An interesting story in Numbers contrasts two ways of looking at obstacles. Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, Moses sent 12 men to spy it out.
One spy named Caleb returned, saying, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30). What a great faith statement! Sadly, his confidence was not shared by others.
But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we. ere we saw the giants;… and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight” —(Numbers 13:31, 33).
Why did they have that viewpoint? Because of how they viewed themselves. If we look at a problem and say, “I’m just a grasshopper,” we fail before we start. We defeat ourselves if we think we can’t go somewhere or do something that God has commanded.
We can face all kinds of threats and fears in the world, yet we need to resist and declare, “We can overcome this.” We are not made in the image of a grasshopper but in the image of God.
So, do we act like Him? Do we think like Him? And most importantly, do we love like Him?
As John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” Let His heart of love resonate through everything that you do.
Love casts out fear. Love overcomes all obstacles.
Faith works through love. When you have that, you are rejecting the image of the Father. You’re truly becoming like Him.
Paul, who faced incredible persecution, wrote, “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14).
When we do this, we are overcomers. As Romans 8:37 explains, we are more than conquerors through the love of Christ given to us. We should view ourselves as God’s love extending to a hurting world.
And when we overflow with His love, no obstacle can stand—for His love never fails.
Excerpted from a teaching at CBN Sta Chapel. Scripture is quoted from the NKJV.
