Courage to Stand for Jesus

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Arthur Jackson wrote today's reading, and he titled it Courage to Stand for Jesus. Polycarp's response can be an inspiration for us when we face extreme trial because of our faith in Jesus, our King. In John 13, just hours before Jesus' death, Peter boldly pledged his allegiance to Christ, saying, I will lay down my life for you. Jesus, who knew Peter better than Peter knew himself, replied, Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times. However, after Jesus' resurrection, the same one who denied him began to serve him courageously and would eventually glorify him through his own death. Are you a polycarp or a peter? Most of us, if we're honest, are more of a peter with a courage outage, a failure to speak or act honorably as a believer in Jesus.

Such occasions, whether in a classroom, boardroom, or break room, need not indelibly define us. When those failures occur, we must prayerfully dust ourselves off and turn to Jesus, the one who died for us and lives for us. He'll help us to be faithful to him and courageously live for him daily in difficult places. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from John chapter 13 verses 36 through 38 and chapter 21 verses 18 through 19. Simon Peter asked him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus replied, Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later. Peter asked, Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you. Then Jesus answered, Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times. Now chapter 21 verses 18 through 19. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you dressed yourself and went where you wanted.

But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, Follow me. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, forgive us when we shrink back in fear and betray you by our words or actions. Would you fill us with your strength to live boldly as believers in Jesus? Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen.