Have courage & wisdom

John 16:32–33 “Behold, an hour is coming—and has come—that you will be scattered each one to his own home, and you will leave me alone. And I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have said these things to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction, but have courage! I have conquered the world.””

As Jesus knew his betrayal and crucifixion were near, he spoke plainly to his disciples. He did away with parables and allusions, and told his disciples that they would abandon him and leave him alone, yet he wanted to give them peace, he wanted to give them hope, he wanted them to take courage, because he had conquered this world, he took the authority that Lucifer had on this earth, and he was about to conquer, death and Hades (or the underworld).

As Jesus encouraged his disciples to”have courage”, so I want to encourage you that are here today, our first-responders in Van Nuys; to have courage.

The word courage as we understand it in English is a French word that originally came about around 1300 AD.

1300, from O.Fr. corage (12c., Mod.Fr. courage) "heart, innermost feelings; temper," from V.L. *coraticum (cf. It. coraggio, Sp. coraje), from L. cor "heart," which remains a common metaphor for inner strength. In M.E., used broadly for "what is in one's mind or thoughts," hence "bravery,"

The roots of the word courage go back further though, as the typical Roman soldier wore a two-piece armor set that covered the front and back of the soldier, it was called the “cuirass”, it it meant to meant the core of the soldier, his most vital of organs, the heart, we still have traces of it today in the Spanish word for heart, Corazon. In the late Roman Empire, the Roman writer Vegetius though, tells us of time where discipline had become so slack that the soldiers would no longer wear the heavy piece of armor that protected their most vital organs, because it was deemed too heavy, cumbersome, too old-fashioned.

Yet, we have with us today, those who have chosen to serve and protect even when it is not the popular thing to do, courage is required when all around you are running away from the threat, you our first responders run towards the threat. You show up on people’s worst day, courage is required for that one day, that one time.

Kind of like my helmet here, this bicycle helmet is 2 years old, I know that because 2 years as I was descending on the valley side of Coldwater Canyon, I slowed down to make a right turn on a side street where the gutter had running water through it, yet water had been running though it for such a long time that moss had grown in the gutter, so as I made that turn, down I went, badly bruising my right hip and not noticing though that the helmet that I wore, the helmet that looks bulky and cumbersome, was dented where my head had hit the floor. So, I had to go and buy a new helmet, this helmet, this cumbersome helmet, because that one day happened.

As we talk and think about courage, we must also think about another word, wisdom. In the Old Testament, the book of Proverbs tells us this:

Proverbs 2:1–8 “My child, if you will receive my sayings, and hide my commands with you, in order to incline your ear toward wisdom, then you shall apply your heart to understanding. For if you cry out for understanding, if you lift your voice for insight, if you seek her like silver and search her out like treasure, then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and the knowledge of God you will find. For Yahweh will give wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. For the upright, he stores sound judgment, a shield for those who walk uprightly, in order to guard paths of justice and keep the way of his faithful ones.”

On the side of each police car that I see, there is a motto, that says, “to protect and to serve”. Well, we know that to protect requires courage, yet Jesus said this to his disciples as they were arguing about who was the greatest, “And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.” Luke 22:24-26

To serve, the other side of the coin. Today, the other side of courage that I am addressing is wisdom. Having wisdom, helps us to see the entire forest, not just the trees that are in front of us. Wisdom gives insight into people’s motives, wisdom helps us to see the bigger picture. Our own wisdom is flawed at best, when we are younger, we don’t mind kicking the hornets nest, when we gain wisdom, we understand what happens when we kick the hornets nest. In troublous and confusing times like today, courage and wisdom are needed. Jesus told his disciples, “have courage” courage it seems is in us, yet wisdom, true wisdom, comes from God. Jesus knew this, after Jesus rose from the dead, he told Peter, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” John 21:17-19

Wisdom, begins to understand that it is not all about me and what I want. Wisdom says, “not my will, but thy will be done.”

Prayer:

I ask today, that Jesus the Lord of all would give you courage and wisdom. As you answer the calls that no one wants to answer, as you go to the places that no one wants to go, as you arrive on someone’s worst day; I ask that the Lord would give you courage when courage is required and I ask that the Lord would give you wisdom, when wisdom is required. I also ask, that the Lord would give you understanding to know the how and the when of this.

In Jesus name, I pray this.