We often talk about “acts of bravery.” A soldier receives a commendation for bravely running through no mans land to save a comrade. A person on a walk becomes a local hero for rushing to the aid of someone having a heart attack. A pilot lands a disabled airplane against all odds. All of these are great examples of bravery, and those who showed such bravery are certainly worthy of adulation. Yet, I wonder, should we think of bravery only in terms of these one time acts of heroism? Is bravery something reserved for battlefields and extreme emergencies, or is it something that can be turned into a lifestyle that has a long-term and profound affect? What does brave living really look like?
Checkout these words from scripture:
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9
Here are three things I believe God is telling us here about making brave living a lifestyle.
- Follow God’s Word, No Matter What: The Bible needs to be the thing that guides our life, irregardless of circumstances. This means that we follow God’s Word when others reject it, when the world stands against it, when it is difficult for us, and when we are asked to make considerable sacrifices. This takes a great and sustained amount of bravery! But, as God says, it is by following His Word that we prosper and make the biggest impact on our world.
- Long-term faithfulness: True bravery is not a one-off behavior, but a life-time of choosing to be faithful to God’s Word. Bravery is when we commit to a life-style of truth telling in a world that has entirely de-valued truth. It is committing to sacrificially giving our time and financial gifts to others in an otherwise self-centered world. It is standing up for our belief in God in a world that tends to push faith to the margins. In short, bravery is committing to follow God’s lead in all aspects of our life, regardless of how much the world may stand against us.
- Faith Over Fear: If we are to be brave we must have faith that God is perfectly on our side. We must have faith that God is good and that His Word is true. In short, we must never forget these words: Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. The Lord is indeed with us wherever we go! So, let us go throughout our lives modeling brave living as we passionately and bravely serve the Lord.
