Dealing With a Bad Report

Dealing with a bad report

by Executive Pastor Bill Snell

The very nature of a “bad report” is just that – bad. No one likes to receive one. I hereby move that all “bad reports” be done away with. I don’t want to hear another one – ever!

But, unfortunately, I will…and you will too. So what am I going to do about it when it comes?

The simple answer is, “I won’t know until the report comes”. But, I am certain that a Christian can be better prepared than most people are.

Remember when Moses sent out twelve spies to scout out the “promised land”? Ten out of the twelve came back with a really “bad report”. The report was so bad that the result was an entire generation died in the desert, not possessing what God had promised.

You may also remember that Caleb and Joshua were among the twelve who spied out the land. They saw exactly what the others saw, but they saw through different eyes. The interpretation of what they saw flowed through the grid of faith and confidence that God was good, and His promises could be trusted.

Cal and Josh were spared during the additional 40 years in the desert. Yes, they suffered the consequences during that time, along with those who believed the lie, but they did not die. In fact, they were being promoted by God to lead ahead into the “promised land” and into the act of possessing the land when the next opportunity presented itself. They didn’t give up.

Deuteronomy 11:22-f

“Then the Lord will drive out all these nations from before you, and you will dispossess greater and mightier nations than yourselves, every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours. No man shall be able to stand against you; the Lord your God will put the dread of you and the fear of you upon the land where you tread, just as He has said to you.”

This was God’s promise to His people before the spies went out, but the vast majority of the chosen leaders came back in fear and trembling. Not so with Joshua and Caleb.

How can we be like Joshua and Caleb when we see our own “giants in the land”? When a bad report comes, and they most certainly will, what will be our report? To act as if we never saw the “giants” is ridiculous. But that is what many do, thinking that if they just don’t admit to or speak of the giants they will somehow go away.

Overcoming the giants in the land is what God intends as we possess His promises. You have been made more than conquerors, overcomers in this life. Jesus’ victory is yours. Defeating painful habits, overcoming bitterness and resentment, possessing life full and abundant are promises from God perfected by the “finished work of Christ”.

I suggest that you get into a regular practice of being “good receivers”, and believers of His promises now, so that when the “giants” start defying, you know where to look to receive mercy and help in time of need.

Grace2u,

Bill Snell