Courage can be defined as “the ability to do what is right even when we don’t have to.” Embedded in courage is conviction — the issues of the heart that one will live by and die for. Convictions are the mainsprings of action, the driving powers of being, the embodiment of one’s life.
Martin Luther King Jr. often told his children, “If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.” When we show our courage, we live out our convictions, as we say no to those things that are wrong and yes to those things that are right.
The opposite of courage is not cowardice but conformity. It is often stated as, “Be one of the boys/girls”; “Go along with the crowd”; “Come on, everyone is doing it.”
In some situations we can’t always walk away. We are, therefore, at times forced to take a stand. At those pivotal moments, surrounded by enemies, we show the crowd who we are and whom we serve. For certain, The courageous for century’s Paul the Apostle, Author of some two-thirds of the new Testament experienced this in his lengthy missionary journeys, ultimately concluding with his execution of Rome for his faith and beliefs. He declared:
“We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously … but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.”
(1 Thessalonians 2:2)
Another notable, later, historical giant, Martin Luther, the Reformer, stood at the door of the Wittenberg Chapel, nailing up his ninety-five theses exposing the heresy and hypocrisy of people having to pay the church for their sins to be forgiven. At the Diet of Worms on April 18, 1521, he stated, “Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”
Sometimes in different ways we are forced to say the same thing. Here I stand. I can do no other.
From Devotional for Men
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