My Daily Dose of Courage

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  (Hebrews 11:1) Our faith is the most powerful thing we possess, and it can only be perfected in the face of overwhelming odds. Faith can never be developed in the comfort of plenty and success, but from the pit of despair and hardship. Faith begins where self-sufficiency ends, and we are true believers when faith is the substance of our hope, and we rejoice in that which has not yet appeared. Faith-filled people learn to live in a constant state of expectancy, and the things we used to laugh at (because we were afraid to believe they were possible) we now believe and anticipate. Our faith in God must be substantial and evidential. In other words, we respond to God's promises with joy, patience and hope. We work to keep a firm focus on Him, the Promise Keeper, while we confidently wait for that which He promised. Since God always keeps His word, we live as if we have what He promised, becau...

And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”  (Genesis 18:13-15) Has anyone ever spoken encouraging words to you that were more than you could receive at the moment? Has anyone ever called you "perfect in Christ," when you were feeling anything but "perfect?" Has anyone ever told you they appreciated your efforts when you thought no one noticed? Has anyone ever seen more good in you than you saw in yourself? That's where Abraham and Sarah found themselves, and when the Lord spoke of them as parents, they were afraid to believe; they could only offer nervous laughter. The Lord was increasing their faith, just as He is increasing yours! The Lord knows we...

Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.  (Genesis 17:19) Hebrews 11 teaches us that faith is so essential that it is impossible to please God without it. Faith is the foundation of spiritual understanding, and we understand nothing fully until we have faith. The things the Lord spoke to Abraham in this passage could only be received by a believer, one who had made the decision to receive everything spoken by God no matter how impossible it seemed. Fact is, faith must have the platform of the impossible to thrive, and a faithful saint who believes all things are possible will affect the world around him for generations. That is why believers are rightly called the children of Abraham -- we have received the inheritance left for us by our spiritual father, Abraham, who simply believed God! If God wants to do something i...

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?  (Romans 10:14) Those of us who receive and obey the call to preach the Word have the most consequential job on earth, and woe to us if we don't preach Christ. The fiercest and most incessant temptation a preacher will face is to present something or someone other than Jesus. Satan doesn't mind preaching, he simply hates preaching that centers on Jesus alone; only then does he have a problem with our message, for Jesus is the true Lord of Creation and the Spirit of Prophecy. Remember, our preaching must be all about Him, or it will amount to nothing. There are legions of Christian teachers drawn away by doctrines of men and demons, many of them unaware. God never sent anyone to preach healing, financial prosperity, breakthrough, or the like, but to preach Christ and Him crucified. God's work cann...

And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”  (Luke 10:41-42) The Martha/Mary incident was probably not an isolated one. I can hear Martha thinking, "This is what always happens! I get to do all the work, while Mary gets to have all the fun, and it's always been that way! Jesus, please straighten her out!!!" But, as we know, it was Mary (at least in this instance) who had chosen what was right and good in the Lord's sight. She seized the moment, prioritized the presence of the Lord, and sat at His feet to receive anything and everything He had to share. Martha chose work, while Mary chose worship -  "that good part." Even today, many Christians are worried and troubled by the ills of the world and the work to be done to cure them. Yes, there is work to do, but not the work we think.  Jesus answe...

"Him (Jesus) we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus."   ( C olossians 1:28) We must never tire of preaching the Gospel, and warning men and women of death and hell that await those who reject Jesus. Some are saved by the Word's sweet encouragement and promises, and some are snatched from the fire while barely escaping the flames. Either way, we must go, and we must preach. Men will hate us, because our words sting with conviction; but some will hear gladly, confess their sins, repent, and turn from death to life. Only God knows who's who, and we are to preach whether or not we see anyone or anything change. It's God's business to save and our business to preach.  Beware of the temptation to appeal to men by serving their needs and softening the message of salvation. If man's acceptance is important to us, we will become traitors to Jesus every time, and we will prese...

My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.  (Proverbs 3:11-12) Some men would rather argue and cry "foul" than receive correction; so, the Lord cannot trust them with ministry or spiritual things. God is calling His saints to put away childish things, grow up in Him, and serve Him acceptably. This can only be accomplished by those who have learned to receive His correction and discipline, and that is one way the Lord shows His love. We are more and more fit for the Master's use when we learn to wait and depend on Him, as difficult as that might be. If you are going through hardship today as a servant of the Lord, He is getting you pass your self-sufficiency. God's true servants will be found abiding and placing all their hope in Him. So, rest in the fact that God's correction is a sign that He delights in you. Receive His di...

“There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”  (John 6:9) Emptiness is the door to fullness in the Kingdom. When we are full of resources, knowledge, and worldly wisdom, we will never turn to God, but to our own ingenuity. Too often, we are worried about not having enough, and we are so convinced that all we need is more that we don't bother to thank God and offer Him the little we have. Being in need is not a curse, but a blessing when we take that need to God in faith. The Lord will take us through seasons of lack, so that we might learn that He is our Sufficiency. That way, He can place us in any situation and trust us to look to Him, and not to our own devices. The miracle happens when we see "not enough" as the opportunity to trust God and exercise our faith. It is the mustard seed of faith that moves mountains and uproots the trees that stand between us and victory in Christ Jesus. If the Lord fed f...

And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”  (Mark 3:34-35) Every relationship has a reason and a season in the life of a believer, and the nature of those relationships must meet the Lord's standard. New wine cannot be poured into the old wineskin of family ties and natural affinities (remember Abraham separated from Lot). If we insist on maintaining and pursuing old relationships, we cannot offer ourselves to God for Him to do what He pleases. The efforts we put into those relationships are much better spent moving forward in Christ and embracing the family of God. There are mothers, brothers, and sisters right before our eyes, sitting at the feet of Jesus! If we consecrate our lives to the Lord, some will take offense. They will accuse us of being self-righteous and religious, "too good" for the people we once associated ...

And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”  (John 6:65) Be careful not to let the difficulties in your ministry lead you into frustration. This disposition is always a result of an improper focus — you've taken your eyes off Jesus. The best thing you can do is to stop looking at others and your desires to see them saved and sanctified; then look squarely on Jesus, follow Him, and let God do as He will. Some of us don't go on with God, because we are caught up with folks who have not seen or heard like we have. Leave them to God — their salvation is His province. Jesus says to you,  "Follow Me." It doesn't matter how well you preach, how solid your doctrine, or how sound your academic and corporate systems. Men may heed those things, but God does not. The Lord looks for the man or woman He can trust with souls. He searches for the leader who serves the needs of others above hi...

Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.’” So Aaron held his peace.  (Leviticus 10:1-3) Some mistakenly believe that we serve a different God today than in days gone by. Somehow the Old Testament God seems more severe, more demanding, more exacting, and less tolerant. They see this passage as an indication that God was more severe back then, and more likely to respond to transgressions in a forceful way. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We have a greater revelation than the saints of old, and we will be held strictly accountable. Much has been given to us, and much will be required of us in ret...

Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;  (Psalms 91:9-10) The choice to trust in Jesus Christ is as consequential as any we will ever make -- and it  is  a choice. We will either go to Him for wisdom, or we will turn to the world or our own counsel. Believers stand on the fact that Jesus is completely trustworthy and His Word is true — and those of us who choose to walk with Him are the only secure people on earth, for there is no other Rock, no other Savior, and no other King. When we believe this way, we will fear no one but the Lord, and our faith gives Him great pleasure. May we all believe like that! Remember, one man who will humble himself and pray will move the hand of God more than a company of men dependent on their own righteousness and resources. Fling all your cares on God, who already knows the beginning and the e...

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.  (Luke 6:45) We are that  "good man"  Jesus talks about. His Spirit makes us good, and we must let Him complete His good work in us. That work should be reflected in our speech, which edifies and encourages others at all times. We are God's children, therefore, we must be determined to conduct every conversation in a godly manner -- and we will, if we put on Christ! So, let's fight the good fight for godly communication. That's what a  "good man"  does. Jesus says a tree is known by its fruit, and the fruit of our lips will reveal the condition of our hearts every time. So, we must take the spade of the Word of God in order to uproot every trace of bitterness, and we can trust the scriptures to dig up every evil seed Satan has planted. We are good t...

Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord. And he said, "Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master."  (Genesis 24:26-27a) Godliness is the greatest point of influence one can exercise, and godly people will have a positive influence on everyone who has the privilege of knowing them. Abraham’s servant demonstrates a knowledge of the true and living God that is surely the result of the influence of his master Abraham, who God called His friend. He trusts in God just like Abraham, and he demonstrates an understanding of God's ways that indicates he watched his master closely and learned his lessons well. As Abraham's servant looked to his master's God, so we look to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus Christ. And just as Abraham's God was found faithful, so will the God of our Lord be faithful to show Himself strong on our behalf, and He will answer every prayer lifted...

But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich . . .' "  (Genesis 18:22-24) Though the king of Sodom appeared to be making a gracious offer, Abram rightly discerned his motives; and by refusing the riches he offered, he avoided any future association or obligation to him. Those ties would have surely become a point of grief to Abram, and once again, he wisely kept himself separate and unencumbered, so the Lord might have His way with him and bless him as He promised. May the same be true of us; separated unto God, and God alone. God does not need help from anyone or any group of people to keep His promises to us. There is no need to curry favor or seek approval from men and women, nor do we have to meet the qualifications the world...

Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”  (Genesis 17:15-16) God changed Sarai's name to Sarah to signify a new day in their relationship, and e verything that was to transpire from that point forward was to be a matter of faith. He set Himself to bless her, provide for her, and fulfill her desire for a child of her own, even though she was far past the age of bearing children. He was determined to do for her what only He could do and to prove His word faithful and true. It is not until we receive the promises of the Lord as Sarah did -- even in the face of impossibilities -- that we begin to walk confidently and fearlessly before Him. Do you believe Him like that? Some of us have never experienced the touch of the Lord by receiving His promises...

He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.  (Proverbs 17:27-28) So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;  (James 1:19) We are more likely to transgress by the things we say than the things we do, so when it comes to speech, less is often more. That is because our words have great power, and they render an immediate effect on those who hear them the moment they are spoken. We cannot  un- say the things we say any more than we can  un- do our actions; so the more carefully and sparingly we speak, the better. This is a difficult but invaluable lesson, and the sooner we learn it, the better. There is much value in being a determined listener, for it is a greater privilege to be quiet and listen than to speak and be heard. In fact, those who listen ...

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28) When I am born again and walking with God, my steps are ordered and all things work together for my good. All things may not  feel  good or  look  good, but they  work together for good,  and that is the confidence the Lord would have me possess. When I am walking by faith and my eyes are focused on Him, my life progresses according to His will and good purpose. As I live uprightly before God, I will see His perfect will done in me, just as He promised. God is all-knowing, and He is able to take all the things we experience and make them serve a larger divine purpose. As Joseph said to his brothers who had treated him with contempt and cruelty,  " But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good . . .  (Genesis 50:20). Once we grasp this truth, we can walk confidently ev...

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”  (John 20:24) The Gospel of Jesus Christ was not given to angels to communicate and spread. The Lord chose the apostles and the power of their testimony to carry the message all of creation longs to hear --  "Jesus is alive!"  These are perhaps the most significant words ever spoken -- spoken by those who were there, who saw Him, touched Him, spoke with Him after His resurrection, and declared it to us. By faith and faith alone, we believe and receive their witness some 2000 years later.  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  (Hebrews 11:6) No effort to discredit the resurrection (and there have been many a furious effort) has succeeded in dampening the fervor of the faithful, even...

And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”  But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”  (Luke 9:61-62) Jesus knew where His journey would lead, and it was not a desirable destination. He was on His way to Jerusalem, where He would suffer shameful treatment from men and the wrath of God reserved for sinners deserving hell (of whom I am chief). No man could go to Calvary with or for Him, for Jesus alone is the Lamb of God. Yet, those He calls close to Him will certainly experience the same type of rejection, opposition, and even persecution on His behalf; that is, if we will lay down our lives, pick up our cross, and follow Him.  Walking with Jesus is not an adventurous or romantic notion. Those motives are fleeting, and they will be found insufficient in the days of trial and drudgery ahead. There is a tremendous am...

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (Romans 5:8) Affinity is not love, passion is not love, attraction is not love, and our most sincere feelings fall far short of love. God is love, and He alone defines it. His love finds its clearest expression in Jesus Christ, and Jesus gave His life for us, though we did not deserve it. We too must learn to love those who are undeserving, for only then are we truly like God. The Lord will place difficult people and challenges before us to prove and purify our love, and He will always stretch us beyond ourselves and connect us to His interests in others and not our own. God's love is demonstrative. It is active and effective, and it changes every heart that receives it. We are called to love like He did, and we must not be surprised when we are placed in predicaments that test that love. Those are the conditions in which love thrives, and God's love always proves i...

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  (Romans 5:5) Love proves I am born from above, and the lack of love proves that I am not! I do not have the option to withhold love, for it is the very foundation of Christian character. The one sure sign that I know God is that my heart reflects His when it comes to the issues of life and relationships. If I love God, every facet of my life will be brought into alignment with that love, and I will be determined to adhere to that standard no matter how difficult the struggle. Love becomes the relentless force moving through my words and deeds, and everything not in agreement with that love must be forsaken. For me and you, it's all about love. God is Spirit, and God is love. When the Holy Spirit pours His love in our hearts, we begin to see every man and woman as He sees them -- according to love. God wants to fill our hearts with love,...

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.  (James 4:10) Satan will offer you a great number of options, but none of them will involve humility. He will convince you to offer lip service without truly serving others -- to feel sorry for your actions but fall short of godly sorrow which leads to repentance -- to establish your own kingdom and call it ministry. Yet, our Lord tells us to humble ourselves in the sight of God and men, because He resists the proud and lifts up the humble. What an honor it is to respond to His call to be like Jesus, who laid aside His glory to serve us and even died for us! Listen closely and you’ll hear Him calling you to a point of humility. Will you answer the call? It is doubtful the Lord will fill a cup that isn't empty, or that He will lift up a life that is not first laid down. He values meekness over aggression, and He strengthens those who wait, not those who strive. In His Kingdom, the last are first, and th...

But also, for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (2 Peter 1:5-8) We are saved by grace through faith, and nothing needs to be added to that from God's end. We, on the other hand, are called to a vigorous pursuit of our relationship with God, to become complete, to lack nothing of the Holy Spirit, to be mature, prepared, equipped, and perfect in Christ. Being a child of God is a full-time job, and it is good work and worthy of all our effort. That is what Peter means when he instructs us to  add  to our faith. A healthy faith is alive and increasing, and it takes that kind of faith to live the overcoming life ordained for us. As we come t...

And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham.  (Genesis 19:29) We can get so distracted by the outward appearance of things that we miss what is most important. Sodom, Gomorrah and the entire surrounding region were destroyed in one of the most horrific displays of judgment in the Bible -- yet the Lord's focus and favor were upon Lot and his daughters, because Abraham interceded. You can imagine the news coverage of the day, with all its attention heaped upon the tragedy and its consequences. But only those who are close to the Lord have the faintest clue of what truly transpired . . .  God remembered Abraham.  We serve a holy God, and that holiness is the standard by which everything in the universe will be judged --  Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.  (Hebrews 14:12) He will be vindicated and proven righteous when He judges, no matter how harsh and unre...

"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8) It is the work of the interior that matters most to God, for the Kingdom of God is within us. Faith is serious business to God, and it ought to be more serious to us. Walking by faith is the work we are called to do, but it is also the work most neglected. If we are not careful, we will find ourselves immersed in a myriad of worldly enterprises and poorly invested in the Kingdom of God.  We are to walk by faith and not by sight.  What is this faith the Lord hopes to find when He returns? It is the conviction that God's Word is true, and He is Lord regardless of the sin that dominates the world around us. Even if the elect falter, God's faithful ones look to Jesus, and we refuse to look to another. Faith triumphs over fear, and faith-filled saints wait on the Lord as He renews our strength. Faith rejects the chains of law and religion, and it walks in the libert...

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.  (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a) Love does not look and act like we think or expect, but like God thinks and expects. It always supersedes, always succeeds, always overcomes, and always wins. The reason every other person pales in comparison to Jesus Christ is His flawless expression of love. Pure love can only be found in Jesus, for God is love, and Jesus is God. Jesus was not the Messiah Israel expected, and they rejected Him out of hand. The same is true today, as Israel still rejects her King -- but God's love is undeterred. He has a plan for Israel, and that plan will succeed, because it is rooted in His love. There is nothing anyone can do to keep ...

Love never fails.  (1 Corinthians 13:8) God  is  love, and therefore love never fails and is never bested, defeated, or frustrated. Love cannot be bribed or compromised, for it is the purest of all motivations. Love is the only absolute proof that we know God and that the Holy Spirit abides in us, our families, and our fellowship. Love is the most universally valued and respected currency in the world, and the Church of Jesus Christ should do more and more to spend it at every opportunity. Love is how we are known. So, let your love shine brightly today, because God is love and you are God’s. Love is the best revenge, because it wins every time. Love always exudes the fragrance of Jesus Christ, and that is its sweetest attribute. Christ is glorified when we love, and He is not when we don't. Therefore, He is exalted by love, and when He is truly lifted up, all men are drawn to Him by His love. God's love is honest and enduring, spiritual and gracious, extravag...

“ . . . for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  (Luke 19:10) Could it be that God is reaching out to the sinners we would reject? Could He be moving among people we've disdained? Does God want to move through us to touch the people, nations, and neighborhoods we've abandoned? Was Jesus Himself not accused of consorting with prostitutes, hated tax-collectors, and a whole assortment of sinners? Are we, then, right to condemn and refuse to even show kindness to the sinners He loved and died for? Lord, forgive us! It is a sad thing to witness a church which has lost its first love -- that is, its ability and willingness to love, and its commitment to love. Without love, the church is a sad caricature of herself, having strayed far from the One who called her into being and keeps Her through the ages. The church is to be the body of Christ, with arms ever outstretched to a lost and dying world, and where the least and last of these find a p...

But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.  (Luke 9:55) Jesus Christ is not a conservative, a moderate, or a liberal. He is not an American, nor is He limited to or by any nationality. He is not pro-this or anti-that, for the Kingdom of God is not a matter of pros and cons, but righteousness and peace. He is God Almighty, who cannot be contained in any of the politics, principles, theologies, doctrines, or systems we build. In fact, Jesus did not come to give us Christian principles or convictions, but to give us abundant life -- and His life does not flow from laws and rules, but from the Holy Spirit. The Lord simply won't conform to our constructs, our religion, our buildings, denominations, or programs -- and certainly not our principles or convictions (no matter how sincere). Beware of the temptation to mistake your passion for His. His ways, His thoughts, and His words are higher than ours, and that will never change. ...