The Edge of Faith

It's inspiring to look at the "heroes" of our faith and to see the great things they accomplished, bringing glory to God and making (our shared) history.

Hebrews 11, of course, is a great place to go to get a run-down of these folks.

In reviewing the list, what do these heroes have in common?

Samson's Demise - repost

The Philistine's sought to find Samson's strength, but their victory was assured when they exploited his weakness (Judges 16).

It's wonderful to recognize our strengths. But when we begin to think that we are invincible because of them, we enter dangerous territory unless we are wide-awake to our weaknesses.

After we are alert to them, we must then exercise self-control, pursuing righteousness through the Word, Godly counsel, and humble fellowship with our Father.

Lead with your strengths. Grow in them. Let the Lord and the Word mature you in these. He can use you mightily.

But don't neglect dealing with your weaknesses. Seek the Lord with a humble heart and close the door on the Philistines.

Genetics

One of the major influences on who we are is in our DNA. It is how God designed us genetically to fulfill the plan He has for us.

He has placed there certain qualities - physical, emotional, and intellectual - that, even before we meet Christ, "bend" us a certain way.

Character and talent starts here. Research has shown that - in the womb - different babies respond in different ways to the same stimuli.

We won't debate the source, but even weaknesses are as deep as our DNA.

We can't accept this as final. Our work, after Christ, is to "bend" to the New Birth.

When it comes to character, deal with your weaknesses. Let God change you.

When it comes to talent, expand on your strengths. Let God grow you.

Strength and Wisdom

David’s army at Hebron was growing in leaps in bounds as the tribes sent men of war “…to turn over the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD" (1 Chronicles 12:23).

Thousands of men described in terms such as, “armed with bows, using both the left hand and the right hand in hurling stones and shooting arrows with the bow”, “whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as gazelles on the mountains”, “valiant”, “mighty men of valor, famous men”, “fit for war”, “loyal”, “expert in war”, “stouthearted men who could keep ranks”, “who could keep battle formation”, and “with shield and spear”.

I can picture these thousands – tens of thousands – gritty, scarred, and battle-ready men converging on Hebron to make David king. Zeal, angst, expectation - a hair-trigger powderkeg gathering of men looking for a reason to demonstrate their allegiance. Wound up tight like a spring and compressed into a geographic area not fit for their numbers or mettle.

What - or who - could tame such a gathering?

In the midst of this crowd we find, “…the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command…” (1 Chronicles 12:32).

These men were knowledgeable in interpreting the weather, the signs, the seasons, the political climate - and their understanding and experience with the interplay of these elements made them critical to David's cause. He would need both the bruteness of the warrior and the diplomacy of understanding men in order to secure the kingdom.

These elements are not exclusive, but complementary. And they live in us.

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12) and, "therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16).

To lay claim to what God has set before us we must be prepared to be both strong and wise. To honor God with these traits requires David-like devotion.