At BTB’s monthly breakfast for October, David Richardson presented a biblical homily on Numbers 13 entitled, “No More Excuses.”
I have a question. Do you face giants—ones with their sword drawn and lances raised? Are they preventing you from reclaiming your life—the one that God has promised you?
What do these giants look like? How do they hold on to you? Lack of education or work skills? Bills that seem impossible to pay? No job and fear for the future? Or do they tower over you as the old gang, the old haunts, or the old habits? How do they chain you to the past and keep you from moving on?
In Christ, you have a birthright to claim. God promised that. He did not promise, however, that claiming it would be easy. For facing the …show more content…
It’s root gives to English the word agony.
So the process of claiming our birthright in Christ is a struggle, an agony of faith. This is something we must all understand. For we will face personal challenges that question God’s promises and his provision for our lives. But these struggles come along with God’s promises. It’s a package deal. This is why Christ told his disciples that in the world they have trouble. Yet Christ also told them to be of good cheer, for he had overcome the world.
We must derive strength from Christ’s words, for we, as Christians, have something at stake—our heritage. Our choices, which we must make in the face of all that opposes our efforts, will either reflect our faith in God’s promises or falter before our doubts and fears. We can either embrace our heritage or cower before …show more content…
As a result, the people wandered in the desert for 40 years, until that generation had passed away. A new generation, now lead by Joshua, stood on Canaan’s border. Unlike their fathers, they claimed by faith their God-given birthright and crossed the Jordon River.
One of Joshua’s first command victories was the defeat of the imposing fortified city of Jericho, a victory won by marching around the city for several days and then blowing trumpets. Then the city fell—by God’s hand.
We have a similar choice. Like Israel, we have a birthright. By faith, we must claim it. Shall we trust God, or shall we live in fear, allowing saber- wielding giants to obscure God’s promise? Those are the options.
The giants may seem imposing, but God is faithful. We need only to reach out in faith and lay hold of our birthright. In our struggle of faith, God has promised to walk with us.
Or we may reject the offer, fearing those giants. They seem too strong. Then we exile ourselves, as did Israel, to wander in the wilderness. This is our choice to make each day. How we choose is up to us. But please, let us make up our minds. No more excuses. My advice, however, is the choice of faith. That’s the right
I have a question. Do you face giants—ones with their sword drawn and lances raised? Are they preventing you from reclaiming your life—the one that God has promised you?
What do these giants look like? How do they hold on to you? Lack of education or work skills? Bills that seem impossible to pay? No job and fear for the future? Or do they tower over you as the old gang, the old haunts, or the old habits? How do they chain you to the past and keep you from moving on?
In Christ, you have a birthright to claim. God promised that. He did not promise, however, that claiming it would be easy. For facing the …show more content…
It’s root gives to English the word agony.
So the process of claiming our birthright in Christ is a struggle, an agony of faith. This is something we must all understand. For we will face personal challenges that question God’s promises and his provision for our lives. But these struggles come along with God’s promises. It’s a package deal. This is why Christ told his disciples that in the world they have trouble. Yet Christ also told them to be of good cheer, for he had overcome the world.
We must derive strength from Christ’s words, for we, as Christians, have something at stake—our heritage. Our choices, which we must make in the face of all that opposes our efforts, will either reflect our faith in God’s promises or falter before our doubts and fears. We can either embrace our heritage or cower before …show more content…
As a result, the people wandered in the desert for 40 years, until that generation had passed away. A new generation, now lead by Joshua, stood on Canaan’s border. Unlike their fathers, they claimed by faith their God-given birthright and crossed the Jordon River.
One of Joshua’s first command victories was the defeat of the imposing fortified city of Jericho, a victory won by marching around the city for several days and then blowing trumpets. Then the city fell—by God’s hand.
We have a similar choice. Like Israel, we have a birthright. By faith, we must claim it. Shall we trust God, or shall we live in fear, allowing saber- wielding giants to obscure God’s promise? Those are the options.
The giants may seem imposing, but God is faithful. We need only to reach out in faith and lay hold of our birthright. In our struggle of faith, God has promised to walk with us.
Or we may reject the offer, fearing those giants. They seem too strong. Then we exile ourselves, as did Israel, to wander in the wilderness. This is our choice to make each day. How we choose is up to us. But please, let us make up our minds. No more excuses. My advice, however, is the choice of faith. That’s the right