Weekly Devotional
Courage Series: "Defiance On the Face of Courage" (Volume I Devotional #003)
“…and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing….” I Corinthians 13.3
Fear is an emotion. Courage is a decision we make in the midst of a situation where we have been given cause to experience fear. We have often heard and seen great acts of courage, but fail to consider the thoughts and decisions that motivates those acts. One of the things we need to consider about the mental or moral strength to venture, preserve, and withstand dangers, fear, and/or difficulties is that, courage, just like any other moral principle a person may possess, is based upon those people, places, and/or things that we love. This should give us cause to pause and determine if what we are willing to possibly sacrifice our lives for is worth the eternal value of our soul. Courage is able to be displayed where real love is known.
As we embark upon the new week, let us be mindful of who and what we love and determine if what we love is worth the defiance we express when standing courageously for its continued existence in our lives. This was the decision of the elderly man depicted in the painting of this week’s devotional, he stood courageously in defiance of the brutal treatment of his brothers and sisters in Christ, but humbled before God in his last prayer on earth. Let us always look to the Lord Jesus Christ, “Who is a very present help in trouble,”1 in our most difficult times when we are pressed to stand against evil or upon the truth we know from the Word of God.
Prayer: Father, in heaven, may You always receive the praise due You and may we always look unto Your Son, Jesus Christ, for our help. I pray, Father, that we always consider what is important to You, so we know what clear stands You would have us to take in our lives. Please, Father, forgive us where our love has not been upon the people, places, and/or things that You would not want for us to have affection for and change our hearts and minds to give us courage to separate these things out of our lives. May You always receive praise, honor, and glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Psalm 46.1 NKJV
With courage, we stand firm in the face of fear, as our hearts beat, not because of dread, but rather because of passion for the decision to do what is necessary when it may appear to be pointless. Yet, we stand firm with purpose, if but for a moment, to rally others rightfully forward.