My Daily Dose of Courage

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, "Repent . . ."  (Acts 2:37-38a)   Could it be that the Gospel is a great deal simpler than some preachers have made it? Peter spoke the indisputable truth — Jesus the Messiah came to the children of Israel, he loved them, taught them, healed them, fed them, raised their dead, gave many infallible proofs, was rejected by His people, crucified, rose on the third day, showed Himself to many, ascended to heaven, and He still wasn't done! He sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and those who were in the temple heard and saw it! Once Peter explained to them what they were seeing, they asked the question that was begging to be asked — "What now?”    Simply put, this is how things work in the Kingdom. God confronts us with truth and our response is determined by the condition of our hearts. Som...

Be anxious for nothing . . . (Philippians 4:6)   Our anxieties are the sign that we have not yet won the battle for our peace; the simple and imperturbable belief that our Lord is Who He says He is and will do what He promised to do. The fear in our hearts is the sure sign that we do not have enough experience with a faithful God, so He is always bringing us to a simple and childlike faith that seeks and trusts Him all the time.    It is a snare for saints to want more, bigger, greater, and higher things on earth. God calls us to be content and focused on heaven. The church is to be completely pre-occupied with her Husband and Savior, Jesus Christ — not His blessings, but His Person, His character, His Word, His will, His Cross, and His crown.   So, my friend, be anxious for nothing and know Jesus is present. In His presence is fullness of joy!   Let's Pray -  Dear Father, I trust You, and I'm learning to trust You more each day. I understand You...

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.  (1 John 2:6)   Sin is the one and only thing that can separate us from the love of God in Christ. Therefore, the Father sent Jesus as the answer to our hellish dilemma. The sacrifice He made is sufficient to wipe away all our transgressions, and sinners cleansed by His blood receive an inheritance of everlasting life. That life does not begin when we die, but it is ours today according to God’s grace.   Nothing less than a life built on God’s liberating power is acceptable to Him, and the child of God is determined to hold fast to the liberty given to us in Christ.   So, simply put, there need be no doubt we are saved. We have received the power to love and to walk as Christ walked. May our faith and obedience put every fear and doubt to death as we boldly live for the Lord for all to see!   Let's Pray -  Dear Father, thank You for the cleansing power of the Blood of Jesus...

“ Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?"  (John 3:9-10)   Jesus Christ Himself is the ultimate correction of the Father for us all. He is the light of the world, and everything (and everyone) is lost in darkness without Him. That is the message Jesus was conveying to Nicodemus, and that is the message He is speaking to us. If we look for answers from God, we are missing the Answer He has already given, and there will be no other word than what has been spoken — Jesus Christ.   Efforts to solve men's problems, deal effectively with the issues and ailments all around us, to make a difference, or to make the world a better place are foolish and futile in the light of God's revelation in Christ. The reason so many, even in the church, are fearful, confused, and frustrated is the failure to understand that our complete and obsessive focus must be on Jesus...

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10) Behold, how good and how pleasant it isFor brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1) Paul does not mean that saints should not be free to think for themselves, or that we should agree on every detail as it pertains to the faith. We are not all the same, and we do not all respond or feel the same about the world around us. When Paul speaks of divisions, he is not speaking of a problem with us as individuals, but individualism. That spirit will always look to set itself apart from and above other believers, and it wars against the unity and the accountability God wants for His church. We must wage a fierce fight against the temptation to strike out in a direction of our own choosing. When we are joined together, willing to submit ...

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  (Matthew 4:17)    . . . and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.  (Matthew 4:22)   I am convinced that the repentance is among the most awesome privileges anyone will ever have — it is a gift of God. Repentance is more than the determination to stop sinning, and it is more than feeling sorry for our sins, no matter how sincere we are. Repentance is the decision to turn from our ways and to follow Jesus. That is when He gives us a new life, and that new life takes divine energy to live.   Repentance is an unfathomably rich and gracious opportunity to see and receive the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom of God? It is the life and perspective He gives us when we believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and receive His Holy Spirit.   No one will see the Kingdom of God without repentance.   Kingdom life brings us an eve...

. . . and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea."   (Matthew 18:3-6) God’s economy is antithetical to that of the world. His values are higher, because they are spiritual, and His ways are superior, because He is holy. God’s standards are strange to the casual observer, the casual Christian, and to the unbeliever alike. For example, the requirement that we become like children is ludicrous to the world, but essential for eternal purposes. Humility is the door God has provided for His “little ones.” Yet, in our efforts to be something...

And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him.  (Exodus 4:24) In this passage, the love of God and the anger of God collide in a baffling way. Moses was God’s man going forward with God’s plan, with His commission and permission. Then, the same God who sent Moses met him on the way with the purpose of killing him!   This should cause us to ask what habit, action, mindset, or sins are we carrying that is an offense to God? Where has Satan hitched a ride on our heaven-bound expressway? What old issues and attitudes are a hindrance to your new season? What is there about you or within you that needs to die? Where do you need to repent before moving forward?   These are the questions we should ask ourselves before taking another step.   Let's Pray -  Father, open our eyes and show us the truth about ourselves. We want to be righteous and blameless in Your sight, and that is only possible when the Holy Spirit s...

“Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”  (Luke 7:48-50)   The singular truth of the New Testament is Jesus came to save sinners — not black sinners, white sinners, brown sinners, yellow sinners, or red sinners. There is no skin color in the kingdom. There are no good sinners and bad sinners — no cultured sin...

Therefore, I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  (2 Timothy 2:10) A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance . . .  (Proverbs 15:13)   As the Word says, we enter the Kingdom of God through many trials and much tribulation. That is because the forces of darkness are set against the children of light at every turn. While we are on earth and until Jesus returns, things will be difficult, and we must be prepared. Satan is relentless, but our God reigns supreme, and we are more than conquerors in Him.   God gives us wisdom, joy, and strength to pass every test. The battle is the Lord’s, and the victory is ours in Him. So, be of good cheer, for Jesus has overcome every obstacle we will ever face.   We are known by our love and our joy, so let us face every day with a heavenly outlook. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, He transforms us into men and women of faith a...

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 working as a unit, in step, in agreement, accountable and accounted for. (My definition)   Believers, collectively, make up 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 should 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, i...

“ 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 immature in his ways and his thinking. It is foolish to discuss visions with a blind man or expect vigorous work from a lazy man. 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 lie...

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1)   Our Lord is sharing something essential with His disciples — prayer is the only way to keep a hopeful outlook through the bleak seasons we are sure to experience. The prayerful saint is the hopeful saint, and Jesus wants our hope to flourish, so we must pray!   Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”  (Luke 22:46)   Jesus told us we will suffer tribulation in this world; yet we are to be of good cheer, because He has overcome the world, and we overcome through Him. There are people and circumstances for which we would lose all hope apart from the assurance we receive from prayer and intercession. The Lord has ordained our prayer life as His formula for spiritual sustenance and success.    A praying saint may travail and suffer, may struggle and wonder when God will answer, may grapple with feelings of def...