Full of Courage

Full of Courage

1 John 2: ²⁸ Yes, my children, remain in union with him, so that when he appears we may be full of courage and need not hide in shame from him on the Day he comes. ²⁹ You know that Christ is righteous; you should know, then, that everyone who does what is right is God's child.

 

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Having told the lie, I did not feel confident in answering any questions. I could be tripped up easily because I made up a convenient story that was not consistent with what I was doing at the time.

 

• My mind raced as I tried to think of other lies to support the current lie.
• Blame entered my mind as a possible way out of “my” current lie.
• After a while, I gave up and said “lying is just too hard too hard to keep up.”

 

John wraps up his discussion about remaining in union with CHRIST. He implies that if we remain in union with JESUS, then when HE returns, we will not be ashamed, but full of courage.

 

My Observations:

• Confidence comes from staying with GOD, even when things look terrible.
• Assurance comes from following GOD instead of trying to create my own security blanket.
• Courage comes from doing “what is right” as GOD has defined it, not humans.

 

Sin makes me question GOD’s love for me. I mean, when I sin and something goes terribly wrong, I wonder if it was the sin that caused the pain. Even though I know I am forgiven, I still feel unstable in my relationship with GOD when blatant sin is in the picture. GOD has another way.

 

HE is not placing extreme pressure on us to be perfect. In fact, HE knew we would not follow HIM, yet JESUS died for humanity anyway. But there are times when GOD sees when you and I do “what is right” and gets excited. I am glad GOD can use sinful people to do HIS marvelous works of love.

 

Challenge

• How does the writer try to make the message precious to everyone?
• Have you ever questioned GOD’s love for you?
• Wil you have courage in your relationship with GOD by doing “what is right” so HE can call you HIS child today?

Origin of Courage

Origin of Courage

1 Thessalonians 2: Our friends, you yourselves know that our visit to you was not a failure. ² You know how we had already been mistreated and insulted in Philippi before we came to you in Thessalonica. And even though there was much opposition, our God gave us courage to tell you the Good News that comes from him. 

 

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“There will be hundreds of people in the audience” were the words that made me nervous. I was asked to be one of the speakers at a regional meeting and I had never spoken to an audience of this size. I asked for tips to control my nervousness. One person said “practice”, another said “Don’t practice, use a three point outline.” The differing perspectives made me more nervous.

 

• I was scared to be in front of people.
• I worried about the validity of message.
• I replayed in my mind how I could possibly mess up in front of a lot of people.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy expressed  the “opposition” they faced in places like Philippi and Thessalonica. They had been slandered, ridiculed and insulted. This could have been very discouraging if they had to rely on their own courage, but they did not have to.

 

My Observations

• Sometimes I get scared, BUT GOD is there to help me through my fears.
• Sometimes I get nervous, BUT GOD is there to calm me down and lead me to a still place.
• Sometimes I get anxious, BUT GOD is there to give me courage.

 

Mustering up courage when I am scared seems impossible. I mean, when I am fearful, I make fearful decisions. I may not even think straight enough to apply logic. Words like “Don’t be afraid” make me more afraid. BUT GOD has a remedy.

 

HE says to me “I got this.” HE gives me the courage to speak about HIS SON when I am worried about what people may think or if someone may oppose HIS message. GOD gently reminds me that if HE is for me, who can be against me? I am glad GOD owns courage and is willing to give it to me to speak about the Good News that comes from HIM.

 

Challenge

• What opposition do you think the writers faced?
• Have you ever been worried, nervous or scared?
• Will you turn to the one who owns courage and ask HIM to give you the right words to present the “Good News” to those HE sends you to today?

Courage for Duty

 

Courage for Duty

Philippians 1: ²⁰ My deep desire and hope is that I shall never fail in my duty, but that at all times, and especially right now, I shall be full of courage, so that with my whole being I shall bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.

 

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“Why are you doing that?” some people questioned. “You could get sick or even die” was the escalated statement that made me nervous, but I felt led to go on the missions trip anyway.

 

• Going someplace outside my comfort zone did not make sense.
• Leaving a place where everything was alright seemed counterintuitive.
• Doing difficult things for GOD instead of easy things for myself seemed out of the ordinary.

 

Paul gave up everything to serve GOD. He had status, power and was probably very wealthy being a Pharisee of Pharisees. JESUS changed his life and now his deepest desire was to carry out the duties that bring honor to CHRIST.

 

My Observations

• Life serving GOD can get scary, especially when the evil one presents alternatives.
• Unknown paths look fearful BUT GOD wants me to walk with HIM down them.
• Faithful service may sometimes seem fruitless, BUT GOD wants me to have courage to continue.

 

“Keep going” are words that seem hard to do sometimes. I mean, when I feel “discouraged” I want to give up. Problem after problem after problem makes me think there is no relief in sight. BUT GOD says “Be strong and of good courage.”

 

GOD knows the future and HE knows why HE has me serving HIM. HE sees the adversary and has taken his tactics into account. No matter what happens, GOD wants me to keep my sense of duty to HIM. I gladly serve GOD, because I have no other place that provides refuge like HIM.

 

Challenge

• What is the writer’s duty?
• Have you ever been led to serve GOD even though it may seem scary?
• Will you be “encouraged” to have “courage” to keep going so your service my “bring honor to CHRIST” today?

Trapped

Matthew 14: ²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

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My mind raced as I heard a noise. I paused to perk my ears like a rabbit tracking a predator. “What or even worse, who is that?” I cringed in terror. This went on for an eternal two minutes! “Hi, just checking in to see how you are doing” was the statement from my boss. I was not expecting him. My trapped feeling went away.

• Sometimes my mind conjures up the worst that could happen.
• Sometimes my mind thinks of pain and problem when facing the unknown.
• Sometimes my mind magnifies the figment of my imagination to be something bigger than it is.

Seeing a figure come out of the dark must have scared the wits out of the disciples. I mean no one had ever walked on water before so it must have been a ghost was their logic. I concur. I would have been scared too. They were not able to run or get away so the “trapped” feeling magnified their fears. I feel like that sometimes. BUT GOD wants me to fee different.

• GOD wants me to expect HIS miracles in ways I will never understand.
• GOD wants me to know HE can do anything so I need to watch for the peculiar and the norm.
• GOD wants me to “Take courage” for it is HE who calms the situation.

“Don’t be afraid” was JESUS’s calming words and HE says this to me when I get scared. HE wants me to focus on the miracle, not the problem, so I can praise HIM. Feeling trapped and scared blinds me. GOD wants me to slow down to see HIS might.

• Are you feeling trapped?
• Are you afraid?
• Can you slow down and look for GOD in the situation so HE can show you HIS miracle?