Do you dare to take that next step of faith? The question here is one of Christian courage.
No matter how else courage may be defined or whatever else it may be considered to be, there is one unique way that the Christian must perceive it: courage is that which compels one to do as God commands no matter what existing conditions may be. Its end is always a “good success” and the glory of God.
It is common in thinking about courage to imagine that courageous people are fearless and powerful confronting powerful oppositions and enemies in battles and wars. However, such perception misses the point about Christian courage. At one time Apostle Paul confessed,
“I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,” (1 Corinthians 2:3–4, NIV)
The truth about the courageous Christian is not that a person is fearless, but that the person, notwithstanding fear and weakness, “is careful to do all that God commands”. Obedience is the primary test of Christian courage – the willingness to depend on God’s grace and follow Christ no matter what!
The Christian’s call to strength and courage is a call to obey God and live by His word! The ability to overcome oppositions or enemies is not the goal of Christian courage but a necessary by-product. The courageous Christian leans toward to faithfulness to the word of God and by the grace that God supplies, overcomes!
“Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all…” The Christian has need of courage for a timid heart cannot live by faith. The battle may be the Lord’s, but if because of fear we hold back, how will the Lord work in us or through us? God reminded Jeremiah, “Do not be terrified of them…” (Jer 1:17, NET), and David remarked that, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand...” (1 Chron 14:11). Child of God, your heavenly Father will do great things through you if you are courageous enough to obey Him all the way (Dan 11:32).
The need for the Christian to be courageous is not difficult to see when we consider that what God is calling us to do and the life He expects us to live as followers of Christ will always lead us away from what the flesh is comfortable with, and through the valley of the shadows of death. It is a call to trust only in God’s promise and providence even in the face of difficult circumstances!
And in a beautiful illustration of this, David, being mindful that he was following the Lord who was his shepherd, gave a testimony of courage in Psalm 23:4 as he sang, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
In another place, the courageous believer professed courageously, “weeping may remain for a night but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). One who lacks the courage of obedience will not persist in holding on to God through the night when there is weeping, would find the promised “joy in the morning” elusive.
Joshua had God’s commandment to continue from where Moses left off en-route to the Promised Land, but his concern about his inadequacy to fill Moses’ shoes is interfering with his ability to obey God. And mercifully, God motivates him to be courageous. Joshua had need of courage to take that step of faith, as do you in your walk with Christ. It is not a courage that is based on Joshua’s own ability, but courage arising from strong confidence in God’s promise to be with him even as He was with Moses (Joshua 1:5).
Be confident in being who God says you are; have confidence in what God says He will do; be confident that by the grace which God supplies you can do what He has tasked you to do. With such attitude comes the courage to venture out of your comfort zone and stay the course, expecting “good success”.
In his classic book, “The Christian in Complete Armour”, William Gurnall astutely observed that, "The Christian, of all men, needs courage and resolution. Indeed, there is nothing he doth as a Christian, or can do, but is an act of valour. A cowardly spirit is beneath the lowest duty of a Christian"[1]
The life that God has called you to live in Christ demands steadfastness despite present difficulties – faithfully resist the opposition of worldly influences, and God makes His strength perfect in your weakness.
In the passage that follows, Apostle Paul’s attitude in a difficult situation gives us characteristic picture of a courageous Christian:
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:22–24, NIV)
Far from being fatalistic, Paul had complete confidence in the power of God who has sent him on this mission and depends on Him for preservation, provision and protection. Hence he was encouraged!
Christian, God will not fail you. Be a faithful follower of Christ and ask the Lord for the strength to serve Him with courage! Courageous Christianity is being willing to obey God “no matter what” just like Joshua, David, Jeremiah or Paul.
_____________________________________________________
[1] Gurnall, W., & Campbell, J. (1845). The Christian in Complete Armour (2–3). London: Thomas Tegg.
“Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:7, ESV)“Be strong and very courageous” is not an exclusive call intended for Joshua alone but universal call to every believer both under the Old Covenant and the New Covenant in Christ.
No matter how else courage may be defined or whatever else it may be considered to be, there is one unique way that the Christian must perceive it: courage is that which compels one to do as God commands no matter what existing conditions may be. Its end is always a “good success” and the glory of God.
It is common in thinking about courage to imagine that courageous people are fearless and powerful confronting powerful oppositions and enemies in battles and wars. However, such perception misses the point about Christian courage. At one time Apostle Paul confessed,
“I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,” (1 Corinthians 2:3–4, NIV)
The truth about the courageous Christian is not that a person is fearless, but that the person, notwithstanding fear and weakness, “is careful to do all that God commands”. Obedience is the primary test of Christian courage – the willingness to depend on God’s grace and follow Christ no matter what!
The Christian’s call to strength and courage is a call to obey God and live by His word! The ability to overcome oppositions or enemies is not the goal of Christian courage but a necessary by-product. The courageous Christian leans toward to faithfulness to the word of God and by the grace that God supplies, overcomes!
“Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all…” The Christian has need of courage for a timid heart cannot live by faith. The battle may be the Lord’s, but if because of fear we hold back, how will the Lord work in us or through us? God reminded Jeremiah, “Do not be terrified of them…” (Jer 1:17, NET), and David remarked that, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand...” (1 Chron 14:11). Child of God, your heavenly Father will do great things through you if you are courageous enough to obey Him all the way (Dan 11:32).
The need for the Christian to be courageous is not difficult to see when we consider that what God is calling us to do and the life He expects us to live as followers of Christ will always lead us away from what the flesh is comfortable with, and through the valley of the shadows of death. It is a call to trust only in God’s promise and providence even in the face of difficult circumstances!
And in a beautiful illustration of this, David, being mindful that he was following the Lord who was his shepherd, gave a testimony of courage in Psalm 23:4 as he sang, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
In another place, the courageous believer professed courageously, “weeping may remain for a night but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). One who lacks the courage of obedience will not persist in holding on to God through the night when there is weeping, would find the promised “joy in the morning” elusive.
Joshua had God’s commandment to continue from where Moses left off en-route to the Promised Land, but his concern about his inadequacy to fill Moses’ shoes is interfering with his ability to obey God. And mercifully, God motivates him to be courageous. Joshua had need of courage to take that step of faith, as do you in your walk with Christ. It is not a courage that is based on Joshua’s own ability, but courage arising from strong confidence in God’s promise to be with him even as He was with Moses (Joshua 1:5).
Be confident in being who God says you are; have confidence in what God says He will do; be confident that by the grace which God supplies you can do what He has tasked you to do. With such attitude comes the courage to venture out of your comfort zone and stay the course, expecting “good success”.
In his classic book, “The Christian in Complete Armour”, William Gurnall astutely observed that, "The Christian, of all men, needs courage and resolution. Indeed, there is nothing he doth as a Christian, or can do, but is an act of valour. A cowardly spirit is beneath the lowest duty of a Christian"[1]
The life that God has called you to live in Christ demands steadfastness despite present difficulties – faithfully resist the opposition of worldly influences, and God makes His strength perfect in your weakness.
In the passage that follows, Apostle Paul’s attitude in a difficult situation gives us characteristic picture of a courageous Christian:
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:22–24, NIV)
Far from being fatalistic, Paul had complete confidence in the power of God who has sent him on this mission and depends on Him for preservation, provision and protection. Hence he was encouraged!
Christian, God will not fail you. Be a faithful follower of Christ and ask the Lord for the strength to serve Him with courage! Courageous Christianity is being willing to obey God “no matter what” just like Joshua, David, Jeremiah or Paul.
_____________________________________________________
[1] Gurnall, W., & Campbell, J. (1845). The Christian in Complete Armour (2–3). London: Thomas Tegg.
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