May 30
2 Sam 15:23-16:23 | PS 119:113-128 | Prov 16:10-11 | John 18:25-19:22
There are two kinds of courage: planned and spontaneous. Spontaneous courage occurs when people are thrust into situations and act bravely and without fear. Planned courage is when people know what is unfolding, are prepared for what is happening, and rather than run, avoid, or cower to avoid the situation they boldly move forward. In Scripture it is stated "Do not fear" or some version of this approximately 365 times, once for each day of the year. Yet fear is what we most witness. Unlike Jesus, often situations will come upon us suddenly. Have we prepared ourselves that day in His Word, in prayer, so that when such things occur we will act boldly in His Name. Most remain quiet. Most avoid being noticed, hoping that someone else will stand up for the cause. Most are brave when not confronted when amongst like minded individuals. Edmund Burke said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing". And nothing is what we have largely seen on display in response to our nation collapsing under a pandemic with less than a 1% death rate, under the fear of public shaming as boys destroy girls in sports as they identify as women, as schools push forth godless agendas, as college campuses erupt in one display of anti-Semitism after another as the masses choose not to get involved.
As we witness Jesus after His time in the garden of Gethsemane, after He accepted the cup of God's wrath, fully knowing what lay before Him, we witness absolute boldness, steadfastness, as He moves step by step to His death on the cross, which He knows is for the purpose of our salvation. He was mocked, even though He was indeed "truth" (John 18:38). He was humiliated, yet did not flinch. He was beaten but did not buckle. He was victorious all the way to the cross, and even as He was pinned to this excruciating method of death. Jesus was prepared, and we witness courage in its purest form. Those launching their accusations, punching, mocking, etc. believe they had the upper hand, all the while not realizing it was they who were truly on trial, not Jesus.
We read in Psalm 119:114, "You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope." In 119:105, we read, "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light to my path." The truth is we have no idea what today will bring. We can talk boldly when not confronted but what will we do when actually confronted or placed in a situation to do or say something. How I pray that I will boldly represent my King, as one of His ambassadors, when these moments occur. We don't know the times or hours, but they will come. May we prepare ourselves daily in His Word, so that we will be known as men and women of courage, when placed in these positions.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: