It takes courage to win the battles of life.
June 6, 1944, in one of the most ambitious and strategic invasions in world history, 160,000 courageous Allied troops threw themselves against a 50-mile stretch of heavily fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy. It was brutal - war at its worst and its finest.
General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by the dawn of June 7, the Allies had gained a foothold in Nazi-held territories. Within a week the war had turned.
The D-Day cost was high - more than 10,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded – German casualties were even higher. But the result was the armies of freedom began their unstoppable march across Europe to defeat Hitler. Within a year all of Europe was free.
Nothing in this life comes without cost ... or without courage.
Courage is the willingness to stand for truth – regardless of what others do, or what the outcome may be.
It takes courage to make Godly decisions, plant churches, reach your neighbors, run a Godly business, lead your family, be faithful – to be a man of God. It takes courage.
Men who walk with Jesus become men of courage.
In Acts 4:13 Luke records this astonishing observation by the secular leaders, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (NIV)
It takes courage to live the way you know God desires you to live.
That’s why you and I are reaching out to men around the world – to build strong men, strong families, and strong churches. Churches that have the courage to stand for truth. Men who have the courage to lead with humility. Families with a DNA of courage!
Where do we find these men? They are the men around us. They are you.
Jesus took ordinary men and made them into men of great moral courage. Jesus built men with guts and grit. And, empowered by the Holy Spirit – we are the men of Acts 4 today.
That’s why we do this ministry to men. To build in us – to build in other men – the moral courage to stand strong in the middle of cultural chaos.
Courage comes from time with Jesus. Mark that on your planning for today, tomorrow, and every day.
I’m praying Acts 4:29 over you right now: “And now, Lord, observe the threats of this chaotic cancel culture and grant to your men, your servants, your warriors the full freedom to declare the message of Jesus fearlessly!” (Author’s paraphrase)
Changing the world one man at a time.
Courage looks like this
