COURAGE & COWARDICE

 

Courage & Cowardice

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 Jesus’s disciples went from cowardice after Christ’s death and burial to courage after the baptismal outpouring of the Spirit upon His Church. Cowardice? ‘Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you”’ (John 20:19; see also 26). Courage? ‘So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard”’ (Acts 4:18-20).

It is true that ‘The better part of valour is discretion’ (William Shakespeare) and that ‘Fools rush in where angels fear to tread’ (Alexander Pope). However, as Christians we must never be cowardly but rather courageous with the gospel. ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes’ (Rom. 1:16a). As Jesus says, ‘For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels’ (Luke 9:26).

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To be sure, some Christians are timider than others, just as some are more gifted at articulating the Christian message than others. However, as a Christian ‘Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect’ (1 Pet. 3:15). We see this illustrated in the following, ‘Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well”’ (Luke 8:43-50).

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        Jesus asked the trembling woman to make a public profession of faith. As difficult as it was for her, at the Lord’s request, she went from cowardice to courage. Every Christian today learns ‘that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame”’ (Rom. 10:9-11).

Is it cowardice or courage with you? If it is cowardice, then humbly ask the Lord to give you courage to confess, to make your profession of faith before others. The woman with the blood issue wanted to remain hidden in the crowd. Yes, this is the same reason some Christians attend churches with large congregations. But, just as Jesus requested the lady to make her public profession of her faith in Him, so He requires the same of you and me. Courage encourages courage. That woman did as the Lord bid and no longer hid. And may her courage help change your and my cowardice to courage!