Lessons Learned from My Sickness Part 39: Courage
By Pastor Ronny Luces
I always remember this word whenever I reflect on the meaning of Lent.
It was because of Christ’s courage to face arrest, torture, crucifixion and death that Lent happened.
What is courage?
Karl Barth said, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”
C. Rickenbakker said, “Courage is doing what you are afraid to do.”
Christ was courageous to face death through his faith, prayer and his love for mankind.
I had been wondering about the many faces and features of courage. Most of the popular images of courage presented to us have to do with men fighting on a battlefield.
They have something to do with warfare, bloodshed and violence. But I don’t think courage can be capsulized in that gory description.
Courage is more than that.
From my experience, courage is pictured in a family facing or dealing with a difficult trial like terminal cancer. They are facing this trial strongly and squarely.
Courage is also likened to a single parent struggling to raise a family. Or a single person who chooses purity over promiscuity, an engaged couple who wait until the right time, however, the world says, go ahead, and an employee who sees something wrong, and decided to blow the whistle, etc.
Courage from these descriptions mean, don’t be afraid, don’t give up, don’t be intimidated, and don’t lose heart.
These paradigms of courage continue to inspire me to face my own test of faith head-on.
In the Bible, it is interesting to note that there were lots of instances when God said, “Fear not.”
According to some commentaries, there were 365 “fear not” in the bible.
That means one “fear not” for every day of the year. Have a blessed season of Lent!
Posted on FB: Tuesday, 1 April 2015 at 5:33 PM
About the Author
Rev. Ronny Luces was the Minister for Administration and Community Service of the Jaro Evangelical Church (JEC), Iloilo City, Philipines. He and his wife, Martha have been with JEC’s ministry since 1994.
Pastor Ronny graduated from Central Philippine University College of Theology in 1985 and was pastor of several Baptist churches.
In January 2015, after tests and two long hospital confinements, Pastor Ronny got the word he had lung cancer. He underwent chemotherapy.
Praying for healing and going through all the medical processes, Pastor Ronny wrote his reflections “Lessons Learned from My Sickness.” In July 2015, he passed away.
May Pastor Ronny’s series of reflections and meditations strengthen your hope and faith as you go through your own life’s battles.
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