Daily Hope with Rick Warren 7th November 2024, Thursday Devotional Message
Your Courage Is Contagious
By Rick Warren
“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.” Daniel 6:26 (NIV)
It’s tough sometimes to stand up for what you know God wants and expects when others ridicule your faith.
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But when you stand up when everyone else is sitting down, you’ll draw unbelievers to God.
That’s because courage is contagious. You never know how many people will join you until you courageously step out in faith.
Most people are waiting for a leader to show some courage. They’re waiting for someone to demonstrate faith. The faith and courage of one person can ignite it in others.
This was true in Daniel’s life. When Daniel bravely stood up for God and publicly prayed to the true God (instead of worshipping King Darius), he got tossed into a den of hungry lions. But as we’ve seen in recent devotionals, God rescued Daniel.
And King Darius took notice.
The Bible says of the pagan king: “Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: ‘May you prosper greatly! I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.’ So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian” (Daniel 6:25-28 NIV).
Pagan kings don’t issue decrees like that. It’s obvious that Darius became a follower of the one true God. Daniel showed courage and stood up for God in the midst of a very difficult situation. And Daniel’s witness for God led to Darius’ decision to follow God.
Your courage may benefit you, like it did for Daniel. But it’s not just for your own good.
When you stand up for God, wherever you are, other people will take notice. God will use your courage to help others respond with courage in their own trials.
Courage—real, God-honoring courage—draws people to God.
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