Contagious Courage

 Only God could have put the dangerous, risky, and improbable plan into motion. Two enemy armies were camped opposite each other with a mountain in between. War seemed inevitable. Both sides waited for the marching orders. 

That is when the second in command did an outlandishly brave thing. He left the safety of his army and took one other to scout the enemy camp. He had more in mind than scouting. Consider this a special force secret operation mission. He and his companion snaked their way through mountain crevices. It did not take long before they encountered enemy forces. In a courageous act, they attacked the enemy forces and killed about two dozen soldiers. Nobody could have foreseen what happened next. 

The enemy forces saw what happened and speculated the other army was invading through the mountain. The army panicked and  fled. Confusing chaos ensued. A lookout from the good guy's army saw the enemy fleeing and announced it to the commander of the forces. They took out in hot pursuit. Local men who had been in hiding in fear of the raiders of a hostile army, came out of hiding and joined the army in pursuit of their enemy. In the end, the enemy forces were defeated. It all started with two men taking a bold step of courage. 

Courage can be contagious. So can cowardice. The above story is true. You can read about the whole thing in I Samuel 14. Jonathan and his armor bearer took a courageous step that inspired the army of Israel and other men who had been in hiding for fear of the Philistines. Courage can do that. It can promote courage in others. Inspire them to take on risky assignments. 

I think we are prone to cowardice. It is part of the human nature. Joshua must have been because God told him repeatedly not to fear and to have good courage. [Joshua 1:9] There are not many people in our circles inspiring courage. We hear a lot of doubters. Naysayers abound. The cowards retreat in fear. Where are those who inspire courage. Where are the bold, the risk takes, the adventurers, and the brave? 

I know there are courageous soldiers who brave danger to fight for freedom and to protect their fellow soldiers. There are those commanders who inspire courage in their troops no matter the odds of the mission. There are soldiers who put their lives on the line to save a comrade. These soldiers live with risk and danger daily on battlefields. 

There are brave leaders who lead their countries in times of crisis and peril. History tells their tales. They looked danger in the eye and with a calm hand and a steady voice they rallied their nations to noble causes. People like Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt. People like Ronald Reagan. 

There are certain pastors and preachers who have boldly stood for the cause of God and inspired followers of Jesus to kingdom of God expansion exploits. Their bold faith inspired courageous faith in others. I think about people like William Booth, who founded the Salvation Army. People like David Wilkerson who boldly invaded the enemy territory of gang littered streets of New York City. He bravely labored and loved many of those gang members to Jesus and started Teen Challenge. I think of Louie Giglio who started a world wide movement for college aged adults called Passion. Bob Pierce saw a world in need and courageously stepped in faith and founded Samaritan's Purse. These courageous leaders motivated the masses to join their causes. Bill Bright started Campus Crusade for Christ to evangelize college campuses which became a huge movement. 

The question to consider today is whether we live as a coward or a courageous follower of Jesus? Either is contagious with those around us. May we be people who inspire courage and not live in timidity. God did not give us a spirit of fear. [II Tim 1:7] He is our reason to have courage. [Is 41:10] May that courage be contagious with the army of God. I don't know of a bolder more courageous verses in the Bible than [Matt 28:19-20]. The courageous challenge is to reach the world. To go beyond our comfort and security. To financially support those called to go. To be willing to go ourselves to the hard places to be light in the darkness. God could start an entire movement with just one bold courageous faith step. Listen to God. Clarify His call. Take a deep breath. Ignore fear. Step. Let the adventure begin through you.