"Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say, 'Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him depart and return to his house, so that he might not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart.'" -Deuteronomy 20.8
The officers are to address the army and as they do they dismiss various soldiers. Here we see that every man who is afraid is sent home so that his fear does not spread to the others. Israel has dealt with this before, and it cost them four decades in the wilderness. To avoid this happening again while they are in the land, all those who are afraid are sent home from the battlefield. Fear spreads, and so we need to be men of courage.
There was a movie that came out earlier this year called After Earth. To be honest it wasn't one of Will Smith best films, but in it there is this quote. "Fear is not real. The only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts of the future. It is a product of our imagination, causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist. That is near insanity... Do not misunderstand me, danger is very real, but fear is a choice." God commands us not to be afraid, and therefore we are able to choose to be afraid or not. Fear is a choice. If fear was not an option, if we felt it all the time no matter what, God would not command us to "Fear not". We can choose to be afraid or not.
If we want to be part of God's army, if we want to join Him in His victory, we must choose not to fear. Danger is very real. Risks are very real, but fear is a choice. We can choose to be courageous, and stand firm against the enemy. Or we can choose to be afraid and flee. I think of Braveheart he asks the men of Scotland if they will fight, to which they say no, they'll run and live. William Wallace responds, "Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you’ll live, at least for 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."
Men, are you choosing to be afraid? Are you choosing to run and live rather than taking the chance to fight courageously and die on the battlefield? I don't mean a physical war, but a Spiritual one. Are you willing to trust God and follow Him where He leads, or do you want to play it safe? What do you want your thoughts to be on your deathbed? As Wallace asked, would you be willing to trade all the days from now to then for one chance to join the battle again? Do you want to live a life of fear that prevents you from really living? Or will you be a man of courage who chooses to fear not?
Let us be men who stand firm. Let us face danger, and show no fear. Fear is a choice, 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 Fear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fear. Show all posts
Friday, December 5, 2014
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Choosing Fear
"'Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it... Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys; turn tomorrow and set out to the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea... your corpses will fall in this wilderness, even all your numbered men, according to your complete number from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against Me. Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you... Your children, however, whom you said would become a prey — I will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. Your sons shall be shepherds for forty years in the wilderness, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness, until your corpses lie in the wilderness... I, the Lord, have spoken, surely this I will do to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be destroyed, and there they will die.' As for the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land and who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report concerning the land, even those men who brought out the very bad report of the land died by a plague before the Lord." -Numbers 14.22-23, 25, 29-30a, 31-33, and 35-37
God is angry, and for a second time offers Moses the chance to become the head of a nation. But again, Moses, the most humble man on earth, asks God to relent from His anger and spare the people. He does for a second time, but as with the first time, there are consequences for those involved.
All those who had witnessed the ten plagues in Egypt but refused to trust God when it came time to enter the land will die without seeing the land. Instead the next day began forty years of wandering in the wilderness, where one by one they would die. Every man able to go to war, those who should have courageously followed God forward and take the land, will die without ever setting foot in it. But their children will inherit the land, but not until they have spent forty years in the wilderness because of their father's choices. As for the men who brought back the report and spread fear among the people, they were the first to die.
When fear is the choice we forfeit the blessings of God. We miss out of the best things that He has in store for us because we are too afraid to go after them. We allow the thought of the giants intimidate us beyond faith in God, no matter what we have seen Him do in the past. And it is important to note that we are not the only ones who suffer because of our fear. The children of the cowardly men had to wait forty years before they could find rest in the Promised Land. For forty years they would wander the wilderness because of the choices of their fathers.
Men, are you choosing fear? Are you to intimidated to stand up and claim the blessings of God? There will be battles to fight to claim them. Their will be risks to take to receive them. But they are completely worth it, this is God after all, and He desires to bless His faithful children beyond their wildest imaginations (so that they can in turn bless others). Are you allowing fear to keep you from them?
What about your children, what difficulties is your fear causing them? What hardships will they unnecessarily have to endure because you were too afraid to claim God's promises? What wilderness will they have to wander in because you were too afraid to take on the giants whom God would have empowered you to slay?
It is not too late for us, we are still breathing, therefore we can still choose to be courageous. We don't have to forfeit the blessings of God, and we don't have to add hardships to our children. If we choose fear we will, but fear is not the only choice. Let us choose to be courageous.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God is angry, and for a second time offers Moses the chance to become the head of a nation. But again, Moses, the most humble man on earth, asks God to relent from His anger and spare the people. He does for a second time, but as with the first time, there are consequences for those involved.
All those who had witnessed the ten plagues in Egypt but refused to trust God when it came time to enter the land will die without seeing the land. Instead the next day began forty years of wandering in the wilderness, where one by one they would die. Every man able to go to war, those who should have courageously followed God forward and take the land, will die without ever setting foot in it. But their children will inherit the land, but not until they have spent forty years in the wilderness because of their father's choices. As for the men who brought back the report and spread fear among the people, they were the first to die.
When fear is the choice we forfeit the blessings of God. We miss out of the best things that He has in store for us because we are too afraid to go after them. We allow the thought of the giants intimidate us beyond faith in God, no matter what we have seen Him do in the past. And it is important to note that we are not the only ones who suffer because of our fear. The children of the cowardly men had to wait forty years before they could find rest in the Promised Land. For forty years they would wander the wilderness because of the choices of their fathers.
Men, are you choosing fear? Are you to intimidated to stand up and claim the blessings of God? There will be battles to fight to claim them. Their will be risks to take to receive them. But they are completely worth it, this is God after all, and He desires to bless His faithful children beyond their wildest imaginations (so that they can in turn bless others). Are you allowing fear to keep you from them?
What about your children, what difficulties is your fear causing them? What hardships will they unnecessarily have to endure because you were too afraid to claim God's promises? What wilderness will they have to wander in because you were too afraid to take on the giants whom God would have empowered you to slay?
It is not too late for us, we are still breathing, therefore we can still choose to be courageous. We don't have to forfeit the blessings of God, and we don't have to add hardships to our children. If we choose fear we will, but fear is not the only choice. Let us choose to be courageous.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Faith in the Face of Fear
"Then the Lord said to Jacob, 'Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.'... Then Jacob arose and put his children and his wives upon camels; and he drove away all his livestock and all his property which he had gathered, his acquired livestock which he had gathered in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac." -Genesis 31.3, 17-18
Jacob has grown wealthy, and he has a large family, but now his brother-in-laws are angry with him. Even Laban's attitude has changed towards him. His shrewdness has made him rich and Laban's flocks have gotten weaker. And God speaks to him and tells him to go home. Go back to where Esau is.
Remember at their last meeting Esau was planning to kill Jacob after their father dies. Jacob stole his blessing and their mother sent Jacob to Laban to protect him. It's been two decades (verse 38), but who knows what Esau is thinking. That's a long time to stew, or plenty of time to get over it. But Jacob took everything from Esau, and that could be something he won't forget about.
I'm sure Jacob was terrified. He has to get away from Laban, but that means going back to see Esau. Neither option seems that great, and yet Jacob gets his family and his livestock and heads back to Canaan. And he goes because God has reminded him of the promise "I will be with you." And in this he finds faith in the face of fear.
Men, there are going to be times when we're afraid to move forward. The commitment is huge. The risks are intimidating. The outcome is uncertain. But God has said "Go." What do you do then? Your decision in that moment will mold your character. What is your reaction in the face of fear? Will you act in faith, or run and hide?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Jacob has grown wealthy, and he has a large family, but now his brother-in-laws are angry with him. Even Laban's attitude has changed towards him. His shrewdness has made him rich and Laban's flocks have gotten weaker. And God speaks to him and tells him to go home. Go back to where Esau is.
Remember at their last meeting Esau was planning to kill Jacob after their father dies. Jacob stole his blessing and their mother sent Jacob to Laban to protect him. It's been two decades (verse 38), but who knows what Esau is thinking. That's a long time to stew, or plenty of time to get over it. But Jacob took everything from Esau, and that could be something he won't forget about.
I'm sure Jacob was terrified. He has to get away from Laban, but that means going back to see Esau. Neither option seems that great, and yet Jacob gets his family and his livestock and heads back to Canaan. And he goes because God has reminded him of the promise "I will be with you." And in this he finds faith in the face of fear.
Men, there are going to be times when we're afraid to move forward. The commitment is huge. The risks are intimidating. The outcome is uncertain. But God has said "Go." What do you do then? Your decision in that moment will mold your character. What is your reaction in the face of fear? Will you act in faith, or run and hide?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Wild at Heart, Chapter 3: The Question that Haunts Every Man, part 2
"Desire reveals design, and design reveals destiny." Plain and simple we were made for more than a cage. Battle, adventure, and beauty are our desires, and those are so much more than anger, sports, and porn. YOU were made for something greater. And not only that, but you have what it takes to be something greater.
But since the beginning of time men have failed to be men. We've been passive, cowardly, and violent, and we've tried to cover it up. We wonder if we really are men, we doubt we are, and we're afraid that everyone is going to find out. We are afraid to fail and so we don't take risks.
"We are hiding, every last one of us." As I read that I thought of the movie, Night at the Museum 2. General Custer is one of the characters and he's a classic poser. The entire movie he talks a big game boasting about his hair and what a great general he is. But when the time for battle comes, he announces the charge and then we find him hiding behind a pile of museum items, out of the battle. When he is confronted by Larry the night guard he brings up his failure at Little Big Horn, and because of that he hides, afraid to join the battle. He doesn't believe he has what it takes. At this point they look out over the battle that is taking place, and see that their allies are struggling. Custer says, "They need a leader." And after a few words of encouragement from Larry he joins the battle, and in the end they are victorious.
Our desires are what we were made to do. So I need to ask, what are your's? Be honest, no one needs to know but you. What are the deepest desires of your heart. Dream big and dig deep. What do you desire? No I have to ask, what is stopping you from going for it?
We were given a world to "explore, build and conquer" but risk and danger keep us from doing that. We were born into a world at war with battle lines already drawn up, but we refuse to take sides and instead only fight the ones we are sure to win. And we are in need of beauty. Eve was taken from Adam's side. I've heard that the Hebrew word used for "rib" actually means that God pulled the feminine part out of Adam. Now it takes a man and a woman together to show the full image of God, thus why marriage is between a man and a women, the two halves come together to create the full image of God. We need the beauty, but we don't think we can win her, so we don't even try.
All of these deny our true nature, and when we "deny our nature we go passive." We pose and act like we have it all together, but it's all a front and we know it. But the thing that drives us to keep it up is the fear of being found out. And so to protect ourselves we run and hide, sometimes literally, and other times in our anger or addictions. But we were made for more than this, we were made for something real.
"God believes in you!" God made you to come through, and believes that you can. He has given you a fierce, warriors heart. But before we can believe that, and begin to live like it, there is something else we have to deal with.
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
But since the beginning of time men have failed to be men. We've been passive, cowardly, and violent, and we've tried to cover it up. We wonder if we really are men, we doubt we are, and we're afraid that everyone is going to find out. We are afraid to fail and so we don't take risks.
"We are hiding, every last one of us." As I read that I thought of the movie, Night at the Museum 2. General Custer is one of the characters and he's a classic poser. The entire movie he talks a big game boasting about his hair and what a great general he is. But when the time for battle comes, he announces the charge and then we find him hiding behind a pile of museum items, out of the battle. When he is confronted by Larry the night guard he brings up his failure at Little Big Horn, and because of that he hides, afraid to join the battle. He doesn't believe he has what it takes. At this point they look out over the battle that is taking place, and see that their allies are struggling. Custer says, "They need a leader." And after a few words of encouragement from Larry he joins the battle, and in the end they are victorious.
Our desires are what we were made to do. So I need to ask, what are your's? Be honest, no one needs to know but you. What are the deepest desires of your heart. Dream big and dig deep. What do you desire? No I have to ask, what is stopping you from going for it?
We were given a world to "explore, build and conquer" but risk and danger keep us from doing that. We were born into a world at war with battle lines already drawn up, but we refuse to take sides and instead only fight the ones we are sure to win. And we are in need of beauty. Eve was taken from Adam's side. I've heard that the Hebrew word used for "rib" actually means that God pulled the feminine part out of Adam. Now it takes a man and a woman together to show the full image of God, thus why marriage is between a man and a women, the two halves come together to create the full image of God. We need the beauty, but we don't think we can win her, so we don't even try.
All of these deny our true nature, and when we "deny our nature we go passive." We pose and act like we have it all together, but it's all a front and we know it. But the thing that drives us to keep it up is the fear of being found out. And so to protect ourselves we run and hide, sometimes literally, and other times in our anger or addictions. But we were made for more than this, we were made for something real.
"God believes in you!" God made you to come through, and believes that you can. He has given you a fierce, warriors heart. But before we can believe that, and begin to live like it, there is something else we have to deal with.
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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