our reflection is, “There is only us.”There is only us” connote the feeling of superiority over other people who do not belong to our group or class. “There is only us” is a a derogative statement that demonstrates superiority complex against other people. We shall reflect on the fact that it is an act of folly to assume that “there is only us” because God can still use other people to accomplish his purpose without us.

Beloved in the Lord, we must eschew pride and superiority complex because we are fragile and limited in our abilities as mere mortals. It is an act of folly to assume that “there is only us” and that others 6-8 become successful with us. The Ephraimites of Israel learned this bitter lesson when they looked down on the Gileadites and refused to help them fight their common enemy, the Ammonites. Jephthah, the leader of he Gileadites, told the Ephraimites, ” I and my people had a great dispute with the Ammonites, and when I called you, you did not save me from their hand. And when I saw that you would not save me, I took my life in my and hand and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into my hand” (Judges 12:2-3) In other words, God can still work His mighty deeds in the lives of the people we look down on or undermine. It is an error to feel “there is only us” and no one else. Indeed, Jesus assures us in Matthew 19:26 that “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” If you have the power and the resources to make an impact in someone’s life today, do not hesitate do it. It pleases God and also brings us honour when we live an impactful life. We have been blessed to be a blessing in the lives of other people. Unfortunately, many of us have rather become boastful and arrogant because of the blessings we have from God. God demonstrated to the people of Ephraim that without them, the people of Gilead could still overcome the Ammonites in battle. Let us be humble, diligent, and supportive in our churches, families, and societies because without us, God will still choose other people to accomplish His mission. If we refuse to offer our services because we think “There is only us” and no one else in our churches and societies, God will always raise and empower a better person or people to accomplish His mission. These people will become more blessed, honoured, and glorified before God and the world. We will lose our impactfulness or resourcefulness to the mission of the Lord if we keep thinking that “There is only us”

Again, after the war against the Ammonites was worn by the Gileadites, out of shame and embarrassment, the people of Ephraim suddenly showed courage. They turn around and accused Jephthah and the Gileadites of deliberately failing to summon them to the battle as a means of humiliating the leading tribe of Joseph. They intended to wage war against Gilead. However, Jephthah said to the people of Ephraim, “Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?” Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck Ephraim because they said, “You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and” (Judges 12:3-4). In other words, Ephraim with their superiority complex of “There is only us” was humbled and defeated by Gilead. Beloved in the Lord, let us be careful and always be humble and measured in our estimation of other people. The Lord may humiliate us with the very person or people we intimidate or undermine through our feelings of superiority or “better than thou” attitude. Paul greatly reminds in 1 Corinthians 1:27 that “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” Let us respect everyone and humble ourselves, it is wrong to think that “There is only us” In God’s economy others are also important, therefore we must learn to work together for our mutual development, victory and the success of God’s mission on earth.

In summery, we have have reflected on theme “There is only us” We have discovered that “it is an act of folly to assume that “there is only us” because God can still use other people to accomplish his purpose without us. Shalom.

PRAYER
Holy Spirit, strengthen us to humble ourselves and be ever ready to support those who need our help. May we live an impactful life in our generation to the glory of the Lord. Amen.