FAITH CAPSULE:His calling has to be answered with boldness and character.
Exodus 14
It is written, “And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness.” (Exodus 14:8) Despite the threat of Pharaoh the children of Israel entered into the calling of salvation and deliverance from the bondage of over four hundred years with boldness. Indeed, the Old Testament is a shadow of the New Testament. By the word of God, salvation came forth for the children of Israel. Just as the children of Israel received salvation from bondage, many are still receiving salvation from bondage of the devil and the world of wickedness today. At the time of salvation one enters into His calling with boldness.
Every new believer always starts the race with boldness that is rooted in the word of God’s promise. However, in the course of the journey, different scenes start to unfold. The children of Israel left with boldness but it did not take long before it evaporated and fear became incorporated in the life of the children of Israel. The Bible recorded in Exodus 14:10, “And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD.” Boldness turned into fear. When He places His calling, it has to be answered with boldness and character. The children of Israel believed, but they could not behave what they believed. The same word of God that brought the Israelites out of the bondage of over four hundred years is same word delivering man to salvation today. However, when there is a failure to be living the word, there will be no character of the word in place in the life of the believer. Boldness and character are the winning combination. Complaint is the root of rebellion and the substitute of disobedience. The children of Israel had boldness and complaint instead of boldness and character. They could not hold on to the victory the Lord placed in their hand. As a result, they became lost as a nation. God said to them, “The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above.” (Numbers 14:29) Without any doubt, the race is for those that finish it. If you have received the grace of His calling, continuity is the rule of the game; a purposeful heart is the officiator. Run the race with boldness and character and you shall become a winner to the glory of God. He will back you up if you will not back yourself out of the race.
Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to run the race with boldness and character that is rooted in the word.