BaptistWay Bible Series for June 5: Caleb: Showing courageous faith

Courage is an attribute highly regarded by all, but elusive to many. In my mind, I am courageous and willing to do whatever is necessary for what I believe; however, in actuality, I fall short of the courage I desire.

There are different kinds of courage: Courage in the face of physical harm, courage to take responsibility and courage to take a stand for what you believe.

My granddaddy served in the Navy during WWII in the Pacific. He fought in the battle of Tarawa, which was one of the most difficult battles in the Pacific. The boat he was piloting was crippled and his shoulder was wounded severely, yet he was courageous enough to stay with the men who were wounded until he could swim to a pier and get help. He received a Silver Star and Purple Heart for his actions. He is courageous.
    
My dad has owned a feed store and propane business in West Texas for many years. The ups and downs of the unpredictable weather and economy in West Texas have made for many frustrations; but my dad was courageous enough to persevere and take care of our family no matter how difficult the circumstances became. He never compromised his principles or his love for God and his family. He is courageous.
    
Stephen, the first martyr, the Apostle Paul, Dietrich Bonheoffer and Mother Teresa are just some of the many people who have been willing to stand up for their faith and live out their faith despite the dangers and difficulties surrounding them. Their courage to stand up for what they believed in is an encouragement to us all. They were courageous.

Another person of courage is found in the pages of the Old Testament. Caleb was one of the 12 spies sent out by Moses to scout the land God had promised the people of Israel. The spies witnessed the beauty and savagery of the land. They brought back some of the fruit of the land as proof the land was fertile and plentiful.

However, 10 of them brought back a message of fear and doubt. The people in the land were powerful and strong, their cities were fortified and very large. The 10 spies who recommended not going into the land probably were making the most rational choice, but the choice was void of faith.

Caleb courageously spoke against the fear and doubt of the other 10 spies and told the people they could conquer this land. I do not think Caleb necessarily was braver than the others or that he was looking for a fight. Caleb’s courage was rooted in what God had promised. God told Moses he would give this land to the Israelites, and Caleb believed God. Caleb was courageous enough to stand up for what he knew to be true in the face of opposition and even threats.

Christians need to be courageous. Each of the people mentioned above showed their courage through their actions. We show courage when we stand up and choose to live the life of Christ.

Many times, we will feel like Caleb. We are the minority, and the majority may seem to make some rational points. Our courage is not rooted in the ways of the world or based on self-preservation; rather our courage is based on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our strength comes from following the one who has overcome death.
    
We need to avoid the temptation of thinking that being courageous simply is telling the world how bad and sinful it is. Honestly, this does not take much courage. We need to display the courage of Christ who came into the world not to condemn the world but to show the world how much God loves his people. Jesus was courageous enough to love the world until the world killed him. That is true courage.

Caleb knew God had promised to be with the people as they entered the land. If God already had promised to be with them, then the giants in the land were not a surprise to God. Caleb was willing to live out his response to God’s truth by following God into the Promised Land.

God has called us to live our lives as Christ lived his. If God has called us too this, then the difficulties and obstacles we face in life are not a surprise to God. He will be with us as we face the giants of our lives.

Will you be courageous as you live each day for Christ? Will you courageously proclaim the good news of Jesus’ love and redemption for the world even when complaining about the sinfulness of the world is much easier? Will you courageously stand up for the least of these even when that means getting out of your comfort zone? Will you courageously be a light in your community, workplace and family even when simply blending into the darkness is encouraged?

Courage is not just a characteristic of the brave and strong. Courage comes from knowing who you serve and who has given you new life: Jesus Christ.