My Daily Dose of Courage

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."   (Matthew 7:6) When you speak of order to an undisciplined man, he will resent you, because he is childish in his ways and his thinking. It is foolish to discuss visions with a blind man or expect hard work from one who is lazy. A prideful man will disdain your good counsel, and an angry man is impossible to reason with. So, while we are to share God's Word and wisdom freely, we must also realize some do not have an ear to hear, eyes to see, or a heart to understand. It is important to be discerning, and we must know when and where to engage others or to be silent. Help us, Lord. We have all wasted our good words and resources, only to realize we were unwise to share them with those unwilling and unable to receive them. Even the right words spoken at the wrong time or place will be unprofitable for the hearer. Therein lies the da...

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.   (Psalm 133) For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.   (Ephesians 5:30)   Unity  --  as one (not one, but “as” one), existing and operating as a unit, united, in agreement, accountable and accounted for. (My definition)   Believers, collectively, comprise the church of Jesus Christ, and individually, we are members of His body. As such, we are the expression of our Lord on the earth, and our fellowship is to reflect the perfection and unity of the Holy Trinity — God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They express oneness in all they are and all they do, and so must we, if we are chi...

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.   (John 13:3-5)   Servanthood is something entirely different in the Kingdom than in the world. The world sees servants as less-than or inferior to those being served, therefore servants are often roughly treated and poorly thought of. Not so in the Kingdom of God. A servant's heart is highly valued by the Lord, especially in His sons and daughters. That is why Jesus is the perfect example of royalty, sonship, and servanthood -- and His example reflects the heart of His Father.   Everything Jesus did for others was rooted in His identity as God's Son. He fully understood the privilege and meaning of His relationship to the Father, so He was ...

Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” (John 13:6-7)   Jesus is the perfect example of servanthood, and it is His deepest desire to present us to the Father faultless, perfect, and holy. He, therefore, became our Savior through His sacrifice -- that is, the blood He shed for us that washed away our sins and the condemnation they brought. By washing His disciples' feet, He was giving them an example of the ministry they would receive. They, too, would lay down their lives to present every man faultless, perfected, and holy to the Father -- and so we might be received into the family of God with joy.   The disciples would learn to lay down their lives and their rights for others, just as Jesus had done for them; and that is the unmistakable Spirit of all true ministry. No servant of God serves himself at the expense of the churc...

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  (Acts 1:8)   The gift the disciples received by waiting is the same gift we receive when we wait -- that is, the power to be witnesses of Jesus Christ. We alone have that power, for we alone have His Spirit, and if we do not have His Spirit, we are not His witnesses. The indwelling Spirit is the only difference between us and all other religious people, for He is the only proof that we have an authentic relationship with the True and Living God. Any other claim to spiritual legitimacy is counterfeit, for only the Holy Spirit is God alive in us. And if He lives in us, we will be His witnesses, and He will show Himself strong through us.   I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service...

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”   (Acts 1:6)   The disciples did not get it. Even after Jesus had been crucified and He rose from the dead, they were still clueless about the Kingdom of God. They did not understand the Kingdom they would inherit is not of this world, and it showed by the questions they asked.  “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”  It is a snare for us to desire great things on this earth -- even great "Christian" things. Jesus was not concerned or impressed with great people, places, or things, and He did not want His disciples to be either. They were to be fully focused on their relationship to the Father. What are you focusing on?   "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."  (Luke 17:20-21)   The Christian life is a ...

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”   (Acts 1:9-11)   The disciples were looking for Jesus in the wrong place. They were gazing into the skies where He ascended, but He was not there. How often do we, like the disciples, look for the Lord in the places we expect -- but He has moved on. Yet, if we simply remember the things Jesus told us, we will understand He is being true to the word He spoke. He has gone to be with the Father, He dwells in us by His Spirit, and He is coming again to receive us to Himself. That is the blessed hope of every believer, and believers know where to find the Lord.   Je...

“Moreover, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between him and you alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”   (Matthew 18:15-17)   Forgiving others does not require that we continue to place ourselves in precarious positions or engage in unsafe relationships. Our willingness to forgive is not a blank check for others to sin against us with impunity. We must be wise enough to remove ourselves from injurious, damaging entanglements, and we hold those we deal with accountable to acceptable standards of behavior – biblical standards. This takes a tremendous amount of wisdom and grace. Help us, Lord!   "Go and tell him his fault"  "Take with you one or tw...

"But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished."   (Matthew 17:12)   You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.  (2 Corinthians 6:12)   Before we surrendered our lives to Christ, we used to go wherever we wanted and do whatever we pleased. We thought and acted according to our whims and desires, we came and went as we saw fit, and we believed we had every right to live that way. Then, the Lord introduces us to someone who lives a holy life and walks more closely with Him than we do, and He holds us accountable for our response to that witness. If we are not careful, that believer's discipline and attention to spiritual details will appear stodgy and unreasonable, and we will resent the standard he or she sets — "Who does he think he is?" But the Lord has placed them in our lives as a sign that points toward heaven — and if we are offended, we are not offended with th...

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."   ( Matthew 6:14-15)   We are most like Christ when we respond to offenses like He did – by forgiving. Since the Lord’s willingness to forgive us is so great, and since we derive such wonderful benefits from that forgiveness, He will not let us get away with an unwillingness to forgive. In fact, the refusal to forgive may indicate a lack of understanding of our salvation! It is, at least, an indication that we do not yet understand how our Lord works and what He expects.   Forgiveness is not an isolated event -- it is a cycle. The Lord intends that we forgive, because we have been forgiven, and that is how the Kingdom operates. We must release those who sinned against us from the prison of our hurt and anger, because He has released us and remembers our sins no more. When we don't forgive, ...

"You are the light of the world . . ."   (Matthew 5:14)   No, this wasn’t someone speaking to Jesus. This was Jesus speaking to us, the people of God. What a charge! We are called to light up the world with the testimony of Jesus Christ and illuminate the path to heaven for all to see. Though none of us is sufficient for such a task, we have been given the pure light of the Holy Spirit to shine through us. God does not need us, but He chose us, and we should be eternally grateful for the unspeakable honor of being witnesses to our Lord.   With this light comes a sobering reality. We must live in a way that keeps us available to the Lord exclusively and allows Him to shine His light through us wherever we are. We must fight every thought or action that veils the light, and we make moment-by-moment decisions that glorify the Lord. When we do, the power of God beams from us into the mean circumstances around us, and men see the unmistakable hand of God at work. Then, even th...

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord . . .  (Acts 3:19)   In this passage, Peter opens our eyes to the divine process the Lord employs to lead His children to a clean and free life. That process begins with conviction, which occurs when the Holy Spirit exposes us for the sinners we are. Conviction then leads us to confession, as the process moves to our speech, and we verbally agree with God about what He's shown us. Confession leads us to repentance, where we turn around and walk a new way, and we learn to work righteousness instead of mischief. Then comes restoration, where we redeem lost time and squandered resources, and we come into right standing with God and His people. Finally, we experience times of refreshing, and the Holy Spirit leads us into the sweetness of God’s pleasure and favor.   When Peter speaks of "conversion," it is more than the simple act of being sa...

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.  (Daniel 1:8)   Daniel was in no position to bargain. He was a captive of Israel’s dreaded conquerors, the Babylonians. They were a cruel, severe people and God’s hammer of correction sent to bring the nation of Israel to repentance. Yet, this teenage boy saw a much bigger picture. Though his circumstances were dire, Daniel believed firmly in the power of the God of Israel. He understood that the Lord was still his God, still faithful, still merciful, still present, and still willing to answer his prayers — even in Babylon.   Daniel’s world was filled with limits because he was a slave. He had no rights, no clout, no earthly possessions, no money, no power, and seemingly, no hope. He lived in a world of  can’t . So, Daniel did the one thing he...

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’   (Matthew 7:21-23)   God is love, and love is accurately defined in Him, and in Him alone. Love is not what we think or say it is, but what God says it is -- and He says His love is conditional, and that condition is Jesus Christ. Those who advance the concept of "unconditional love" are really saying, "It doesn't matter what I do, God will still love me, accept me, and receive me." But Jesus says this about those who believe they can practice sin and still claim to be Christians,  "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"   If you say God's love has con...

“ For He {God} made Him {Jesus} who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  (2 Corinthians 5:21)   The term “forgive” means to send away, dismiss, release, or cancel (as in a debt). Biblically, the concept of forgiveness rests on the requirement that we be reconciled to the holy God who created us for His own purpose. Without forgiveness, we are otherwise incapable of measuring up to God’s standard because of our sin. The righteous punishment due the sinner is death, or permanent estrangement from God. Yet, because God loves us so, He designed a way back into a right relationship with Him. That “way” is Jesus Christ who gave His life and died in our place, thereby, paying our sin-debt by taking our punishment on Himself. This is the most important and wonderful truth we will ever learn — and learn it, we must, if we are ever to see God.   This is the simple and complete Gospel, and nothing needs to be added. The Lord never sen...

“You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you that you may live and it be well with you . . .”   (Deuteronomy 5:32)   The most powerful statement one can make about a believer's life is to say he walks with God. This means that every step, every decision, every word and deed is subject to the reality and the standard set by the Lord. When we think of those Bible characters who walked with God, they almost seem mythical in comparison to other men — but truthfully, they were frail and imperfect like the rest of us. It was God who stood by their side and made them seem nobler, wiser, and better. The same is true of those who walk with God today; great is the Lord who lives within us and works through us!   We do not need to figure out what God wants from us, because He has expressed Himself clearly in Jesus Christ. The Father looks for a likeness to His Son; that is what He is drawn to, and that is what He approves. There is no other word, and no ...

  Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;  (Psalms 15:1-2)   In scripture, hands and hearts are poignant symbols of a saint's work and worth. The hands symbolize all that we produce, invent, fashion, build up, and establish. The heart symbolizes our character, emotions, and motivation. The Bible teaches that the truth can be known about each of us by what we produce with our hands and the words which proceed from our heart. The honest Christian is one who has come to the Lord and received clean hands and hearts, which will bring forth the fruit of a holy life.     If we are going to draw close to the Lord, it will have to be on His terms, and He requires purity. As much as Jesus loves us, He hates sin, and He will not suffer sinful folks or their behavior. It is a grave mistake to believe He loves us so much that we can continue in sin withou...

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”  (John 1:47)   Honesty is required in the child of God, and He expects truthfulness from us in all our dealings. Integrity is a basic biblical principle that must be honored, otherwise, you and I cannot increase in spiritual understanding and stature. Every dishonest act, even the slightest shading of the truth is a serious affront to the Living God, who is holy and pure; and He will not receive dishonesty or dishonest people into His kingdom.   In the world (and sometimes in the church), integrity is viewed as a nuisance, and it is much more important to be effective, successful, and get the desired result. Yet, our Lord looks upon our hearts, and He values righteousness and truth in the inward parts of us. He detests lies, as they reflect Satan and his influence, and there is nothing devilish in heaven, nor should there be in the church of Jesus Christ. Likewise,...

“ . . . that I may know Him in the power of His resurrection, and in the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”   (Philippians 3:10) Christians who are rooted in Christ are spiritual lights in this dark world, and Satan hates the light, because his deeds are evil. The opposition we face in the spiritual realm is fierce, the devil, his demons, and people used by them seek to extinguish every vestige of Jesus Christ from the earth. As ambassadors of Christ, we represent the perfection of the Kingdom of Heaven on this fallen and dying planet. The world’s attitude toward us is the same as it was toward Christ – dismissive, violent and oppositional. Thus, we share in the sufferings of Christ, and we do so joyfully!   In Christ, we find the Example of a Heavenly Visionary, One who looked beyond the day's test and saw eternity's gain. It is of the utmost importance for every saint to develop the same gift of spiritual insight and foresight. That means being able...

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.   (Hebrews 11:1)   There are those who seek to make this world their home, to make it comfortable and palatable, teaching that faith is a means to a prosperous life full of success and creature comforts. Yet, the Word clearly says that faith points us to something greater and more meaningful than that. That "something greater" is eternal life, and that life is ours by faith in Jesus, and in Him alone.   Faith is not proven by our victories, our breakthroughs, our prosperity, or our successes — the opposite is true. True faith requires that we hold tightly to God when we do not see, do not understand, and we do not agree with the things He permits. Faith thrives when we do not know where or when our deliverance will arrive, when we suffer losses and setbacks that discourage us, and when we feel like strangers and pilgrims in the earth. Faith grows when it is challenged in stormy times, when Go...

“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”  (Ecclesiastes 3:1)   Let us learn to appreciate God’s divine sense of timing, so that we keep our peace by trusting and waiting on Him who knows the times and seasons. Waiting on the Lord is not a despondent, detached, or careless attitude that says, “Whatever will be, will be.” Remember, He sees purpose in things we might disdain and overlook, so we must ask Him daily for patience, perspective, and wisdom. May we always be expectant and faithful as we move forward knowing the Lord will do the right thing at the right time.   We are often tempted to be upset and uneasy about the state of things and how long certain injustices and inequities may persist. It is far too common to see Christians fighting and struggling to change things for the better, rather than trusting and waiting on the Lord. There is the dangerous temptation to get ahead of God and take heroic action to bring about the change ...

Be ready in and out of season . . .  (2 Timothy 4:2)   Two earmarks of being a Spirit-filled believer are consistency and readiness. Consistency reveals obedience and dependence on the Lord that keeps us steady, dependable, and trustworthy in spiritual things. We are called to present a useful and consistent example to the people we live and work with, relying on the power and goodness of Jesus in every situation. Readiness speaks of being prepared to display godly character even in the face of forces and circumstances working against us. Though the winds of life blow hard and often, we hold on to the unchanging Word of God, proving that it has the power to keep us standing and victorious in these uncertain times.   No one knows when Jesus will return, so we must be ready. No one knows when everything we've come to depend on might be taken away, so we must be found trusting only in Him. Each of us must form the devotional habits that will sustain us in and out of season, ...

And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  (John 16:8)   There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.  (Proverbs 14:12)   We are poor judges of ourselves, so the Spirit Himself convicts us and points out our sin. He wants us to know the truth, because the truth will set us free from the bondage of sin and death. When we receive God's conviction and agree with Him about our sins, He forgives us, and our relationship to Him is restored. God then awakens our consciences and begins teaching us His ways, and His ways are higher than ours. Yes, the Spirit has come to convict us and open our eyes, so we might receive our sight and see how much we need a Savior.   When we acknowledge God's standards and understand His will, our consciences will become sensitive to the slightest whisper of the Holy Spirit. That is the safest place for Christians to be, and the Spirit will lead us when we q...

So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.”  (2 Samuel 12:13-14) This sordid tale of lust, adultery, deception and murder seems out of place in the life of "a man after God's own heart" — but there is David — guilty and deserving of death, and there was not going to be an easy road back to right-standing with God. David had strayed far from the Lord. His success had drawn him into a moral malaise that he was completely unaware of, and his heart had become cold and craven — just like his predecessor, Saul. (If we are not careful, we can become what we despise.) He had ignored the word of God and everything he knew was right, and his conscience was the casualty. Since David covered his ears and refused God's correction, he...

  Now it came about on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace in front of the king’s rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace. It happened when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.  (Esther 5:1, 2)   Prayer is the awesome privilege to go before the Father and speak to Him from our hearts. He is not like earthly kings who require appointments, pomp and circumstance, or needless protocol — just come. The Bible is filled with encouragement for us to pray, because the God who loves us longs to speak with us about our lives. He is ever extending His "scepter" to us with an open heart to receive us when we come to Him in prayer.   You will find the rest and peace you so de...

". . . but I am carnal, sold under sin."   (Romans 7:14b) There is so much preaching today about prosperity and worldly success in the Christian life, but much of that teaching is a selfish and entrepreneurial perversion of the scriptures. Our problem isn't that we are not rich enough, successful enough, or healthy enough; the issue is and always will be our sin nature. That is what Jesus came to the earth to address and defeat. Sin has the last word in our lives, unless we believe that Jesus died for us and rose victoriously from the grave.  "Therefore I (Jesus) said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."   (John 8:24) Yes, He   did   die, He   did   rise, He   does   hold the keys to life and death, and He   has given everlasting life to every believer. That is the true prosperity, success, and health the Gospel promises; and since we know we are seated with Him in the...

Turn at my rebuke; surely  I will pour out my spirit on you;  I will make my words known to you.  (Proverbs 1:23) We must always be sure to respond to the voice of the Father. When we hear our name, we must turn to Him at once. If we do not, we begin an inevitable march to ruin and judgment — and those things are not meant for His children. God will never force us to slow down, listen, or obey His voice. But when He reveals His will to us, we are responsible for how we respond to that revelation. Our lives are precious gifts, and there is not another moment to waste with the foolishness and selfishness that once dominated us.   It is a sad thing for a child of God to refuse to come when He calls. Yet, that is where so many are today. Far too often, sin and fear are as present among believers as the children of the world around them. It is far too uncommon to witness saints living in the fullness of their salvation. How many of the believers you know are living the ho...

The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth . (Proverbs 26:15)  Only the Father knows the strength we need to fight the good fight of faith, to establish a good testimony, and to finish the race set before us. And as any good parent does, He insists that we eat the food He serves, so that we are well nourished and equipped to meet the demands of the day — and the demands are great! We must take more earnest heed to God's Word, or we will surely shrink back into the kind of spiritual laziness and impotence that typifies too many. The lazy man won't so much as eat the Bread of life God has so graciously set before him. We are not only to eat, but to EAT EVERYTHING — every single word He speaks! Those who do will mature and possess the character and energy of the Spirit — enough energy to endure to the end. Many will read about the cross, write books about the cross, sing about the cross, debate, study, get degrees, preach, hold meetings ...

“ Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;  but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”   (Isaiah 1:16-20)   We must reason with the Lord before it is too late, while His arms are still outstretched, and before we go any farther down the road toward judgment. Repentance and humility are required to enter into these talks, for we have nothing else to offer! On the other hand, the Lord has made provision for our forgiveness, our health, our wholeness, our peace and safety, and our joy. Our sins have been wiped away by the death of His Son, Who lived a sinless and sacrificial life, died in our place, and rose in power and majesty. Now He is seated at the right hand of the Father with all authority in His nai...

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.     (2 Timothy 1:7) When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we refuse to submit to the authority of any other spiritual influence. Spirit-filled saints will not bow down at the shrine of worldly success, popularity, acceptance, or tolerance; because friendship with the world makes us the enemies of God. We value the approval of the Lord, and we refuse to fear men. God's power is ours, when we remember the battle and the glory are the His alone.   There may be many things to fear in this life, but the Holy Spirit has freed us from the power those things once had. That is why God's children shine so brightly in a dark and fearful world. The Spirit who dwells in us is the power to be Christlike, the salt of the earth, and the light of the world. We remain joyful, kind, forgiving, and gracious even though others may treat us poorly in return. If people around us are going to see the fear...

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.   (Matthew 6:34)   Make no mistake about it, worry is fear, and fear is the archenemy of love and faith. Worry occupies the space in our lives that faith longs to fill, and that faith is the success and confidence of the child of God. We cannot fight the battles of the Lord and worry at the same time, because worry paralyzes us in a world of "what ifs." Anxiety results from the unrest in our hearts when we believe the Lord has not considered all our concerns. But Jesus assures us the Father knows and cares, and He is able and willing to provide every detail of our earthly and spiritual needs. Believe in Him. He is faithful, and He wants us to be worry-free.   Let's Pray  -  Dear Lord, I have made the choice to believe in You, and I simply refuse to worry about anything at all. You are my Shepherd, and I shall want for nothing. Thank you...