My Daily Dose of Courage

“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 our need to be reconciled to God who created us for His own purpose. Without forgiveness, we are 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 for us to have a 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 else. The Lord never sent men to teach any other message, but...

“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 than the rest of us. 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 in us; that is what He is drawn to, and that is what He approves. There is no ot...

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, establish and build up. 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 without paying a terri...

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 seen 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.   Lik...

“ . . . 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 shadowy 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 look to extinguish every vestige of Jesus Christ from the earth.   As ambassadors of Christ, we stand for the perfection of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. 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 to ...

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)   There are those who look 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. That "something greater" is eternal life, and that life is ours by faith in Jesus Christ.   Faith is not about 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 in stormy times, when God prunes instead of multiplies, when ou...

“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 "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter 3:8) We are sometimes upset and uneasy about the state of things and how long certain injustices and inequities may persist. But it is best to remember that Jesus is on the throne in heaven, and He has the world and everything in it in His hand...

Be ready in and out of season . . .  (2 Timothy 4:2) Spirit-filled believers are consistent and ready. Consistency reveals a dependence on the Lord that keeps us steady, dependable, and trustworthy in spiritual things. We present a consistent example to those we live and work with, and we rely on the power and goodness of Jesus in every situation.   Our readiness displays godly character even when life’s circumstances work against us. Though the winds blow hard and often, we hold on to the unchanging Word of God, proving that He 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 things we have come to depend on might be taken away, so we must be found trusting in Him. Each of us must form the devotional habits that will sustain us in and out of season, when things are well and when they are ill.   When times are uncertain, we will fall back upon that which we...

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 quiet...

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 protocol — just come. The Bible is full of encouragement for us to pray because the God who loves us longs to speak with us. 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 desire in the closet of prayer. Jesus ...

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 what we do with 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 see saints living in the fullness of their salvation. How many of the believers you know are living the holy and spo...

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 will need to fight the good fight of faith, to build a good testimony, and to "finish the race" set before us. So, He insists we eat the food He serves, and we are well nourished and equipped to meet the demands of the day — and the demands are great!  Therefore, we must take more earnest heed to God's Word, or we will surely shrink back into the realm of spiritual laziness and impotence which typifies some.  We are not only to eat, but to EAT EVERYTHING — every single Word the Lord speaks! Those who do are the saints who mature and have the energy of the Spirit — enough energy to endure to the end. Let's Pray - Dear Lord, help me as I discipline myself to read and study Your Word as if my life depended on it — because it does. In Jesus alone, Amen.

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)   Spirit-filled saints do not submit to any other spiritual influence. We 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 the Lord’s 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.   If people around us are going to see the fearless love of Christ, they are going to see it in us. May we be joyful, kind, forgiving, and gracious even though others may treat us poorly...

"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24)   Everyone and everything on earth that pleases the Father does so according to the leading and power of the Spirit. That is why Jesus insisted His disciples wait before they went out to preach the Gospel —  "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever . . ." (John 14:16)  The "Helper" is God Himself, the Holy Spirit. Just as the Father and Son are God, so is the Spirit; and they are united in their determination to bring many sons and daughters to glory. Thank God in heaven for the ministry of the Holy Spirit here on earth! “(He is) the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”  (John 14:17)   The abiding presence of the Holy Spirit is the only difference between the children of God and all other ...