Lessons in Courage

I wonder what opportunities will come your way between now and the end of 2021. One thing I have learned in the ministry is that every opportunity that comes your way will require you to take a step of courage. There are many illustrations of this in the Bible. One that stands out to me is Abraham.

Hebrews 11:8-10, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.  For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

In Hebrews 11, we find an inspiring list of people who, “By faith...” followed the Lord. In that list is the reference to the man, Abraham. Here is a man who came to a point of fully trusting God by following His lead. Jesus said, “If any man come after me, let him deny himself and follow me.”  To the disciples, he said, “Follow me.” To the rich young socialite, he said, “Sell, everything you have and give to the poor, then come, follow me.”

TWO LESSONS I’VE LEARNED

1. God's call will always bring with it a demand for us to release something to Him.

Abraham had lived in the same place for 75 years. He was just getting ready to apply for Social Security and kickback when God tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Follow me...I have new territory for you to possess.” In order for you to move into a new season or a new opportunity, you will need to take the courageous step of releasing something. It may require a schedule change, an adjustment in your priorities, or perhaps even an old paradigm.  It will take courage, but you’ll find the rewards great.

2. God's call will always bring with it the promise of new possibilities.

Abraham could not see the incredible range of God’s plan for his life. Neither can we! But when we follow the Lord, we never know the full impact. The decisions, even as leaders, make a greater impact than we could ever dream. A life of faith will require us to respond to the leading of the Lord. “Where He leads, I will follow...”  It is my conviction, that any sacrifice we may think we have to make to follow the Lord will pale with the compensation we will receive from the Lord.