Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

COURAGE?

January 24, 2011

Daniel in the Lion's Den; Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and the fiery furnace; David, Goliath, a lion, and a bear; Moses before Pharaoh. These courageous men and others like them are throughout the Bible. Are these stories of courage, or something more important?

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth.
                                                   - 2 Timothy 4:18 TNIV

Paul is up against it. His life is on the line for his ministry and witness in behalf of Christ. The people he challenges have the power to destroy him, and he knows it. Yet, he continues in faithfulness. Is this courage? Maybe. But in this witness and so many others like I already noted, he’s really trusting God's providence no matter what happens. The issue is not so much courage, but the issue is will he trust God no matter what. God delivered Paul from the lion's mouth. It's about Paul trusting God.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in Daniel 3, tell the most powerful king on earth, Nebuchadnezzar, "If the God we serve is able to deliver us, then he will deliver us from the blazing furnace and from your majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods..." Not so much guts, but trust. Trust no matter what!

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson