Courage

With thanks to Beth Amatelli, author “I Talk … God Listens”

Our lesson in Sunday School mentioned that nothing in the Bible promises God’s children an easy life. We will have trials and tribulations that are a part of this world and happen to everyone.

That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. (1 Thessalonians 3:3-4 KJV)

We are promised an abundant life, and I can set you down with a large number of Christians who believe their life would be classified as abundant in spite of aches and pains and incurable diseases.

Our Sunday sermon covered the last two chapters in Joshua, where we read:

Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; (Joshua 23:6 KJV)

Courage is required. We can be encouraged by others who know what we’re experiencing:

And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. (Acts 28:15 KJV)

Look at the verses that speak of exhort, which means to encourage, from Christ exhorting in Luke 3:18 to Jude exhorting us in 1:3. Thirty words in 29 verses, instructions to encourage one another:

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13 KJV)

I like the way Matthew Henry put it – Paul is telling his readers …

to give a speedy and present attention to the call of Christ. “Hear his voice, assent to, approve of, and consider, what God in Christ speaks unto you; apply it to yourselves with suitable affections and endeavours, and set about it this very day, for tomorrow it may be too late.”

He continued:

(1.) We should be doing all the good we can to one another while we are together, which will be but a short and uncertain time.
(2.) Since tomorrow is none of ours, we must make the best improvement of today.
(3.) If Christians do not exhort one another daily, they will be in danger of being hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Having courage for those around us will allow our courage will grow. We will need it for the trials and problems that come our way. We will be tempted, everyone has been and that will not change. It can be overcome:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV)

That escape route takes courage to walk with Christ.