A Statement of Courage

"...If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and let him take up his cross, and let him follow me" (Mark 8:35). William Barclay writes, "The honesty of great leaders has always been one of their characteristics. In the days of the Second World War, when Sir Winston Churchill took over the leadership of the country, all that he offered men was 'blood, toil, tears and sweat.' Garibaldi, the great Italian patriot, appealed for recruits in these terms: 'I offer neither pay, nor quarters, nor provisions; I offer hunger, thirst, forced marches, battles and death. Let him who loves his country in his heart, and not with his lips only, follow me.'" And did they follow? Yes, they did. And the rest is history. May I ask you a question? Have you been a believer in Jesus anytime at all and feel somewhat deceived or befuddled? Have you come into the Kingdom of God thinking you would have a superior status, answers to every question about life, comfort and great wealth, or worldly praise? Consider the words of Jesus once again. He calls for submission to His will, and He promises a cross to bear daily. (When Jesus used the term "cross," everyone in the first century knew it meant death.) Before you say, "That's not fair, God!" Think about this. Jesus never asked us to do anything that He wasn't willing to do Himself. He asked us to submit to the will of the Father, over our will. Jesus cried out in anguish, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done" (John 26:42). Jesus died on a cross, despised by all men. If there is no glamour or glitz in following Jesus, then what's in it for me? Glory, honor, and nobility... For example consider this. When King David was in the heat of battle and thirsted for water, several of his lieutenants risked their lives to get him water. When they returned with the water, David would not drink it, but poured it on the ground. Why? Because more important to him than quenching his thirst was his care and concern for all his men. If they couldn't drink water, neither would he. This is true honor. Laying down your life to serve God may not be the most glamorous thing to do but then again, neither is it a shallow, superficial, or a selfish thing. It is a life calling of virtue. And only virtue can win the hearts of men, reaping the rewards of God in this life and the next one to come. I conclude this devotion with this hopeful word of encouragement. On August 2, 1944, Churchill stood in the House of Commons and spoke these words to a war ravaged nation that had recently witnesses the success of Normandy. "Let us go on then to battle on every front...bear with unflinching fortitude whatever evils and blows we may receive. Drive on through the storm, now that it reaches its fury, with the same singleness of purpose and inflexibility of resolve as we showed to the world when we were all alone." May we stay the course in faith always for all that glitters is not gold; however, the crown that awaits us is. Pastor T.