Tag: courage

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No Excuses

Daily Reading

1Samuel 9-12

Daily Thought

Saul looked the part of king. Israel’s Charlton Heston, “there was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people” (1Samuel 9:2). He was the right man for the job, because the people were looking for a king “like all the nations” (1Samuel 8:5). Saul was a king after man’s heart.

It is not on the outside what makes the man, however, and though Saul looked the part, he proved a coward. The signs were evident early, had the people looked–“behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage” (1Samuel 10:22). Courage is not the absence of fear, so Saul might be excused for cowering at the start. We, too, hide ourselves among the baggage. We have our excuses. “I’m really not sure I can do that”; but God responds, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2Corinthians 12:9). We point out others more qualified. “On the contrary,” says God, “the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (1Corinthians 12:22). We have this other obligation at the moment, but when it’s over, call me. A disciple tried that one, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” His dad wasn’t dead; he just wanted to wait until he was. Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead” (Matthew 8:21-22). “Sports! Band! The job! The vacation in Italy! Homework! Laundry! Life!” All excuses, we hide in the baggage. “Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them” (Matthew 13:7-8).

Courage is not the absence of fear, it is answering the call, responding despite our fear, doing the right thing no matter what, and Saul never rose to the task. Saul could stand tall, taller than any in Israel; but he didn’t.

Daily Prayer

What a wonderful Creator. I look around at the world, the skies and the land, filled with marvelous works of Your hand. I cannot help but stop and marvel. This is the world You made for me.

Then I read from Your Word, “Let us make man in our own image, male and female. Let them rule over land and sea and air.” God, I pray that I rule well the kingdom you put in front of me. I pray that I courageously and boldly display Your wisdom in all I say and do. I pray I step up, not down. God, I am willing and I need Your help.

Amen

Daily Question

What are your best excuses that keep you from following God as fully as you should?

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But Even If He Does Not

Daily Reading

Daniel 1-3

Daily Thought

When Babylon sacked Judah, it plundered the best of the best; “What was of gold the captain of the guard took away as gold, and what was of silver, as silver” (2Kings 25:15). They also took the best of the people, “youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom” (Daniel 1:4). Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, to whom were given new names, “Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego” (Daniel 1:7)–in effect, saying, “I own you now.” These young men would be molded in the ways of Babylonian royalty, their language, manner, philosophy–even the food they ate.

Not the food, said Daniel. To be holy means to be set apart, and Daniel and his friends were holy toward God, not Babylon, so Daniel began small and “resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food” (Daniel 1:8). Daniel requested of the steward an alternative diet and invited a comparison; “test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink,” (Daniel 1:12) then compare our health to the others. They stood strong in the little matters, preparing themselves for the greater.

The greater came when Nebuchadnezzar made a towering image of gold and commanded all to bow and worship before it, and Daniel’s friends would not. “Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace,” roared the king (Daniel 3:6), to which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego responded, “O Nebuchadnezzar, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.” A bold declaration, yet six words even more defiant and courageous followed, “but even if he does not” (Daniel 3:16-18). They would remain holy to God even if it did not appear in their best interest–even if God did not save them. And they were tossed in the furnace.

“Even if he does not,” they would not bow, so they stood and God stood with them. Peering into the flames, Nebuchadnezzar saw the three standing unharmed, but there was another, a fourth. “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:24-25). God stands with those who stand for God. 

Daily Prayer

My God, I offer myself as a living sacrifice, which means my life is Yours. I give it to You, so it is no longer mine to lose or another’s to own, but Yours to save. I pray, O God, that my faith will be bold, that when I face that which is impossible for me to do, I will trust in the One who can do all things. I pray that I will act not because I am secure in the outcome, but because I am secure in You.

Amen

Daily Question

What kind of guarantees do you want from God before you would risk your life for him?

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But Even If He Does Not

Daily Reading

Daniel 1-3

Daily Thought

When Babylon sacked Judah, it took the best of the best; “What was of gold the captain of the guard took away as gold, and what was of silver, as silver” (2Kings 25:15). They also took the best of the people, “youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom” (Daniel 1:4). Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, to whom were given new names, “Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego” (Daniel 1:7). Babylon, in effect, saying, “I own you now.” These young men would be molded in the ways of Babylonian royalty, their language, manner, philosophy; even the food they ate.

Not the food, said Daniel. To be holy means to be set apart, and Daniel and his friends were holy toward God, not Babylon, so Daniel began small and “resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food” (Daniel 1:8). Daniel requested of the steward an alternative diet and invited a comparison; “test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink,” (Daniel 1:12) then compare our health to the others. They stood strong in the little matters, preparing themselves for the greater.

The greater came when Nebuchadnezzar made a towering image of gold and commanded all to bow and worship before it, and Daniel’s friends would not. “Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace,” roared the king (Daniel 3:6), to which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego responded, “O Nebuchadnezzar, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.” A bold declaration, yet six words even more defiant and courageous followed, “but even if he does not” (Daniel 3:16-18). They would remain holy to God even if it did not appear in their best interest–even if God did not save them. And they were tossed in the furnace.

Even if he does not, they would not bow, so they stood and God did. Peering into the flames, Nebuchadnezzar saw the three standing unharmed, but there was another, a fourth.“Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:24-25). God is standing with those who are standing for God. 

Daily Prayer

My God, I offer myself as a living sacrifice, which means my life is Yours. I give it to You, so it is no longer mine to lose or another’s to own, but Yours to save. I pray, O God, that my faith will be bold, that when I face that which is impossible for me to do, I will trust in the One who can do all things. I pray that I will act not because I am secure in the outcome, but because I am secure in You.

Amen

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Do It Anyway

Daily Reading

Esther 1-5

Daily Thought

Ahasuerus, king of Persia, “loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen” (Esther 2:17). It is a time of national peril for Israel and Mordecai appeals to Esther to approach the king, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). The book of Esther is more political than religious, the name of God not found on its pages, but God’s providence fills the pages. Esther’s response, inviting her countrymen to fast on her behalf, acknowledges God behind the scenes. This story is of godly action more than words.

Courage cannot be ignorant and Esther knew the danger of Mordecai’s request, “if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law–to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter (Esther 4:11). “Do it anyway,” is Mordecai’s response, even as he knew the danger, for he also had stood courageously. Mordecai is not careless of her life. He loves her and has cared for her since childhood, but cares more deeply for her soul. To keep silent when courage is called for may (or may not) save your life, but you will die inside. Esther understood, “I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). This is no statement of despair, but of devotion to her nation and her God.

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” ~Luke 9:24

Daily Prayer

God, wonderful Savior, I will be prepared always to stand for You, as You stood for me in my place at the cross. I will be prepared, putting on Your armor daily, the faith in Your care, the hope of eternity, the love which You showed me. I will be prepared, pouring into Your Word, always ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope I have in You.

You set the time, I’ll be ready.

Amen

Posted on

No Matter What

Daily Reading

1Samuel 9-12

Daily Thought

Saul looked the part of king. Israel’s Charlton Heston, a rich kid, a tall, handsome young man. “There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people” (1Samuel 9:2). He was the right man for the job, because the people were looking for a king “like all the nations” (1Samuel 8:5). Saul was a king after man’s heart.

It is not on the outside what makes the man, however, and though Saul looked the part, he proved a coward. The signs were evident early, had the people looked. “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage” (1Samuel 10:22). Courage is not the absence of fear, so Saul might be excused for cowering at the start. We, too, hide ourselves among the baggage. We have our excuses. “I’m really not sure I can do that”; but God responds, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2Corinthians 12:9). We point out others more qualified. “On the contrary,” says God, “the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (1Corinthians 12:22). We have this other obligation at the moment, but when it’s over, call me. A disciple tried that one, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” His dad wasn’t dead; he just wanted to wait until he was. Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead” (Matthew 8:21-22). “Sports! Band! The job! The vacation in Italy! Homework! Laundry! Life!” We hide in the baggage. “Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them” (Matthew 13:7-8).

Courage is not the absence of fear; it is answering the call, responding despite our fear, doing the right thing no matter what, and Saul never rose to the task. Saul could stand tall, taller than any in Israel; but he didn’t.

Daily Prayer

What a wonderful Creator. I look around at the world, the skies and the land, filled with marvelous works of Your hand. I cannot help but stop and marvel. This is the world You made for me.

Then I read from Your Word, “Let us make man in our own image, male and female. Let them rule over land and sea and air.” God, I pray that I rule well the kingdom you put in front of me. I pray that I courageously and boldly display Your wisdom in all I say and do.

God, I am willing and I need Your help.

Amen