Be Courageous

Prayer – Lord, I want to be constantly in fellowship—companionship—with You as my best of friends. We used to often sing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and “I am a Friend of God” although not many churches sing actual hymns now, mostly choruses. I treasure that “friendship” relationship—one where you know the other person well and can just take up the conversation together—although you haven’t seen each other for months or maybe even years. Those friends care about the things you care about…and if you have a difference of opinion, it doesn’t matter. You still are heartfelt friends. That’s the kind of friendship I have with You, Jesus, and in which I want to grow even closer. Give me courage to always stand up for You. Let it be.

And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God's children. 1 John 2:28-29

 

Meditate. Read the book of First John and listen to what God is saying.

 

Be courageous. Don’t shrink away from Jesus or His message of love and light. Be strong and courageous is just what Moses and then the Lord Himself commanded Joshua several times at the beginning of Joshua’s leadership role.

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

The rainbow creates a bridge to Heaven.
Are your courageous enough to cross it?

God expected Joshua to be tough and not be afraid. He was going to be God’s leader taking the people into the Promised Land…and fighting against those who currently lived there. He expects the same of us as was written to Christians by John, who knew that Jesus Christ would return one day for His followers. We are to not be wimpy and ashamed of Jesus, but we are to stand up for our righteous Lord and Savior. When we stand up for God’s Son, He will acknowledge us before our Father God.

I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God's angels. But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God's angels. Luke 12:8-9

Stand up for Jesus for we don’t know just when He will be coming back—it may still be in our lifetime. We want to be able to cross that bridge to heaven, because of our relationship with God and with His Son Jesus. So be ready…and be courageous.

 

Verses of Salvation ~ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance--an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 1 Peter 1:3-5

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

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