No Excuses
“And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic” — 1 Samuel 14:15
Some verses of scripture simply blow me away… like this one. The Bible is never short of ways to inspire our faith. We only need to be open to what God is saying and when He’s reaching out to us.
The courage of faith
Saul was Israel’s king at a time of constant aggression from the Philistines. During one of their many stand offs, Jonathan (Saul’s son) left Israel’s camp with his armour-bearer and attacked some of Philistine soldiers.
A risky move I’d say. But in hindsight, the young man was acting on faith. While others in his camp waited and stalled, he took a risk and God backed him up.
What’s keeping you from acting on faith? What’s keeping you from making the move?
The menace of fear
Fear keeps us from acting what we profess. Fear cripples our resolve to follow through with our commitment. You want to achieve it, but you’re afraid of failing.
God has not called us to live in fear but faith. We act against godly reasoning when we live in fear. Trust loses its power when we are gripped with fear.
Martin Luther once said:
“Faith honors God with the most reverent and highest regard, since it considers Him truthful and trustworthy.”
But if we live in fear, we cannot experience God as trustworthy and truthful.
No excuse not to trust God
Jonathan’s faith teaches us an amazing lesson. While the rest of Israel was trying to figure out the noise on the other side, God was working a great miracle for His people. And Jonathan was instrumental to that victory. He chose to step out.
God sent a panic into the enemy’s camp. The rest is history. You have no excuse not to trust God in your case.
Would you trust God today with your worries and anxieties? Or would you cling to them like a precious gift God never gave you? You have to decide.
God will not honour worry but He responds to faith.
“God is honoured when we are humbled and He’s trusted” (paraphrased) — John Piper
Chose to trust and watch God move in your situation. No excuses.
Image by Jim Rohan | Flickr
About Joseph Iregbu
From a homeless, near-school-dropout to living a story worth telling. Purpose is my passion. What's your story?