Saturday March 18, 2023

"Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him." - 2 Samuel 10:12

Uncertainty. It can paralyze us to inaction and freeze us in fear. What’s going to happen? How will things turn out? We don’t know. So, we tell ourselves it’s best to wait for a more opportune time, play it safe, and exercise caution until the outcome is more predictable. It’s not safe, we say. Too risky! But, what really is risk? Risk is not knowing whether the outcome of some action or circumstance will be good or bad, positive or negative, helpful or harmful. In that sense, because we are not all-knowing, we live with risk every day. It is the air we breathe. But not so with God! He knows everything that has been in the past, is now in the present, and will be in the future. He knows every actuality and possibility. He knows what will be and what would have been had circumstances been different. Or, to say it differently - IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO TAKE A RISK! This means God is totally trustworthy. We may not know the future, but He does. No wonder God calls us to live by faith in Him. Christians should the be the most courageous people of all. Risk? What risk! Our God rules and overrules all things. He has promised to work everything for our good and His glory. Our text this Sunday illustrates this beautifully. Surrounded by enemies and with a future unknown, Joab shook off fear, sprung into action, and trusted the Lord to do whatever He determined best. What a thrilling moment! You can read all about it in 2 Samuel 10:1-19. I’m looking forward to exploring it together this Sunday. Until then, take courage, fear not, have faith. God knows every outcome and is unwaveringly committed to doing what is good and glorious! He cannot take a risk, and that means we can courageously follow Him by faith!