Spiritual Window-Shopping

Day one hundred eighty-nine

Yesterday I was asked to participate in an Eagle Board of Review for a young man from my church.  I have done this many times before, but this particular time was different.  The BSA representative who officiated the meeting was not a member of our church, but she said some things about our youth that got me thinking (there's a surprise!).  The short version would go something like this:  She was very impressed with their ability to stand up for what they believe in; their willingness to speak up and share their beliefs, especially in difficult times.  

I agree with her assessment.  It's one of the reasons that I enjoy working with the youth so much! I shared my thoughts on this with the Lord this morning in my prayer.  I am so grateful for the example that the youth set for me and others.  I am grateful for their strength and conviction in their beliefs.  I am especially grateful for the opportunities I have to teach them and to be taught by them.  My prayer is that the Lord will continue to bless them with the knowledge that He loves them and that they will find strength in that knowledge to keep their testimonies strong. 

Joshua 14

I once heard the term Spiritual Window-Shopping used to describe the Christian condition.  It was used to describe the problems that Christian churches are facing regarding commitment from their flocks.  There are many who are looking in the windows and testing the waters, but for one reason or another will never fully commit to being a Christian.  The price is too high for them.

When it comes to God's promises we need to do more than window-shop, we need to appropriate them. In Joshua 14, Caleb is the picture of a Christian who is willing to pay the price, fight the battles and win the victory that God has waiting for him. What is it that enabled this 85-year-old man to possess that which God had promised him?

CALEB'S COMMITMENT (vv 8, 9, 14)
Now the first key to Caleb's success was that God had all of Caleb that there was! Note the repeated phrase "Wholly followed the Lord." This is said about Caleb 3 times in this chapter. The word is "wholly" not "partially" or "somewhat", but "wholly" which means completely or entirely! It refers to the fact that Caleb was committed to keeping the distance between himself and the Lord at a minimum. What happens when we aren't wholly dedicated to the Lord?

"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." (James 1:8)

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13; 3 Nephi 13:24)

Think about it this way: A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure!

CALEB'S CONFIDENCE (vv 10, 12)
What was it that gave 85 year old Caleb the idea he could be a giant killer? Caleb's confidence or faith was in God's word (vv 10, 12).

Caleb had seen the Promised Land and for 45 years that vision had burned in his heart as he wandered through the wilderness! While others complained, Caleb looked for a mountain where milk and honey flowed and where the grapes of Eschol grew. He was able to see beyond his circumstances into the promises of the Lord. Caleb's confidence or faith allowed him to act on God's word. 

When we have confidence in the Lord we understand that faith is never a blind leap, but a deep settled conviction that God will do what He has promised!

CALEB'S COURAGE (v 10-11)
Commitment led to confidence - confidence to courage. Caleb had already overcome two obstacles in his quest for Canaan:

He Had To Overcome Grasshoppers (Num. 13:33) - For Caleb to claim what God had promised he had to go against the majority. There will always be someone saying that it can't be done, it's never been done like that before, we can't afford it, etc. Sometimes we will stand alone, but if we are standing in faith and the will of God, then we are never in better company!

He Had To Overcome Giants (Num. 14:8-9) All of us have giants in our lives. Giants of discouragement, finances, sickness, family, distress, doubt and the truth is - we can't defeat them ourselves. We can look at these situations in two ways:

We can say look how small we are compared to those giants. This is the outlook of fear. (2 Tim. 1:7) or look how small those giants are compared to God! This is the outlook of faith! (Phil. 4:13; Eph. 3:20) Fighting giants is good for you! (Num. 14:9)  

Now he faced a third obstacle:

He Had To Overcome Gray Hairs (Josh. 14:10-11) What does this tell us? When God makes a promise, he will give us the strength to see its fulfillment! Never count God, or yourself out. True faith looks beyond the present circumstance and sees the provision of the Almighty!

It all boils down to this: Courage can be defined in three letters Y-E-S! Real Christian courage is the willingness to say "Yes!" when God calls on you.

The next time I am tempted to spiritually window-shop instead of pay the price, I hope I remember the commitment, confidence and courage of Caleb.  He has inspired me today!