Sermon Central
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The Courage To Be A Christian
Contributed by Dennis Davidson on May 1, 2008 (message contributor)
The boy sobbed, "But Dad, I want my ball..."
"You can play with your ball," I said, "but you’ll have to go downstairs and get it yourself" Now the tears flowed.
Tony’s playroom held the stuffed animals, toys, and games that four-year-old love. He spent hours there. But to turn on the basement light, you had to descend the darkened stairway, step into the shadowy playroom, then reach for the light switch.
"Tony," I said. "You know what’s in the playroom. Everything in there’s the same in the dark as it is in the light."
"B-b-but Dad," he sniffed. "I’m s-s-scared of the dark."
"Okay," I said. "I’ll stay at the top of the stairs so you can hear my voice while you go down. How’s that sound?" A grin replaced Tony’s tears.
He got up and bravely started down the stairs. Then, partway down into the darkness, I heard him hesitate. "Dad?" he called out. "Yes, Tony?" "Nothing." Seconds later the light was on, and Tony was happily throwing a Nerf basketball through a hoop.
Simply knowing his father was nearby gave him the courage to face and overcome his fear of the darkness.
Source: The Courage to Be a Christian by Mike Nappa
Complete the sentence: "Sensing God’s presence in my life gives me the courage to face. . ."
Thought to Apply: "I’d rather walk with God in the dark than go alone in the world’s light; I’d rather walk with Him by faith than walk alone by sight." - Mary Brainard
“All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882).
God will give you courage to face and overcome your fears of the darkness.
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