"But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it... Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun... But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive out of those men who went to spy out the land." -Numbers 14.24, 30, and 38
Punishment has been dealt, and all those who should have taken the land will never see it. The ten spies who brought back a bad report are dead. Those under the age of 20 are alive, but they will wander in the wilderness for forty years because of the fear of their fathers. That is the result of fear, forfeited blessings, death, unnecessary waiting. But fear is not the only choice, we can choose to be courageous.
Caleb had a different spirit, one of trust and courage, and God promised to bring him into the land. Joshua as well would live to see it. These two are the only spies that lived through the plague, and the only warriors who left Egypt that get to enter the Promised Land, because they chose to courageously trust God.
Men, when we choose to be courageous, we choose to boldly follow God wherever He might lead. We choose to embrace His promises, and claim them for ourselves. We choose to look at the giant and say "Get off my lawn." Courage says, "This is what God has said, and I know that He will do it. I will follow Him wherever He leads because His blessings far surpass any risk involved."
Let us choose to be men of courage. Let us fully embrace God's promises knowing that no giant can stand before Him. Let us enter the land of promise and take possession of it. LEt us settle there and enjoy God's blessings. Let us live so that we can continue to see what God will do. These are the results of courage.
Let us choose to be courageous.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Showing posts with label Courage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Courage. Show all posts
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Response to the Call
"But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then the glory of the Lord appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel." -Numbers 14.10
Fear has spread. Panic has lead to crazy talk. Joshua and Caleb are trying to bring everything back to order. They are telling the people of the goodness of the land. They are calling them to be courageous, and trust God to fulfill His promise. But at this point the people are unable to hear their words. Ten spies have given a report of impossibility, and the call to courage falls on deaf ears.
Instead of remembering all that God has done for them in the recent past, and all of the promises He made centuries ago, they are ready to turn around and go be slaves again. But first, they decide to stone the crazy lunatics that want to march to death by sword. But before the stones can be hurled, God shows up.
The people were called to courage, but instead they gave in to fear, and rather than embracing the risk because the blessings of God far out weighed it, they decided to silence those who present the challenge of courageous trust. They would rather be slaves who waste away in the mud, then men who go out with their boots on. They would rather exist than live fully alive, because existence is safe. And to ensure the safe choice they try to permanently silence those who call them out of safety.
Men, all of us are called to be courageous. Every day we face options that call out the man in us. Every day we can choose to play it safe, or strap up our boots and charge the beach. Too often we have chosen safety, simply because it means we stay alive another day. And every time we chose safety we do whatever we can to silence whatever is calling us to courage. We avoid it at all costs. We try to ignore it if we can't avoid it. Or maybe we insult it as lunacy.
I'm thinking about the first real battle scene in Braveheart. William Wallace and his men ride up, in full war paint, to an army that is fleeing because they see nothing but death awaiting them. He asks why they flee to which a young soldier responds that the enemy army is too big to be defeated. Then he calls them to courage.
"I am William Wallace! And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. You've come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?" To this an older man says, "Fight? Against that? No! We will run. And we will live." He points out that the battle is suicide, there is no way that this small army can overcome the other. He is saying that courage is pointless and suicidal, that it's crazy.
But William Wallace knows that courage is the only way to have anything worth having. He responds with this, "Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live, at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take OUR FREEDOM!"
Fear leads to existence. Existence leads to regret. But courage leads to life lived fully. It is not the safe life, but it is the only way to really live life. We are all called to courage, what is your response? Will you silence the call, or follow it into battle?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Fear has spread. Panic has lead to crazy talk. Joshua and Caleb are trying to bring everything back to order. They are telling the people of the goodness of the land. They are calling them to be courageous, and trust God to fulfill His promise. But at this point the people are unable to hear their words. Ten spies have given a report of impossibility, and the call to courage falls on deaf ears.
Instead of remembering all that God has done for them in the recent past, and all of the promises He made centuries ago, they are ready to turn around and go be slaves again. But first, they decide to stone the crazy lunatics that want to march to death by sword. But before the stones can be hurled, God shows up.
The people were called to courage, but instead they gave in to fear, and rather than embracing the risk because the blessings of God far out weighed it, they decided to silence those who present the challenge of courageous trust. They would rather be slaves who waste away in the mud, then men who go out with their boots on. They would rather exist than live fully alive, because existence is safe. And to ensure the safe choice they try to permanently silence those who call them out of safety.
Men, all of us are called to be courageous. Every day we face options that call out the man in us. Every day we can choose to play it safe, or strap up our boots and charge the beach. Too often we have chosen safety, simply because it means we stay alive another day. And every time we chose safety we do whatever we can to silence whatever is calling us to courage. We avoid it at all costs. We try to ignore it if we can't avoid it. Or maybe we insult it as lunacy.
I'm thinking about the first real battle scene in Braveheart. William Wallace and his men ride up, in full war paint, to an army that is fleeing because they see nothing but death awaiting them. He asks why they flee to which a young soldier responds that the enemy army is too big to be defeated. Then he calls them to courage.
"I am William Wallace! And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. You've come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?" To this an older man says, "Fight? Against that? No! We will run. And we will live." He points out that the battle is suicide, there is no way that this small army can overcome the other. He is saying that courage is pointless and suicidal, that it's crazy.
But William Wallace knows that courage is the only way to have anything worth having. He responds with this, "Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live, at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take OUR FREEDOM!"
Fear leads to existence. Existence leads to regret. But courage leads to life lived fully. It is not the safe life, but it is the only way to really live life. We are all called to courage, what is your response? Will you silence the call, or follow it into battle?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Monday, September 22, 2014
Call to Courage
"Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, 'The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us — a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.'" -Numbers 14.6-9
Fear has spread, and the people a planning a trip back to Egypt. They are wishing that they had died in Egypt or in the Wilderness rather than entering the Promised Land because there are giants there. They say that slavery would be better than seizing the promise God has made to them as Abraham's descendants. Moses and Aaron fall facedown, Joshua and Caleb tear their clothes, and then the call the people to courage.
They tell the people that the land is exceedingly good, everything that God said it was. They say that if God is pleased with them then He will bring them into the land, and give them possession of it. They have personally seen it as two of the twelve spies. They have heard the promises of God, and they are prepared to claim them. They are calling the people to abandon fear and be courageous.
If they don't rebel against God, but trust Him and move courageously forward, the people of the land will be no match for them. If they courageously trust and follow God, He will be with them. There is no need for fear if they will simply trust God to fulfill the promises that He has made.
Men, we are called to be courageous. Fear is easy, and it spreads rapidly, but there is no need for fear. If God is with us we have nothing to fear. We are called to be courageous. God's blessings are worth any risk that may be involved.
God has called us to be courageous and trust Him. We are to call each other to be courageous and follow God where he leads us. Let us be courageous.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Fear has spread, and the people a planning a trip back to Egypt. They are wishing that they had died in Egypt or in the Wilderness rather than entering the Promised Land because there are giants there. They say that slavery would be better than seizing the promise God has made to them as Abraham's descendants. Moses and Aaron fall facedown, Joshua and Caleb tear their clothes, and then the call the people to courage.
They tell the people that the land is exceedingly good, everything that God said it was. They say that if God is pleased with them then He will bring them into the land, and give them possession of it. They have personally seen it as two of the twelve spies. They have heard the promises of God, and they are prepared to claim them. They are calling the people to abandon fear and be courageous.
If they don't rebel against God, but trust Him and move courageously forward, the people of the land will be no match for them. If they courageously trust and follow God, He will be with them. There is no need for fear if they will simply trust God to fulfill the promises that He has made.
Men, we are called to be courageous. Fear is easy, and it spreads rapidly, but there is no need for fear. If God is with us we have nothing to fear. We are called to be courageous. God's blessings are worth any risk that may be involved.
God has called us to be courageous and trust Him. We are to call each other to be courageous and follow God where he leads us. Let us be courageous.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Fear or Courage
"Thus they told him, and said, 'We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. Amalek is living in the land of the Negev and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites are living in the hill country, and the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan. Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, 'We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.' But the men who had gone up with him said, 'We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.' So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, 'The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size. There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.'" -Numbers 13.27-32
The people have arrived at the edge of the Promised Land, and like any good leader, Moses sends a group to check out the land before they entire nation heads in. For forty days the twelve men move to the northern part of Canaan and then east to the Jordan as they head south again. As instructed they bring back some of the fruit of the land, it took two men to carry a single cluster of grapes. The land is good, everything that God had said it was, but ten members of the group see an issue, there are already people in the land, and some of them are giants.
When they get back to camp they show the fruit and tell how great the land is, but then they share that it cannot be taken. Ten of them spread a report that they had come this far for nothing because they could never overcome the inhabitants of the land. They saw some giants in well fortified cities and decided that it was too much for God. They were full of fear and that kept them from seeing the goodness that God wanted to give them, and as we'll see it kept them from receiving it.
But then there was Caleb, one of two, who knew that God would bring them into the land victoriously. He quiets the people and tells them that God will fulfill His promise, if they will simply trust Him and move forward courageously. Fear is easy, courage is hard, and the people allow fear to rule their lives.
Men, what choice do you make? Do you see the goodness of God's promised blessings in the shadow of the giants and turn back? Or do you see the city in the way of your promised blessing and storm it? Do you courageously trust God to deliver, or allow fear to keep you from even trying? What choice do you wish you would make? What is keeping you from choosing it?
Let us live courageously because it is the only way to receive the blessings of God. Let us refuse to give in to fear and boldly move forward, claiming the promises of God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
The people have arrived at the edge of the Promised Land, and like any good leader, Moses sends a group to check out the land before they entire nation heads in. For forty days the twelve men move to the northern part of Canaan and then east to the Jordan as they head south again. As instructed they bring back some of the fruit of the land, it took two men to carry a single cluster of grapes. The land is good, everything that God had said it was, but ten members of the group see an issue, there are already people in the land, and some of them are giants.
When they get back to camp they show the fruit and tell how great the land is, but then they share that it cannot be taken. Ten of them spread a report that they had come this far for nothing because they could never overcome the inhabitants of the land. They saw some giants in well fortified cities and decided that it was too much for God. They were full of fear and that kept them from seeing the goodness that God wanted to give them, and as we'll see it kept them from receiving it.
But then there was Caleb, one of two, who knew that God would bring them into the land victoriously. He quiets the people and tells them that God will fulfill His promise, if they will simply trust Him and move forward courageously. Fear is easy, courage is hard, and the people allow fear to rule their lives.
Men, what choice do you make? Do you see the goodness of God's promised blessings in the shadow of the giants and turn back? Or do you see the city in the way of your promised blessing and storm it? Do you courageously trust God to deliver, or allow fear to keep you from even trying? What choice do you wish you would make? What is keeping you from choosing it?
Let us live courageously because it is the only way to receive the blessings of God. Let us refuse to give in to fear and boldly move forward, claiming the promises of God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Excuses
"Then Moses said to the Lord, 'Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.' The Lord said to him, 'Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.'" -Exodus 4.10-12
Moses is running out of excuses. Everything he has brought up God has countered. He's given him a location, a name, and signs to perform. And even with these Moses is still unwilling to jump in with both feet. For some reason there is still fear and timidity, and so he starts making excuses for why he can't do this thing that God has asked. "I can't go, I don't speak well, never have." God's response is simple, "Who made your mouth? I did. God and I will be with you and show you what to say." God promises to be with him even in the area's of his physical limitations.
Men, what excuses are you making to God? Lack of time? Lack of money? Lack of help? Lack of... fill in the blank? What is your excuses? Now ask yourself, is that really the issue, or is it the security blanket you're holding on to, hoping God will change His mind? Think of what your fear is costing you.
First, it is costing you the chance to be part of something epic. God has a part for you in His story, a part only you can play, and fear is keeping you from it. Second, it's costing you time. The older I get I realize how short life is and how fast it goes by. I don't have time to waste being scared.
Third, fear costs us the opportunity to watch God do something great. Every shortcoming, every hindrance we see as preventing us from going, are just opportunities to see God work. A time issue is the opportunity to gain discipline, and watch God cut the unnecessary from our lives. A money issue is the chance to watch God come through and provide in ways we never imagined. A help issue is the chance to trust God and watch Him come through, and call others to use their gifts. Whatever your excuse is, it is the chance to watch God work wonders, and fear is keeping your from it.
God doesn't provide Moses with the words at that moment. He doesn't immediately become an eloquent communicator. God simply says, "I made your mouth. I will be with you. Trust me, and I will teach you what to say." Yet again there is the call to faith in God.
Without faith in God we cannot be part of His story. Without faith in God we cannot accomplish the epic. Without courage from God we cannot follow Him in faith. God has promised to be with us, and He will handle every excuse we can make if we'll trust Him.
What is keeping you from following? What are your excuses?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Moses is running out of excuses. Everything he has brought up God has countered. He's given him a location, a name, and signs to perform. And even with these Moses is still unwilling to jump in with both feet. For some reason there is still fear and timidity, and so he starts making excuses for why he can't do this thing that God has asked. "I can't go, I don't speak well, never have." God's response is simple, "Who made your mouth? I did. God and I will be with you and show you what to say." God promises to be with him even in the area's of his physical limitations.
Men, what excuses are you making to God? Lack of time? Lack of money? Lack of help? Lack of... fill in the blank? What is your excuses? Now ask yourself, is that really the issue, or is it the security blanket you're holding on to, hoping God will change His mind? Think of what your fear is costing you.
First, it is costing you the chance to be part of something epic. God has a part for you in His story, a part only you can play, and fear is keeping you from it. Second, it's costing you time. The older I get I realize how short life is and how fast it goes by. I don't have time to waste being scared.
Third, fear costs us the opportunity to watch God do something great. Every shortcoming, every hindrance we see as preventing us from going, are just opportunities to see God work. A time issue is the opportunity to gain discipline, and watch God cut the unnecessary from our lives. A money issue is the chance to watch God come through and provide in ways we never imagined. A help issue is the chance to trust God and watch Him come through, and call others to use their gifts. Whatever your excuse is, it is the chance to watch God work wonders, and fear is keeping your from it.
God doesn't provide Moses with the words at that moment. He doesn't immediately become an eloquent communicator. God simply says, "I made your mouth. I will be with you. Trust me, and I will teach you what to say." Yet again there is the call to faith in God.
Without faith in God we cannot be part of His story. Without faith in God we cannot accomplish the epic. Without courage from God we cannot follow Him in faith. God has promised to be with us, and He will handle every excuse we can make if we'll trust Him.
What is keeping you from following? What are your excuses?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Self-Preservation
"It came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, 'See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman; and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, "This is his wife"; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.'" -Genesis 12.11-13
Here we see one of the classic traits of humanity, that of self-preservation. What is it about life that we cling so desperately to it, even at the expense of others? Here Abram travels to yet another foreign land in order to escape famine in the land God has promised him. But forgetting the promises God has just made him, he fears for his life because his wife was a beautiful woman. And so to save his own skin he asks her to lie, and in that puts her at risk. When we seek to save ourselves, others are put at unnecessary risk.
And yet how many times have we done this as men? In an attempt to save a job, we lie and throw someone else under the bus. In an attempt to save face, we ask someone else to jeopardize their own reputation. We sacrifice morals and values, just to try and save something. We risk more than we have to gain.
Near the end of Kingdom of Heaven Saladin has laid siege to Jerusalem unsuccessfully, and is ready to discuss surrender. The Bishop, Patriarch of Jerusalem, says to Balian, "Convert to Islam... repent later!" He is a coward of a man, who seeks only to preserve his life. Earlier he tries to convince Balian to flee the city with the other nobles, abandoning the people. This is the way of the coward. Self-preservation is a cowardly act.
A man does not seek to save and preserve his own life, as the Bishop, or Abram do. A man chooses as Balian did, to stand in defense of the helpless, no matter the cost to him. He is not afraid of death if it means saving the lives of others. A man puts his own life at risk before the life of anyone else. He takes the risks, and embraces the consequences of his actions and choices.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Here we see one of the classic traits of humanity, that of self-preservation. What is it about life that we cling so desperately to it, even at the expense of others? Here Abram travels to yet another foreign land in order to escape famine in the land God has promised him. But forgetting the promises God has just made him, he fears for his life because his wife was a beautiful woman. And so to save his own skin he asks her to lie, and in that puts her at risk. When we seek to save ourselves, others are put at unnecessary risk.
And yet how many times have we done this as men? In an attempt to save a job, we lie and throw someone else under the bus. In an attempt to save face, we ask someone else to jeopardize their own reputation. We sacrifice morals and values, just to try and save something. We risk more than we have to gain.
Near the end of Kingdom of Heaven Saladin has laid siege to Jerusalem unsuccessfully, and is ready to discuss surrender. The Bishop, Patriarch of Jerusalem, says to Balian, "Convert to Islam... repent later!" He is a coward of a man, who seeks only to preserve his life. Earlier he tries to convince Balian to flee the city with the other nobles, abandoning the people. This is the way of the coward. Self-preservation is a cowardly act.
A man does not seek to save and preserve his own life, as the Bishop, or Abram do. A man chooses as Balian did, to stand in defense of the helpless, no matter the cost to him. He is not afraid of death if it means saving the lives of others. A man puts his own life at risk before the life of anyone else. He takes the risks, and embraces the consequences of his actions and choices.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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