Are You Courageous?

Eddie Rickenbacker said, “Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are afraid.”

Too often we think courage is the absence of fear. John Wayne said it this way, “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”

Theologian Karl Barth said, “Courage is fear that has said it prayers.”

In the first chapter of Joshua the young man is hearing God speak to him. He is reminded that Moses is dead and it is now his responsibility to lead this people across the Jordan River to the land promised to them. His mind had to speed back forty years when he along with 11 others had spied out the land. He wanted to go then. He was ready then. It was different then... Moses was leading. Today he is leading. It’s different when you are following and when you are leading. But good leaders are always those who have first been good followers of great leaders.

Here’s the Biblical account...

Joshua 1:2-11 Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them — to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates — all the Hittite country — to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 "Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.'" NIV

You have to face fear with courage today. You have followed fearless leaders, but today it will be your turn to lead with courage. You have been prepared for this day... you are ready. Step up, stand up, and move forward. Here’s God word to us today. “I will give you every place where you set your foot.” Some people have so little, accomplish so little in life because they are paralyzed by fear and never take a step. Take one, then two, then three. Every step increases your possession, your success. God can only give us what we in faith and courage step up for. He has great plans for us. Ephesians 2:10 (MSG) “He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, infuse me with unusual courage today. I do not ask You to remove fear but give courage to run past my fears. I ask for faith to walk, to possess what You have already ordered for my life today. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger