Devotion: Courage
Courage
Please review the scripture from the weekend: Matthew 26:36-40
Courage… you know you want more of it. We don’t seem to value courage very much in our society, but when we need it, whoa, we really need it.
How courageous are you? I’m guessing you think you lack courage. In all likelihood, you probably don’t see yourself as courageous as others see you. Courage is something that we never feel as though we have enough of and that we never can seem to maintain. It is fleeting, like sand slipping through our fingers.
So if courage is so valuable, why don’t we think more about it? Why don’t we work to develop it? Perhaps it is so elusive that we give up trying.
In my sermon this weekend I introduced Sheridan to Pastor Tom Berlin and his book, Courage. Berlin writes well about some of the underlying principles of courage – things we fail to consider and strive for. Berlin points out that Jesus was probably the most courageous person in history. Oddly enough, Jesus never really teaches about courage. We only have one recorded verse of Jesus referring to being courageous in John 13:33. However, Jesus lived with such courage. Clearly, he would rather teach by example than words. We see this in his time in the Garden of Gethsemane.
How can we find courage? Berlin’s teachings will help. So will our walking with Jesus to the Cross. We will find courage by connecting ourselves to Jesus, and how he lived. Jesus promises that his courage will be ours. So, you don’t have to be courageous. Rather, I suggest that you allow Jesus’ courage to be in and with you.
Let us pray…
Jesus, our Lord and Savior, come to us. Fill us to overflowing. Let your heart, words and actions be ours. Make us courageous Christians in this broken world. Amen.
Written by Pastor Greg Bouvier
Pastor Greg heard God’s call to Sheridan in 1999 and that began a journey that has become his life’s work. Having played a variety of roles as pastor of Sheridan, Pastor Greg was called as the Senior Pastor in 2011. He now leads the staff and his primary focus is on the creation of culture, the overall direction of worship and partnering with our amazing team.
Pastor Greg has been married to Rose for more than 30 years and together they have two servant-hearted grown children.