As the Day Ends “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” —1 Corinthians 16:13 As this day closes, Paul’s words ask us to examine whether we stood firmly in the faith or allowed the desire for approval to soften our obedience. “Stand fast” translates the Greek stēkō, meaning toContinue reading “Loving Someone Enough to Stand in Their Way”
Tag Archives: Christian courage
Who Will Stand in the Breach?
The Bible in a Year “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” —Ezekiel 22:30 Ezekiel 22 is one of Scripture’s sobering descriptions of a society collapsing from within.Continue reading “Who Will Stand in the Breach?”
When Kindness Needs Courage
As the Day Begins “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables.” —2 Peter 1:16 Peter’s words come from an eyewitness who had seen the majesty of Jesus Christ. He was not offering a religious legend or a story polished to impress an audience. The Greek word translated “cunningly devised” is sesophismenoi, related to sophizō,Continue reading “When Kindness Needs Courage”
When Fear Loses Its Authority
DID YOU KNOW Fear has a way of making earthly power look larger than it really is. A hostile person can appear overwhelming. A threatening circumstance can dominate our imagination. A religious authority, employer, institution, diagnosis, financial crisis, or personal failure can begin to feel as though it has the final word over us. JesusContinue reading “When Fear Loses Its Authority”
When Fear No Longer Holds the Reins
As the Day Ends “Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” — Acts 20:24 Paul’s words carry unusual freedom. He is not saying life hasContinue reading “When Fear No Longer Holds the Reins”
When Comfort Costs Us Courage
As the Day Begins “And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.” — Hebrews 11:35 Hebrews 11 reminds us that faith is not measured merely by what we receive from God, but also by what we are willing to endure because we trust Him. Some believers experienced miraculous deliverance,Continue reading “When Comfort Costs Us Courage”
Courageous Truth in a Timid Age
As the Day Begins “Speak every man truth with his neighbor; for we are members one of another.” Ephesians 4:25 Paul’s instruction in Ephesians 4:25 is simple enough for a child to understand, yet strong enough to correct an entire church: truth must govern the relationships of God’s people. The Greek word behind “truth” isContinue reading “Courageous Truth in a Timid Age”
Faith That Steps Before It Sees the Whole Road
DID YOU KNOW Did You Know? Faith in Scripture is more than agreement in the mind; it is trust that moves the feet. Jonathan’s story in 1 Samuel 14 reminds us that biblical faith is never merely a thought we admire from a safe distance. Jonathan looked at a Philistine garrison, saw the impossible odds,Continue reading “Faith That Steps Before It Sees the Whole Road”
Building the Altar Before the Walls
The Bible in a Year “They set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries.” — Ezra 3:3 One of the most insightful moments in the book of Ezra is the realization that the returning exiles built the altar before they rebuilt the city. Jerusalem stillContinue reading “Building the Altar Before the Walls”
When Comfort Replaces Courage
DID YOU KNOW Did you know that many believers today may be living with fewer visible enemies not because their faith is stronger, but because it is less confrontational? When the psalmist cries out, “Do not give me over to the desire of my enemies… false witnesses have arisen against me” (Psalm 27:12), we areContinue reading “When Comfort Replaces Courage”