Dan Peters     

COURAGE

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1: 9

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth – Matthew 5:5

God calls us to be courageous and not dismayed for he is always with us.  Jesus exalts the status of those who are meek.  Is there a contradiction here?  In our daily lives we meet people who display courage and we meet people who are meek; but rarely, if ever, are these attributes displayed by the same person at the same time. Perhaps Jesus calls us to be meek before God as we acknowledge our humanity, our sinfulness, and our shortcomings.  God calls us to be courageous human beings as we strive to live Christian lives, tell the good news of salvation, and demonstrate our faith through service to others.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I am mindful of my sin and my shortcomings as I come before you. Make me also mindful of your power to provide me with the courage to do the things you call me to do.