07/03/2011 - Get to know your God!

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“Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God.” (Joshua 14: 8)
Joshua and Caleb were two out of the twelve spies who’d been sent to spy on Canaan to bring good news from there. Yet, forty five years later, a strong Caleb, just like he was when he was given that promise, now at age eighty five, realizes that Joshua might hesitate to give him the land promised by God through Moses to his people. That reminds us that it isn’t enough just to recall something our Father has promised us; we’ve got to fight so we’ll lose nothing He’s given us. Caleb was firm with Joshua and anyone determined to win, whoever they might be, shouldn’t do otherwise.
It’s interesting to point out the way those who belong to God usually behave. Ten spies were judged by the Lord and they paid too high a price for their rebellion. Yet, Caleb didn’t call them outsiders or any other derogative adjective – on the contrary, he called them brothers. That tells us that those who serve God must be used daily to show respect to their neighbour, even those who are in error.
Those spies went up with Caleb but then they came down with another point of view. My brother, beware not to go up with the true servants of the Lord and then come down defeated. Those who go up into the presence of the Most High can’t afford to let the devil show them anything at all; they’ve got to see only those things God’s revealing to them; after all, we’ve got to turn to the Author of our salvation.
They brought the bad news because they let the enemy present them with some hardships. Well, they didn’t do the right thing! God will never assign us a mission to come back with our opponent’s words in our mouths. We’ve got to always break the Good News; those who are carried away by our opponent’s tricks are confessing that Jesus wasn’t their main Target. Now, those who look to the Lord even though they’re dying will certainly live. We’ve got to be cautious with the bad news; it can contaminate even the most dedicated ones.
Evil is so harmful that it will surely contaminate you if your attention is slightly drawn to it. In fact, bad news melts people’s hearts and it turns heroes into cowards. That happened to the great Elisha, for instance. He fled when he heard that Jezebel wanted to murder him though he’d faced four hundred prophets of Baal and the four hundred and fifty of the idol-pole (I Kings 19). Pray whenever
you’re broken the news, be it good or bad, and never nurse any fear in your heart.
Those who persevere to follow the Lord will find out the way to success. That’s what Caleb did! The main purpose of your life in all senses must be what he did when he experienced who his God really was. Every mission He’ll give you is for your own good. So, fulfil the divine commands and don’t let anyone steal His promises for you!
In Christ, with love,
R. R. Soares