Yesterday I was having a conversation with a bother who said, “There is much value in doing hard things.” Consider the value of the hard things in your life which have passed, and the growth that has come from it.
We discussed Caleb yesterday but in the midst of dividing the land we see more about him plus an exchange between him and his daughter.
“Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak from there: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak. Then he went up from there to the inhabitants of Debir (formerly the name of Debir was Kirjath Sepher). And Caleb said, “He who attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.” So Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife. Now it was so, when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. So she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.” Joshua 15:14-19
Not only was there a deep value that produced strength in Caleb, but it passed to the next generation. This exchange between his daughter and him shows the strength he passed on to his daughter. This was rare to see a lady ask something, even if it was from her father. Caleb possessed a mighty courage that passed to his daughter. He lived a life doing hard things and passed it to the next generation. Who else do we know who did this? Jesus! He was the example of doing hard things for the sake of loving others. His life was given for a ransom, and He told us, “there is no greater love than to lay one’s life down for his friends”. You living the easy life or are you doing hard things for the sake of Christ? The choice is yours. Hoping you don’t make the easy one.
- To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.