A Different Spirit
I believe we all need to ask ourselves a question this morning. Do we have a different spirit like Caleb had, so that we fully follow the Lord?(Numbers 14:24) Let's consider this for a minute this morning.
Caleb was one of the 12 spies sent into Canaan to collect information for Moses, so he would know how to proceed into the land. Only he and Joshua came back believing that it was possible to take over the land. The other 10 lacked faith and were filled with fear because of the strength of the people and their cities. Joshua was Moses' assistant, so we would expect him to support the plan of God. That leaves Caleb as the only "regular person" who was willing to trust God and take over the land. He had a "different spirit" than the rest. He was fully surrendered to God in faith and people could tell the difference. It came out in his courage and conviction in the face of opposition. That is what being fully surrendered to God does for us. We are different, and we are willing to fully follow Him.
When we trust Jesus, we become new creations in Him.(II Corinthians 5:17) The Holy Spirit comes to live in us,and we are changed. We are set apart for God. so we will be different from the rest. We will live by faith in the Lord, not by what the crowd says.(Romans 1:16,17) Real, living faith has works that show we trust in the Lord.(James 2:14-26) Therefore, we will be like Caleb was, as he was willing to fully follow God in whatever He said. The essence of being a believer is being different and following Jesus,
Tomorrow, I intend to read Numbers 16-18.
Caleb was one of the 12 spies sent into Canaan to collect information for Moses, so he would know how to proceed into the land. Only he and Joshua came back believing that it was possible to take over the land. The other 10 lacked faith and were filled with fear because of the strength of the people and their cities. Joshua was Moses' assistant, so we would expect him to support the plan of God. That leaves Caleb as the only "regular person" who was willing to trust God and take over the land. He had a "different spirit" than the rest. He was fully surrendered to God in faith and people could tell the difference. It came out in his courage and conviction in the face of opposition. That is what being fully surrendered to God does for us. We are different, and we are willing to fully follow Him.
When we trust Jesus, we become new creations in Him.(II Corinthians 5:17) The Holy Spirit comes to live in us,and we are changed. We are set apart for God. so we will be different from the rest. We will live by faith in the Lord, not by what the crowd says.(Romans 1:16,17) Real, living faith has works that show we trust in the Lord.(James 2:14-26) Therefore, we will be like Caleb was, as he was willing to fully follow God in whatever He said. The essence of being a believer is being different and following Jesus,
Tomorrow, I intend to read Numbers 16-18.