In our local Character Club in Redmond, Oregon our students just began a month long study of courage. What is courage? Why should a Christian have courage? How does being courageous honor God? All these questions and more are discussed, challenged, and modeled through accounts found in God's Word. Because God is such a loving God, he inspired the Bible to contain stories of men and women that we can look up to for their great acts of faith and courage. And in his infinite love, he also provided examples that didn't go so well so we don't get discouraged when we are less than faithful to what He has asked us to do.
In any time period throughout the world's history, people of God have had to show great courage to follow His plan. In John 15:17-19, Jesus very plainly tells us that we have a great challenge ahead of anyone wanting to follow Him. He commands you to go love everyone, even though they won't love you back. The world may hate you, as it hated Him. If you act like the world, it will love you. But because Jesus has saved you, expect that the world will hate you. Wow! That's a really tough command - to love people who we know will not love us back. But God expects us to do it. In fact, he commands us to. It takes tremendous courage to do this great task.
How are you encouraging your children to be courageous today? One great way to encourage your child to be courageous is to show them – model it in your own life. When is the last time you shared the gospel and the life transforming message of salvation with a friend, loved one, or even a stranger? How about inviting some new friends into your home to share a meal and a good word? Or, praying together as a family for those people you might consider an enemy or is just not that nice to you? How about inviting your neighbors to Church? Hosting a Bible study?
Having courage to love the world and care about individual's souls is a very admirable thing to aspire to do. When you show courage, it will inspire others to be courageous. It will even give you shared experiences in which your faith can grow. So, I'm challenging your family today - model courage for your children! Even if you're afraid, one small act of courage will build upon itself bit by bit, and before you know it you will have conquered many giants in your own life for the cause of Jesus and His great love!
Comentarios