20 Be strong, courageous, and effective. Do not fear or be dismayed. I know that the Eternal God, who is my God, is with you. He will not abandon you or forsake you until you have finished all the work for the temple of the Eternal. Isaiah 61 The VOICE
This morning, while I listened to a devotional, the speaker spoke about being courageous and contagious, and asked listeners to consider what that looks like in their own lives. I was activated in my spirit as I reflected on what courage and contagion look like or could look like in my sphere of influence.
Cambridge dictionary defines courage as the ability to control fear and to be willing to deal with something that is dangerous, difficult, or unpleasant. Contagious is defined as something that moves easily from one person to another. Faith requires courage; expressing and sharing our faith makes it contagious.
Contagious faith has me think of the book of Acts and the spreading of the gospel through the disciples and the partnering of the Holy Spirit. Individuals spread their faith and families, cities, and regions ‘caught’ faith despite persecution, trials, and political pressure. The book of Acts is a demonstration of a courageous and contagious faith.
Courage looks different for each of us. It changes over time. Our age, different life seasons, and growth in the understanding and knowledge of the gospel impact our courage level. Our temperament, character, culture, maturity, and context also play a role in our relationship to courage.
What doesn’t change is the command from God that we be courageous.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Jeremiah 1:9
Our execution of our courage may look different, but we are called to be courageous and spread the gospel. Contagious often represents something negative when it comes to disease or negative feelings. We are well aware of how quickly anger, bitterness, resentment, doubt, and unbelief can spread. I am reminded of the 10 spies during the visit to the promised land and how doubt and disbelief spread rampantly within the community. The book of Acts and the story of the 10 spies demonstrate how contagious faith and unbelief can be in community and the blessings and harm that follow them.
What issues, people, causes, and or situations are causing fear? Are you willing to face them even though there is danger, difficulty, or unpleasantness? How are you controlling your fear when it comes to sharing God’s truth and love with those in your sphere of influence?
For me, lately, my workplace and career have been an area where God is calling me to be courageous. Becoming more visible and sharing the gifts and abilities God has given me with my community requires a courageous faith. Connecting with people who share different values, faith, and convictions and being willing to love them and build relationships with them requires courageous faith. Walking in truth and grace amid uncertainty, hurt, and tragedy requires a courageous faith. When this is done in the power and might of the Holy Spirit, our faith will be contagious. Courageous and contagious faith are necessary for us to do the work we have been called to do.
14 Yet I am so thankful to God, who always marches us to victory under the banner of the Anointed One, and through us He spreads the beautiful fragrance of His knowledge to every corner of the earth. 15 In a turbulent world where people are either dying or being rescued, we are the sweet smell of the Anointed to God our Father. 16 To those who are dying, they smell the stench of death in us. And to those being rescued, we are the unmistakable scent of life. Who is worthy of this calling?
2 Corinthians 2:14-15 The VOICE