Caleb the Avenger

[S] Joshua 14:10-13 --
¹⁰"Now behold, the LORD has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and now behold, I am eighty-five years old today.
¹¹"I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and forgoing out and coming in.

¹²"Now then, give me this hill country about which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the LORD will be with me, and I will drive them out as the LORD has spoken."
¹³So Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.

[O] For 45 years, Caleb trusted in God's promise of giving the land of Canaan even against the giants of Anak. Even at the age of 85, he desires to live out that promise and he requests the hill country of Hebron so he may drive them out as the LORD has spoken (45 years ago). And later we see that he does just that.

Caleb's proclamation of "I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me" truly gives me the energy to move on with my spiritual walk where I face many tough challenges. I do get old every year but in my heart I am as strong as when I first met Jesus. God is encouraging me to move onward, fighting onward, without retreating.

Caleb's commitment reminds me of a message I heard recently of a young committed Christian who dedicated everything he had for the cause of spreading the Love of Christ died at a young age with illness and afterwards his parents found these three words written in his Bible: 1) No reserves; 2) No retreat; 3) No regrets. Can I live a life for Jesus where I can also give it all, without retreating, without any regrets in the end?

[A] What an amazing testimony of resilience and commitment based on his complete trust in God's promises. Caleb from this passage really pumps me up today as I face a new week with new challenges I'm sure, that I need to tackle. But this week, I am going all out with No reserves/retreat/regrets.

[P] Dear Heavenly Father, I seek Your encouragement, protection, and strength to live out this week so I could emulate Caleb's courage and trusting in You. May Your light shine through all that I do this week. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Vengeance is Mine, I will Repay

[S] Obadiah 1:12 --
    ¹²"Do not gloat over your brother's day,
         The day of his misfortune
         And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah
         In the day of their destruction;
         Yes, do not boast
         In the day of their distress. 

[O] This passage spoke to my tendency of being glad when "bad guys" face their misfortunes.  I mean, they should be punished for their actions but my "rejoicing" over their misfortunes is not a way God wants my heart to be.  I sort of justified my rejoicing by saying they deserve it; but after reading this passage God's words of "vengeance is mine, I will repay" (one of many places in the Bible: Hebrews 10:30) came to mind and how even to those who may deserve it, my heart should not be rejoicing for their misfortunes.

[A] Remember that vengeance is God's and the punishment is also His.  My focus should be on that God's justice as well as His grace to us all.

[P] Dear God, please forgive my immature heart for rejoicing others misfortunes regardless of their deserving it or not.  I want to take on the heart of Jesus toward others and please let me continue to have heart of humility.  I am thankful for correcting my heart through this passage.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.