Tag Archives: Courage

Courage

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CS Lewis, in his great book The Screwtape Letters,  wrote these words:

“courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means, at the point of highest reality.”

Courage is what is required to do that which is right, to do that which God desires, that which is that next step of faithfulness.  That is what God wants for us. That which God wants from us.

God wants us to take that next step.  God wants us to be faithful.  God wants us to be brave.  God wants us to have courage.

No matter what we are facing, no matter what is next, no matter what is going on, I promise you this.  God wants us to take that next step. God wants us to have courage.  In many ways, the story of Christmas is the story of courage.  It took great courage for Joseph to be faithful to God’s plan, to do what God wanted him to do, and to be obedient.  Listen to what he had to do, in Matthew 1: 19-25:

And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

courage4When all this happened, Joseph was tempted to walk away.  He was tempted to just get out, as simply and pain free as possible.  That’s what he was going to do.  But he didn’t.

Because God had other plans.

And Joseph followed.  He had courage.  He took that step.

And God did amazing things.

Today, have faith.  Have courage.  Believe.  Hope.  Trust.

And God will be faithful.  May we do the same.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Keep Fighting

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When bad stuff happens, we can think that something is wrong. That we’ve done something wrong that we being punished for.

Or perhaps God is trying to throw a roadblock in our way to keep us from going down a certain path. We can think that the troubles we face or the trials and challenges are there to point us to another way.

We very rarely, hardly ever, see these things as “good.”

Well, listen to what happens to Paul and Barnabas today in Acts 14: 1-3:

Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

il_fullxfull.355565768_lrs2It says they were there preaching and teaching. Lots of trouble got stirred up. So, they stayed longer.

Huh. That’s not what we may expect to happen. Lots of trouble gets stirred up, things go wrong, things happen, and we think, well, it’s time to quit.

It’s time to move on.

Nothing to see here. Nothing to do. Keep moving.

Sometimes, through, that’s not the case. That’s what we see with Paul today. It was not time to move on. It was not time to keep going. It was time to keep fighting. It was time to keep pushing. It was time to keep going.

The obstacles where not God trying to move Him away. It was the devil trying to stop him from doing what God wanted him to do.

Paul had to keep fighting.

So should we. Today, keep fighting. Keep pushing. Keep working. Keep being faithful. Keep giving it to God. Keep going.

And know that God is at work.

Today, don’t give up. Keep fighting. And know that God is faithful and true. Trust in Him in all things.

And keep fighting.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Fairy Tales

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I once heard someone say that one of the most destructive things we face in life are fairy tales.

Wait, what? Fairy tales?

Yeah, that’s what they said. Now, they could just be like me, a parent of younger children that has had to watch Tangled roughly a billion times.

But, that wasn’t the their point. What they were saying was this. What happens in fairy tales? Everyone lives happily ever after.

Does that happen in real life?

Nope. Not everyone lives happily ever after. Sometimes life is hard and painful and we do the best that we can do, even when it’s not easy.

Even when we are doing the right thing.

Take, for example, what happens today in Acts 10:49-51:

 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.
Life is not a fairy tale.

So, what do we do? What Paul and Barnabas did. Keep going. Keep being faithful. Keep doing the right thing. Keep loving, serving, and caring.

Get up. Shake the dust off. And keep on going.

Why? Because, actually I told you a little fib. Life is not a fairy tale. But it does end well in the end.

God’s got this. He’s got you. He’s going to take care of this, and every situation you face.

Keep going. Keep being faithful. Keep trusting in Him. And know that He’s got this.

Today, you can do it! Keep going.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Stand

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One of the things that people here at Asbury are used to hearing me say is that life is not full of rainbows and unicorns. Life can and will tough at times. There will be trials and worries and struggles.

Paul in this passage we read today reminds us of that. Paul tells us that we will have to stand against the schemes of the devil. We will wrestle not against flesh and bone, but against the powers of this dark age.

Listen to what he writes in Ephesians 6:10-13:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Remember, the person that you see as your enemy is not your enemy. Our enemies are not others – our enemy is the evil one, the devil, the one out to destroy us now, and forever.

Paul reminds us, though, that we must fight. We will have troubles. We will face attacks. There will be tough moments ahead. So, what do we do? Listen to what he says.

First, be strong in the Lord. This brief passage is the introduction to the Amor of God, and it describes the weapons that God has given us to fight against the evil, the sin, the temptation in our lives.

Stand in God’s strength. No that He is the one that gives you the power and ability to stand against the evil in your life, in the world, and in the things that you face. Rely upon God. Lean upon God. Trust upon God.

When temptation comes, rely upon God’s power working through you. Stop. Pray. Lean upon Him. He will give you the strength.

And second, with the strength He gives you – stand. He will do His part. You do yours. He will give you strength for you legs. Stand upon them. He will give you the power. Use it.

Today, you will face troubles, trials, and temptations. You will.

You can handle it. You can do it. You can fight it! You can! Trust in God’s strength. And stand in it! God will be with you!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Go

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I’ve heard it said before that each Gospel in the Bible, when taken together, paints a complete picture of who Jesus was and is. I’ve always like that understanding, and I think that the Gospels really do that. We see, by reading them who Jesus really is.

And, because of that, each Gospel will speak to us in different ways. And, being a little spastic and ADD, I’ve always like Mark’s Gospel.

Why?

In Mark, Jesus is always on the move. He’s always going. Doing. Teaching. Moving. The word immediately is used over and over again in Mark’s Gospel. And, for someone who doesn’t sit still well, I’ve always liked that.

One of the passages I’ve read today is from Matthew’s Gospel, but it could really fit into what Mark emphasized about Jesus. Except in this passage from Matthew, it’s not talking about Jesus. It’s talking about us.

Listen to this well-known passage from Matthew:

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

This is the Great Commission. And it starts off with that magic and important word.

Go.

Go to all nations. Go. Go to them. Don’t wait on them.

For far too long we, as the church, and as Christians, have waited on “them” to come to us. The time for waiting over. We are called to go.

Go to them. Go to the hurting. Go to the lost. Go to the least, the last, the weak, the sick, the sore.

Go to the ones needing to hear about the grace and salvation of God.

Go to the ones that are in need of knowing that God loves them and that there is a Savior who died for them.

Don’t wait on them to come to you. You go to them. You take the first step. You make the first move.

But, I can’t you might say. I can’t do it. I’m afraid. I’m scared. I’m worried. I can’t.

Yes you can. You can do it. You have more strength and ability then you’ll ever know. You can.

How? Remember what Jesus told us.

I’ll be with you, even to the end of the age.

When you go, He goes with you. Where you go, He goes with you. You don’t go alone.

He goes with you.

Today, who is God calling you to go to? Where is God calling you to go?

Today, no matter where that is, may we each do it. Today, may we Go.

There Ain’t No Stopping Us!

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I’ve mentioned before that one of my favorite Christian Artists is Rich Mullins.  He did a song we all know and we’ve sung a million times, “Awesome God.”  In worship Sunday at Asbury Church we sang a song “He Reigns” which takes Awesome God and adds to it these words:

There ain’t no stopping us (naw)
Devil there ain’t no blocking us (naw)

I was thinking about that song this morning as I read this passage from Acts:

34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. 35 Then he said to them, “Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you propose to do to these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them-in that case you may even be found fighting against God!”

If it is of God, there is no stopping it.

Their ain’t no stopping God. There’s nothing that can stop God. Their’s nothing that can stop God’s people from doing what He wants to accomplish.

Nothing.

There’s nothing in front of you this morning that can’t be worked out by God’s plan and God’s grace. Nothing.

As Jesus told Peter, even the Gates of Hell will not stop the Church!

If God is for us, who can be against us.

You don’t have to live a life of defeat this morning.  You don’t have to live a life as it’s always been this morning. This is a new day. This is a new beginning.  This is a new gift from God!

Live in it.  Live this day to the fullest. Live this life to the fullest. There’s nothing that God can’t accomplish.

If it’s of God, nothing will stop it.  Or stop you.  You can live with courage and boldness today.

Don’t live defeated.  Live victorious.  There ain’t no stopping us! Though God.