A Question Of Courage

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/2f8pgo

Most of us have lived long enough to have disappointed someone we love. I don’t think we intend to let them down, but when we do, we feel terrible about it—and we should. Take, for example, the teenage boy who has given his word that he will never be involved with drinking alcohol and then has to face his father who comes to bail him out of jail for drunk driving. The young man probably made his commitment in faith that he would keep it, but lacked the courage and will to see it become a reality.

Making a commitment to someone and then not keeping it not only lets them down but also show us to be less than what we should be. Perhaps we lacked the ability to make good on our commitment. But mostly we lack the courage and will to do what we have promised to do.

Courage is a main ingredient in commitment. Making a promise is an empty exercise unless we are ready to stand and defend that promise with actions.

Husbands and wives make promises, or vows, to one another that they fully intend to keep for a lifetime. Why is it then that they so often will abandon those promises? Are they no longer capable of loving, cherishing, honoring? Or do they lack the courage to stand by a mate when health turns to sickness and prosperity turns to poverty? Courage is a part of commitment.

John’s account of Peter’s denials of Jesus give some insight into how courage plays into our commitment. Notice the bravery in Peter’s words in this first reading from John 13:36-38.

Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

Peter has offered to die in order to serve his Lord. But Jesus knew that his commitment would not be met. Instead of the heroic disciple that he promised to be, Peter became the coward that Jesus predicted he would be.

Notice the readings of the denials of Peter from John 18:15-17 and 25-27.

And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”

Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not!” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

Now, it is bad enough that Peter denied the Lord. But the real pain for Peter came in Luke’s account of the last denial. Notice what happens here in Luke 22:61.

And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

Peter loved Jesus. There can be no denial of that. But Peter’s good intentions to defend Jesus and even die for him fell short as his courage failed to materialize. Perhaps he was dismayed by Jesus rebuking him for pulling out his sword to defend Him in the garden.

It is difficult to be consistent and courageous in all situations we face. The main thing is to remember that even when we stumble and fall we can always get back up and get right with God.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we not be afraid to make commitments in our lives and to our Lord. But may we also not forget to fortify our strength so as to be better equipped to carry out those commitments we make.

Our thought for the day: “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage.” Dale Carnegie

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.