The Courage of a Hero

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The Courage of a Hero

Philippians 1:20-21 “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Don’t we all love to read about heroes? Every once in a while there is a story in the Reader’s Digest about a horrible disaster such as a bear attack or hiking accident in which a courageous bystander steps in and saves the day. I like to imagine a scenario where I am the heroine throwing caution to the wind and risking my life to help a soul in danger. But deep down I always wonder, “Would I be brave enough, or would I end up ashamed at my lack of courage?”

The Apostle Paul was sent by God on a mission to save souls from eternal death. He was often in very difficult and dangerous situations because of his message. Each new town presented the possibility for ridicule, beatings, imprisonment, and even death. He must have been covered with scars from all that he had to endure. Yet he continued to look for opportunities to reach people for Christ.

We may be tempted to think that Paul was always brave and never became discouraged, but that would be false. He was a human being and experienced all the emotions that we often feel. He suffered heartache and anguish when loved ones distanced themselves from him because of his testimony. He endured frustration and distress when he suffered from his thorn in the flesh. He experienced discouragement and longed for the comfort of a faithful friend to bring good news regarding a church he loved dearly.

Yet despite all the natural human feelings that may have plagued Paul, this man learned to put his trust in the faithful God. He did not fear that he would fail in his mission, but eagerly expected that he would in no way be ashamed. Instead he knew that God would give him the courage he needed to accomplish the task with which he was entrusted. He believed even when in prison awaiting trial that his life could and would glorify God, whether in life or death.

I find this very encouraging. We do not need to fear how we will respond in a difficult or even scary situation. Regardless of whether or not you have a chance to be a hero and save someone from a fire, a bear attack, or a car crash, there are opportunities every day to share the saving message of God’s love. This can be intimidating, but when we seek to please the Lord through every experience of life and rely on His power we can confidently say with the Apostle Paul, “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage . . .” In this way Christ, the real hero, will be exalted whether by your life or by your death!

Love,

Mama

1 Comment

  1. Carolina Hinojosa-Cisneros on March 2, 2016 at 11:16 AM

    Beautiful post. I agree; “…there are opportunities every day to share the saving message of God’s love.” Press on and move forward. Have a blessed week, Sandy!

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Hi, I'm Sandy! 

I write inspirational letters based on the Bible that share words of hope, encouragement, truth, and healing to my children and anyone else who longs for a mama's touch.

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