Christian Courage, The Meek May Apply

Christian Courage

The Meek May Apply

You don't need to wield a blood-stained sword, nor crusade with an army throughout distant lands to demonstrate Christian courage. You can spread God's word in your very own neighborhood or use the internet to share the Gospel around the world.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 provides faithful encouragement. “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.”

Christian courage is not the absence of fear, nor the overt act of being fearless, but the capacity to do right, and speak righteously, even when confronted by the apathetic, the doubters, or the disbelievers. God has called every Christian to be a wittiness of Jesus Christ and share the Gospels. Not just some of us, but all of us. What percentage of Christians do you believe fail to do this with any consistency? Do you witness? If you answered yes, in what percentage of the opportunities do you speak up for the Lord? Seldom, sometimes, almost always?

Don't you think just about every one of us, at one time or another, has been overtaken by fear or hesitation? When the outcomes of situations are unknown, we often become very troubled or uneasy. Do you remember an experience like that in your past—or possibly in several very similar instances? Perhaps you find yourself meekly timid, or worried when it comes to speaking up for Christ? Perhaps “worried” was not the best adjective to describe those feelings you experienced. Possibly, extremely apprehensive, concerned. Or even down-right stressful, would better describe how you felt under the pressures of duress? Yes, fearfulness and anxiety can wash over you like a wind-whipped thunderstorm.

Today, let's concentrate on the topic of “courage.” Not simply courage in a generic sense, like an admirable quality of character, or as moral virtues to cultivate. But specifically, as a foundational facet of the Christian faith. Consider what part does Christ-like courage play in our daily lives? How can we increase our courage? How we can live courageously to expand the knowledge of the glory of God. Certainly, that's what our Lord, Jesus Christ, did. Are we not to emulate his teachings? Yes!

Courage, conviction, and Christian love are critically crucial because they are the foundations for all the other Christian virtues. Shouldn't our Christian love and convictions act to strengthen our courage? Hebrews 10:38 (ERV) shows what God expects. “The person who is right with me will live by trusting in me. But I will not be pleased with the one who turns back in fear.”

When we decide to build or reinforce our Christian courage, we should consider these important items. First, since we are not God, we cannot see inside someone’s heart what message from us they might need. Softly spoken persuasions are usually the best tactics to result in convincing messages of Christ. Can we honestly anticipate our own trepidation when, all of a sudden, we are faced with an opportunity to share the Gospel? Why does that sometimes seem so very terrifying?

Finally, do we frequently fool ourselves and think, “I'll never be afraid to speak up for Christ. I'll never stumble?” If so, turn to Peter and read, where he self-assuredly declared to the Lord Jesus, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.” Yes, at that point in time, even Peter failed. You know full well what happened to Peter could happen to us, but a temporary failure is not the end of the world. Is it?

Speaking up for our Lord is a very serious matter. When Jesus directed us to “go and make disciples in all nations,” He expects us to do just that. When face to face with your non-believing neighbors, does your mind create stressful mental pictures of speaking mistakes or downright rejection of your message brings even more anxiety crushing your confidence? Maybe you start to wonder—how would your conversation be accepted or how it may end? Do you fear it might end up being so negativity adverse it would take a miracle not to start a long-term flare-up between you and them?

Remember, the empowerment of Christian courage is a Divine gift. With faith, you can receive the same special courage God bestowed on Ezekiel, telling him, “Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. And go, get to the captives, to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ whether they hear, or whether they refuse.” Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a great thunderous voice: “Blessed is the glory of the Lord from His place!” I also heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels beside them, and a great thunderous noise. So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me. Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven for days. (Ezekiel 3:10-15).