Courageous

Nº 257

weekly devotions to refresh your soul by Dr. Dan Bolin - July 4, 2023

The fear of the Lord tends to take away all other fears… This is the secret of Christian courage and boldness. - Sinclair Ferguson

George Read, a representative from Delaware to the Second Continental Congress, was the only person to vote against secession from England on July 2, 1776, yet sign the Declaration of Independence a few days later.

By signing the Declaration, he risked his life and fortune to align himself with a cause with which he had deep personal reservations.

The Apostle Thomas found himself in a similar predicament. Jesus’ life was threatened by the religious and political power brokers in Jerusalem. Jesus remained relatively safe while He stayed in the countryside, out of harm’s way.

Ministering by the Jordan River, Jesus was asked to go to Bethany, near Jerusalem, to help his friend Lazarus. When Jesus announced His intent to go, Thomas resigned himself to the journey and said, “Let us go also, that we may die with him.” (John 11:16)

Thomas gets a bad rap for expressing what the others were thinking. To his credit, he was willing to risk his life to follow Jesus on a dangerous mission.

Like George Read and Thomas, sometimes we need the courage to set aside our personal misgivings and make a dangerous commitment. Staying close to Jesus is the only place of safety and true independence.

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc