Courage Under Fire

Saturday November 29, 2014

Nehemiah was grieved at the report of the dire state of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:3). He shared God´s heart for the holy city, but could do nothing about it in his position as a cupbearer for the king in distant Susa. Then his opportunity to make a difference came in a most unexpected way: by risking his life in making a request of the king (vv. 4-5). A cupbearer wasn´t even permitted to express unhappiness on his face, let alone describe his grief because of his state of his distant home. To say anything was to court death. But Nehemiah did.

God often places His servants in life-threatening positions. For instance consider Queen Esther´s life- threatening risk (Esther 4:11). Gideon went into battle with just 300 men against a vast army (Judges 7:7). Surely the boy David had no chance against the giant Goliath! (1 Samuel 17:4, 33). Time and again those chosen by God were placed in seemingly impossible situations, and God told them (as He commanded Joshua) "Be strong and courageous!" (Joshua 1:9).

The exemplary responses of the heroes of the faith prove to be a challenging lesson for all of us. Esther said "Though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die" (Esther 4:16). David had such great trust in his God that he rebuked Goliath as they met on the battlefield, telling Him, "Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head" (1 Samuel 17:46).

God still might ask you today to risk it all for Him, but the wonderful promise is that He will accomplish the task. He will also equip you with the courage you need to stand. "Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9) - Russell Fralick

Read
Nehemiah 2:1-9
And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. Therefore the king said to me, "Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart." Then I became dreadfully afraid, and said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' tomb, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?"
Then the king said to me, "What do you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tomb, that I may rebuild it."
So the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), "How long will your journey be? And when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me ; and I set him a time.
Furthermore I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king´s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy." And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.
Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River, and gave them the king´s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.

Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints - and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.

Question to Ponder
What difficult thing is God calling you to do? 
How can courage - based in your faith in God and His Word - provide what you need to move forward?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Sept - Nov 2014 issue