Courage Is Contagious

In review of Philippians 1:14 Paul says, “Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message fearlessly.” (HCSB)

When I speak fearlessly for Christ or live faithfully for him during difficult situations, I encourage others to do the same. Therefore, I want to strive to be an encouragement by the way I live and handle the situations I face.

God wants me to have courage and stand up for his ways when everyone else sits down. But it’s not just for my own good. It’s for the good of others, too.

When I stand up publicly for what God wants, I’ll encourage other believers. When I stand up for God, other people will follow.

Courage is contagious. I never know how many people will join me until I courageously step out in faith.

Most people are waiting for a leader to show some courage. They’re waiting for someone like me to demonstrate some faith.

Paul writes about this in Philippians 1:14: “Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message fearlessly” (HCSB).

Paul’s imprisonment for the Gospel led to others demonstrating more boldness.

God will use my courage, too, to help others respond with courage.

In summary, others gained confidence from Paul's imprisonment and dared even more to speak the message fearlessly based on his example. When I speak fearlessly for Christ or live faithfully for him during difficult situations, I too can encourage others. For it’s not just for my own good. but for the good of others. When I stand up publicly for what God wants, I’ll encourage others. When I stand up for God, others will follow. Courage is contagious and most are waiting for a leader or someone they trust to show some courage. They’re waiting for someone like me to demonstrate some faith. 

God will use my courage, to help others respond in kind. So I will strive to be an encouragement by the way I live and handle the situations I face. Father, I pray that with the help of the Holy Spirit to respond to my situation with courage and faith in you. I pray for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. I ask these things through your Son Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.

I Am Christ’s Ambassador

In review of 2 Corinthians 5:17 it says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

Bottom Line:

Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The old has gone, the new is here!

What this means to me:

When I became a follower of Christ, I became a new person, where my old life has gone and a new life has begun.

Today's verse comes from 2 Corinthians 5 where Paul is telling us how we are now God's ambassadors. As such, Christ's love should control us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

So we are to stop evaluating others from a human point of view. Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

All of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. God has now given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "come back to God!"  For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Knowing God's perfection and that he will judge everyone's actions should spur me to good deeds, to what pleases our God. The fear of the Lord also frees me from all of life's anxieties and worries. Knowing that God is "for me" can keep me unafraid of earthly powers; people, governments, or the forces of nature. God will care for me. The fear of God gives me uncommon courage in the face of life's troubles.

Everything that I do should be to honor God, letting the fear of the lord motivate me, and control my actions. Jesus willingly "died for everyone." Because Christ died for me, I am also dead to my old life. So like Paul, I should no longer live to please myself; rather I should spend time pleasing Christ.

As a Christian, I am a brand-new person on the inside. The Holy Spirit has given me new life, and I'm no longer the same anymore. I am not reformed, rehabilitate, or reeducated, I am re-created (new creation), living in vital union with Christ.

Because I have been reconciled to God, I have the privilege of encouraging others to do the same, and thus I am one who has the "task of reconciling people to him." As a believer, I am Christ's ambassadors, sent with his message of reconciliation to the world. An ambassador of reconciliation has an important responsibility. We dare not take this responsibility lightly. Today I should consider how well I'm fulfilling my commission as Christ's ambassador?

When I trusted in Christ, I made an exchange: He took my sin and made me right with God. My sin was laid on Christ at his crucifixion. His righteousness was given to me at my conversion. This is what Christians mean by Christ's atonement for sin. In the world bartering works only when two people exchange goods of relatively equal value. But God offers to trade his righteousness for our sin, something of immeasurable worth for something completely worthless. How grateful should I be for his kindness to me.

Not So Much What I Do, But Why I Do It

In review of Matthew 5:16 it says, “Let your light so shine before man, that they may see your good works and glorify you Father in heaven.”

Bottom Line:

Shine in all you do. Let others see Him in all you do.

What this means to me:

Let the light I have been given shine in all I do. Let it be an example that will make those around me help see and praise the Heavenly Father.

Today’s passage in Matthew 15 comes from a section where Jesus is teaching about salt and light. He tells me that I am the salt of the earth. However, what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can it be made salty again? No, it would be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

Therefore am the light of the world. Much like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead a lamp is place where it can give light to those around it. So, in the same way, let my good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise my heavenly father.

If I make no effort to affect the world around me, I am of little value to God. If I am too much like the world, then I'm worthless. I should not blend in with everyone else. Instead, I should affect others positively, just a seasoning brings out the best flavor in food.

If I live for Christ, I will glow like a light, showing others what Christ is like. I hide my light by:

. being quiet when I should speak

. going along with the crowd

. denying the light

. letting sin dim my light

. not explaining my light to others

. ignoring the needs of others

Rather, I should be a beacon of truth and not shut my light off from the rest of the world.

One secret of success is to do what you know how to do! God gave me (each of us) a talent. If I use my talent and become the best at that one thing, I’ll find success!  And it is His desire that I experience success in every area of my life.

But while enjoying success, I need to keep in mind that God doesn’t just look at what I do; He looks at why I do it. Everything I say and do should be for His glory, not for mine. When I glorify God, I shine the light on the Kingdom, not on myself. Then people will be drawn to God, wanting to know more about Him.

I am blessed so that I can be a blessing! Great success can be mine if I will focus on doing one thing and doing it to the very best of my ability. Aim high and never given in to self-doubt. God want me to be a shining beacon of His love to those around you, representing Him by doing all things with excellence.

He created me to bring Him glory. Today I will consider what I’m doing with my time and talents that glorifies the King.

Being an Example by Learning to Forgive

In review of Matthew 6:14 it says, “If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you.”

Bottom Line:

Forgive and you will be forgiven.

What this means to me:

God has and will forgive me, therefore I will show the same forgiveness to others.

Today’s verse from Matthew tells me to forgive those who has sinned against me, then my heavenly Father will forgive me. The verse just after this says, “But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Jesus is giving me a startling warning about forgiveness. If I refuse to forgive others, God will also refuse to forgive me. When I don't forgive, I'm denying our common grounds as sinners in need of God's forgiveness. God's forgiveness of sin is not the direct result of my forgiving others, but it is based on realizing what forgiveness means. While It is easy to ask God for forgiveness, it is often difficult to grant it to others. Whenever I ask God to forgive me, I should consider if I have forgiven those who have wronged me.

What I’m realizing is that my forgiveness and restoration should be a distinguishing mark of my love for the Lord. The world around me will likely always be bent on punishment and further disgrace when someone fails. However I am called to react differently, to forgive as I have been forgiven, and to seek to serve.

I should consider what I’m doing to show that I belong to Christ. Am I leading by example? Am I turning the other cheek when I’m mistreated or am I throwing a fit because of something done to me. If I’m not living as Christ did, God cannot use me. He only uses servants. I am His salt.  

I’m reminded this morning that my forgiving is setting an example. God wants me to mimic his character and He has forgiven me greatly for my wrong doings. I need to remember this and forgive others.