Orig: 1/3/03
1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. Hebrews 3:1-6
This is the last in our study on courage. Reflecting upon the past month’s entries it is safe to say that I have discovered several things about courage that will help me. I would be curious to hear from you about what you have learned thus far. Please let me know by e-mailing me at jimwramos@gmail.com. As I edit this (April 6, 2011) I can say this study was monumental in giving me the courage to step out in faith and move my family to McMinnville, Oregon in June of 2003. Moving to McMinnville was emotionally the most difficult thing I have ever done. I knew God was changing my heart and calling me to move somewhere, which inspired this study on courage. Here is what I have discovered, or should I say, uncovered for my personal life.
First, courage must be taken. Courage is not something you receive from God as a fruit of the Spirit in Scripture (Galatians 5: 22-23) and it is not a spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 14, Romans 12 or Ephesians 4). Courage is taken by men that are willing to trust God. Men must trust in God and courageously move forward by the Spirit of God. With open hands God holds out His will; tempting and challenging men who possess a reckless abandon in Him to reach out and take it.
Second, similar to love courage is not an internal feeling. Feelings are liars. When our feelings are turned inward and not upward they become enemies of the cross and of the self. Courage is a conscious response, a decision, which may be contrary to our capricious feelings. Courage feels like cowardice until it responds. Men do not fall in and out of Biblical love. We rise into Biblical love based on a series of choices. Similarly, we rise into courage or fall into cowardice. This is the major difference between the two: Courage acts and cowardice ignores.
Third, courage is an active response to our faith (or trust) in God. Courage is action, always. Courage is action, period. Courage is a decisive act of the will contrary to what our emotions may or may not be telling us. Even though fear may haunt us, courage moves forward trusting that God is in control of each and every situation. Courage does use Christian cliché’s like “God is in control”, “I am just trusting in Him” or “God will do it”. When it comes to courage God asks you to do it. Courage moves in such a way that God has to be in control or everything is out of control.
Today’s final scripture is an appropriate conclusion to our study on courage. Fourth, Courage must be taken, yes, but more that that it must be held onto with a relentless fury. Courageous men of today are cowards tomorrow, IF they do not hold onto courage. There are a lot of cowards, boys essentially, that at one point in their lives showed extraordinary courage. But somewhere in the journey of life they let go of courage, letting it slip through their fingers of complacency, comfort and contentment. Just as courage is a decisive act of the will, so is holding onto it. Courage, like faith, is a daily process-a struggle. Courage held onto over time will rise to the occasion and be prepared to be called upon when the world needs a courageous act.
