The
Lord is for me; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 118:6. See
also Heb. 13:5-6)
I
read that scripture-–especially the Hebrews 13:5-6 incarnation-–and smile. Asking "what can man do to me?" is
kind of like asking for it, isn't it? Daring them to "bring it on."
The
answer of course is that man can do a great deal to you. But the bottom
line—and the point of the scripture—is that ultimately, with God being
"for me," it does not matter.
Nothing
matters so much as our being one with the heavenly Father.
Can
we talk about courage? This is as rare as plutonium these days, particularly
among the very people who should demonstrate it most readily, followers of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Only
two people in the church need courage: the one in the pulpit and the one in the
pew.
The
messenger of God in the pulpit needs courage for a thousand reasons. Here are
10:
1.
To preach the whole counsel of God no matter who may disapprove—and to sweeten
that preaching when his flesh is involved and wants to "lower the
boom" on certain people. Graciousness takes courage also.
Further
Reading:
