Monday, May 13, 2013

Where Courage Comes

As I thought this morning about the word, encouragement, I tried to think about what it means just by its sound. To me, it sounded like something that someone does, as if they were trying to place courage into us. It just sounds like that should be one of the meanings. That made me remember Stephen, one of the most courageous people I can think of in the bible.

In Acts 6-7 we see the story of Stephen brought before certain members of the synagogue. They accused him of trying to teach against what Moses had taught, and that Jesus did the same. His response was interesting. He gave them the history of the Hebrew people, showing that Jesus had both taught and kept the law perfectly, and that they had conspired to murder him. What happens next is the courage placement. The heavens opened and Stephen once again saw the Messiah, standing next to God. This gave him the courage to face the stoning death he was about to endure. Sounds like God, and seeing Jesus, implanted courage. May we all be so fortunate as to have the revelation in a personal way that Jesus will stand for us.

Prayer
Father, I ask that you touch the lives and hearts of people today that they may know You. Give them the courage to stand for You by knowing that Jesus stands for us. Thank You for being our King, and never turning Your back on any who will turn to You. In Jesus name. Amen.