Church, Courage.

      Many expressions have been used to define the meaning of the word courage: "strength of will in face of danger, suffering; bravery; daring; perseverance... motivation." (Moderno Dicionário Enciclopédico Brasileiro, 9th edition, page 215).
     In our society, this word began to have a very expressive meaning. There are many people that are constantly trying to show the others their courage through a hasty search for self-assurance, independence and self-sufficiency, even if it is necessary to use physical strength to achieve this goal. Men and women that due to this bravery, face obstacles that are much bigger than their physical, psychological and emotional limits, willing to take the risk and pay for the coming failure. People decide as if their lives were a game, a lottery, without realizing that their attitudes bring consequences; young people that try a different college, a new relationship, dating different people, choosing a different career, a different life... searching for happiness.
     Although, when dealing with Israel's sins, God said He would make the land groan above men "as a wagon groans that is loaded with sheaves. Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself: neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself. And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day. The Lord God has spoken." (Amos 2.13-16). And also when Hezekiah and Isaiah cried out in prayer to God on heaven (2 Chr. 32.7-8), "and the Lord sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword." (2 Chr. 32.21).
     Therefore, what is the meaning of courage to God?
     The answer is in the book of Joshua, when the Lord told him: "Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that though mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest." (Josh. 1.6-7).
     In this passage of the Scriptures, God asked Joshua to be of a good courage to obey His commandments. Far from any natural bravery - physical or psychological - that is based on overcoming human being limits, taking the risk of failure. God asked Joshua to have the courage to trust Him. That's why, to the Christian, courage is to be absolutely positive that by obeying God's Word, victory is for sure.
     In order to take Israel to Canaan, the Promised Land, Joshua would have to obey all of Father's commandments. I mean, to reach spiritual abundance and material needs fulfillment, we must go through God's path - which He has already prepared - with an obedient life. There is no other secret for David's success in face of Goliath (1 Sam. 17.45-47) or to Israel's deliverance from Egypt once "on the morrow after the Passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn" (Num. 33:3-4) for they believed in the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey and left Egypt (Exod. 3.8).
     This is God's challenge to the Church: that we have the courage to obey Him. God looks for men and women that are brave enough to have a saintly life in face of this world, to say 'no' to sin, bad influences and conversations - to all that may sadden His Spirit. God warned Israel not to make covenant with other peoples, neither to let them live among Israel, for He feared His people would sin against Him (Exod. 23.32-33; Deut. 31.3-6). Joshua was a winner because he did all God had told him to (Judg. 10.24-27).
       It is time to search for a bigger commitment with God so the world may find out that our courage is based on Jesus' loyalty, for we are sure that "He will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will" (1 John 5.14). Church: courage!

Christian Lo Iacono