1-14-2022

 Good Morning All,

        Philippians 1:20; “as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” 

    Courage is always a trait in a movie that the hero has. The hero runs through the attack of bullets from the enemy to get help. The hero dives back into the icy cold water to save the last passenger on the ship.  The hero carries his wounded buddy for many miles to save his friend.

     We also admire courage in real life. The fireman who saves a life; the policeman who saves a life; the serviceman who shows courage under fire are all heroes to us.  We look to the people like Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark who ran into a burning building to save a neighbor. We look at Captain Sullenberger who landed the airplane in the Hudson safely. We go back even further to Audie Murphy or even further to Alvin York. We all admire courage. We admire that willingness to risk body and limb to protect or save another person.

     One thing about courage is that there really are two types of courage. There is the “burst” type of courage. This is the one that we read about and often have the deepest admiration for. The thing about the “burst” type is that it is quick, often engaged in without a lot of thought or preparation. The person often just reacts to a situation. The heroic nature is truly there and is deserving of our adulation but there another type of courage which, in many respects, should be admired as well.

     This type of courage is often quieter and more subtle but is still an act of courage. This type is when you stand for what is right no matter what. The student who refuses to cheat on a test even though everyone else does. The person who refuses to take shortcuts on his or her taxes. It takes courage to take a stand. It takes courage to stand up for your faith. When others attack or run down another person, it takes courage to walk away from the conversation. It takes courage to stand with that person after he has ridiculed. It takes courage to do the right thing. It takes courage to point out the unfairness of an action against someone who is not as popular as everyone else.

    Yet it is this kind of courage that Paul is talking about. Paul is talking about the courage to live your life in faith and not hide it. It takes courage to tell the coffee klatch that it was not luck that brought the rain; it was God’s grace. It takes courage to invite your new neighbor to church with you. It takes courage to choose going to worship over a basketball tournament. It takes courage the courage which God gives us to live the life He has called us to live as a light to the world. Have that courage; trust God’s grace to sustain you and help you exhibit this kind of courage.

Dear Father, we are weak, but you are strong. Give us the courage to stand tall for you to stand for your downcast and beaten people who need a voice. Move us to be that voice, those hands, or those shoulders in order that we may serve you in your kingdom. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret