Initiative, in a biblical context, refers to the ability and willingness to take the first step or action in a situation, often guided by faith and obedience to God's will. It involves proactive behavior, courage, and the discernment to act in alignment with divine principles. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings that highlight the importance of initiative in the life of a believer.

Biblical Examples of Initiative:

1. Abraham's Call and Obedience: Abraham is a prime example of initiative in the Bible. When God called him to leave his homeland and go to a land He would show him, Abraham took the initiative to obey without knowing the details of his destination. Genesis 12:1-4 states, "Then the LORD said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.' So Abram departed, as the LORD had directed him, and Lot went with him."

2. Nehemiah's Leadership: Nehemiah demonstrated initiative when he took action to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Upon hearing about the desolation of the city, he sought permission from King Artaxerxes and organized the reconstruction efforts. Nehemiah 2:4-5 records, "The king asked, 'What is your request?' So I prayed to the God of heaven and answered the king, 'If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in your sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried, so that I may rebuild it.'"

3. Esther's Courage: Queen Esther showed initiative by risking her life to save her people. Despite the danger, she approached King Xerxes without being summoned, which could have resulted in her death. Esther 4:16 captures her resolve: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

4. The Good Samaritan: In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus illustrates initiative through the actions of the Samaritan who helped a wounded man when others passed by. Luke 10:33-34 describes, "But when a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, he looked at him and had compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him."

Theological Insights:

Initiative is often linked with faith and trust in God. It requires believers to step out in faith, trusting that God will guide and provide. Hebrews 11:8 highlights this aspect: "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."

Moreover, initiative is an expression of love and service to others, as seen in the actions of the Good Samaritan. It reflects the heart of Christ, who took the ultimate initiative by coming to earth to redeem humanity. Philippians 2:5-7 encourages believers to emulate Christ's example: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness."

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to cultivate initiative in their daily lives by seeking God's guidance through prayer and Scripture, being attentive to the needs of others, and stepping out in faith to fulfill God's purposes. James 1:22 exhorts, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves."

Initiative, therefore, is a vital aspect of Christian living, enabling believers to actively participate in God's work and make a positive impact in the world.1. (a.) Serving to initiate; inceptive; initiatory; introductory; preliminary.

2. (n.) An introductory step or movement; an act which originates or begins.

3. (n.) The right or power to introduce a new measure or course of action, as in legislation; as, the initiative in respect to revenue bills is in the House of Representatives.

575. apo -- from, away from
... ago (2), alike* (1), among (2), away (3), away* (1), because (9), before* (1), belonged
(1), deserting* (1), distance (1), hereafter* (1), initiative (1), left ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/575.htm - 6k

3335. metalambano -- to partake of
... 3335 (from 3326 , "change being ," and 2983 , " take or receive") -- properly,
to lay hold of with initiative which prompts "a change afterward," ie to show ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3335.htm - 7k

1438. heautou -- of himself, herself, itself
... 4), himself (91), itself (12), mind (1), none* (1), one another (13), oneself (1),
ourselves (19), own (48), own estimation (2), own initiative (3), own ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1438.htm - 8k

4355. proslambano -- to take in addition
... 4355 (from 4314 , "towards, interactively with," intensifying 2983 , "lay hold of
with initiative") -- properly, receive, with strong personal interest. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4355.htm - 7k

1683. emautou -- of myself
... Word Origin gen. reflex. pronoun from emou and autos Definition of myself NASB Word
Usage myself (24), own (2), own initiative (6), own sake (1). me, myself. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1683.htm - 7k

Preface
... The initiative of all action to-day on the earth is in man's hands. Some
day the initiative of governing action on the earth will ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on the crowned christ of revelation/preface.htm

Interdenominational Readjustment
... Complete control of experimentation or demonstration work is likely to destroy
or prevent initiative, which is the soul of progress. ...
/.../chapter viii interdenominational readjustment.htm

Ernest Renan.
... Then lived a superior person, who, by his bold initiative, and by the love which
he inspired, created the object, and fixed the starting-point, of the future ...
//christianbookshelf.org/schaff/the person of christ/ernest renan.htm

The Divine Law of Leadership.
... The initiative of all action is with us. Of course, if you go a bit deeper in, the
initiative is with God who moves upon our hearts to make us act. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/the divine law of leadership.htm

Sixth Tractate. The Impassivity of the Unembodied.
... the reasoning faculty? So, the initiative faculty; is it not, itself, altered
as one varies between timidity and boldness? And the ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/sixth tractate the impassivity of.htm

How God Gives.
... There is a third sort, the rarest sort. This second man a stage farther on,
who takes the initiative. He ... restored. He takes the initiative. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/how god gives.htm

On Bk. viii. Chap. 2, 4 (Note 3, Continued). The Causes of the ...
... of the report. The fact I refer to is that the initiative came from Galerius,
not from Diocletian himself. Lactantius states this ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pamphilius/church history/on bk viii chap 2.htm

The Same Jesus Here Now.
... It is of keenest help to mark that humanly the initiative of action is in our hands.
The fight is ours. ... But we take the action. The initiative is ours. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/the same jesus here now.htm

The Intrepid Pioneer.
... The mantle of Garretson fell upon Black and he was again compelled to lead the forces,
and take the initiative in opening up new places and preaching at every ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclean/william black/iv the intrepid pioneer.htm

Moody -- what Think Ye of Christ?
... As a business man he brought to his evangelistic work exceptional tact, initiative,
and executive ability, but the main source of his power lay in his ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/moody what think ye.htm

Initiative (11 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) The right or power to introduce a new measure or course of action, as in
legislation; as, the initiative in respect to revenue bills is in the House of ...
/i/initiative.htm - 9k

Adam (29 Occurrences)
... to take care of that; but, beginning where this leaves off, the evolution of the
individual, from the first forth-putting of individual initiative and choice ...
/a/adam.htm - 63k

Injoin
Injoin. Initiative, Injoin. Injunction . Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) See
Enjoin. ... in-join'. See ENJOIN. Initiative, Injoin. Injunction . Reference Bible
/i/injoin.htm - 6k

Initiate (1 Occurrence)
... ceremonies. 4. (vi) To do the first act; to perform the first rite; to
take the initiative. 5. (a.) Unpracticed; untried; new. 6 ...
/i/initiate.htm - 7k

Initiated (2 Occurrences)

/i/initiated.htm - 7k

Michal (18 Occurrences)
... character. She manifested her love in an age when it was almost an
unheard-of thing for a woman to take the initiative in such a matter. ...
/m/michal.htm - 16k

Consent (34 Occurrences)
... of the one who consents. He does not take the initiative, but yields to
what the principal proposes. The phrase ek sumphonou, "by ...
/c/consent.htm - 18k

Adoption (5 Occurrences)
... The motive and initiative of adoption always lay with the adoptive father, who thus
supplied his lack of natural offspring and satisfied the claims of ...
/a/adoption.htm - 23k

Agape
... were supplied out of the abundance of the rich (Acts 6:1). The presence of the Agape
in the Greek church of Corinth was no doubt due to the initiative of Paul ...
/a/agape.htm - 15k

Sacraments
... even been advanced that the institution of this sacrament as an ordinance of the
church designed to commemorate Christ's death was due to the initiative of Paul ...
/s/sacraments.htm - 19k

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Initiative: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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