You Got to Have Courage 2

Remember the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz.  Even in our times of fear, we must press on and just as the lion said, “It takes Courage”.

Acts 21:31-36 NASB While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.  (32)  At once he took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.  (33)  Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done.  (34)  But among the crowd, some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.  (35)  When he got to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob; (36) for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting, "Away with him!"

Courage is revealed in conflict.  Paul came into Jerusalem and kept the traditional cleansing.  After seven days they went into the Temple.  Someone from Ephesus was there and stirred up the crowd.  This turned into and mob.  They literally drug Paul outside and kicked and beat him.  They intended to kill him.

The Roman Commander came to see what was going on.  He thought Paul was an Egyptian who had escaped the Roman soldiers after he and his men had killed a great number of the Roman Army.  The Roman Commander took Paul into custody.  Paul then told the commander that he was not an Egyptian.

Paul asked him if he could speak to the crowd.  Instead of running from the conflict, Paul boldly addressed it.  Even when this crowd was crying kill him he wanted to tell them about Jesus.

Many times, we spend a huge amount of energy trying to avoid conflict.  Often the sad reality is we lack the courage to face the conflicts.  We should always rely on Jesus to give the strength to come through our conflicts in a Christian way that reflects Jesus’ love and mercy. 

Deuteronomy 31:6  "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you."