| Monday, June 25, 2007 |
| Take Heart. |
Courage, also known as
bravery and
fortitude, is the ability to confront
fear,
pain,
danger,
uncertainty or
intimidation. It can be divided into "
physical courage" — in face of physical pain, hardship, and threat of death — and "
moral courage" — in the face of
shame,
scandal, and discouragement.
Quality of being brave: the ability to face danger, difficulty, uncertainty, or pain without being overcome by fear or being deflected from a chosen course of action.
Fear:an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee.)
Philippians 1:12-14
12Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
14Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
In our society, the act of being courageous is always something to be admired. In most cases it's the affirmation and faithfulness of right judgement in the face of degrading or threatening thoughts and or actions. It carries with it the virtue of fortitude, which in Isaiah 11 is further defined as firmness of mind through difficult times and circumstances. It is not just a mental action, but a physical one as well. To be fully courageous, one must in mind be sound enough to uphold God's righteousness, and in body be willing to go forth and sacrifice self-image, reputation and in some cases even physical heath to further the kingdom of God in a way that attracts and commits others to the Lord's hands. In the passage above courageousness in evangelism is inspired by Paul's willingness to further the Gospel on earth rather than joining his father in heaven, both because it will be beneficial to those who are yet unbelievers and his undeniable promise from the Lord that his time in the Kingdom will come. His commitment to Christ in turn allows others to be faithful in the same right.
Fear, otherwise known as the antonym of courage, is the tool of the enemy. It drives us to caution, makes us feel as though we must withdraw. It gives us a sense of unworthiness or insufficiency in overcoming obstacles and growing beyond our sinful nature. It can keep us from our relationship with our creator and even in some cases drive our faith in Him out of us completely. Yet, as dangerous as it is, as foreboding, terrifying and irrational as it may be to overcome it, fear itself is never as strong as the faith and fortitude that come from being courageous, especially in the name of Christ.
In fact it is through Christ and Christ only that we have this ability. If our sin is what conjures our fear and holds us from our rightful potential, then it is only truth that interceding grace from the Father allows us to become upright and holy for the significance of the kingdom. He is what allows us to become strong enough to grow away from the sin we once chose and closer to the salvation and redemption our heavenly Father desires of us. From courage a strength and ability to strive for our Lord brings us to the point of faith that allows his work to become our action. No more are we held by chains of fear but we are set free by the keys of the Lord's perfect intention.
The story of David and Goliath:1 Samuel 17
The story of David and Goliath paints a perfect picture courage through the heart of a Godly man. Fear of the Philistine army, one of the strongest ever to face Israel, has the Israelite army tied with their hands behind their backs. To further the situation, a giant among men named Goliath steps forward to taunt and intimidate the army laying a foreboding challenge of single hand to hand combat to settle the entire dispute between the two cultures. For 40 days the Israelite army lies dormant with anxiety over the challenge, until on the last day, a man named David arrives with a bushel of supplies and gifts for his brothers, who are enlisted within the Israelite army.
The significance of this arrival is marked with unlikely curiosity from the young man. David is the youngest of his brothers. He is only a Shepard. He has no reputation, no social standing, not even the physical strength to be among the men he has now found company with. He is even chastised by his own brother for simply asking questions and showing interest in the giant. Yet what David does have is a strong faith in the Lord.
David immediately recognized that this giant wasn't simply a threat to the land of Israel, but more importantly he was standing in the way of God and his chosen people. This recognition is what allows David to be open and humble to allowing the courageous virtue of God to work through him. Because of this, David is entrusted by the King to carry out the challenge and represent all of Israel.
Knowing so soundly that the Lord is indeed with him he even rejects the King's own armor for protection. He chooses simply his shepard's crook, a sling and five stones. However David knows full well that it is not what he fights with, but who he fights for. "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."(see link above for reference.)
His weapon is the Lord. With one single stone flung with the strength of God's holy courage behind him, the giant is dead, and the Israelites are once again set free by their God. Our weapon is the same. We fight with the love of God in our hearts, to win people to the name and everlasting life of Christ, making the courage to glorify His name an act of love.
Missy. last remembered on 6/25/2007 01:26:00 PM
