Do You Want To Live With BELIEVER BRAVERY?

Everyone wants to be brave, right? Of course. ESPECIALLY Christians. We want to live with the bravery of Paul and Peter and, of course, JESUS. But the most common approach to that end is TRANSACTIONAL BRAVERY—summoning the strength to act brave in a specific way for a specific situation.
  
But BELIEVER BRAVERY comes from CAPITAL B Belief–believing 100% that God is in control and we are not. With this kind of belief, bravery jumps out naturally and spontaneously because it resides inside us.
  
BELIEVER BRAVERY is being brave enough to say and do what is right no matter what the circumstances are or the consequences of that behavior might be. All because we believe with a CAPITAL B that God has promised–on the blood he shed on Calvary–to protect, bless, and sanctify us.
  
BELIEVER BRAVERY may produce physical or emotional pain. But believing with a CAPITAL B that God is in control sends us into life’s battle with Jesus’ sword of bravery. We go into that battle not only to persevere and surmount the challenges of life, but to proclaim the truth of Christ and spread his Good News against the barriers God tells us will always be in the way of achieving that goal:
  
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.” Matthew 24:9
  
BELIEVER BRAVERY is what fuels a Christian’s life on earth. Living without it is disrespecting and dishonoring Christ. Here’s how Martin Luther put it:
  
If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. (Standing Firm: “Reclaiming Christian Faith in Times of Controversy” 1996.)
  
BELIEVER BRAVERY is what God wants his children to exhibit in two ways: TRUST: “Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” 2 Corinthians 3:12; and STRENGTH: “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:14
  
I want to live with BELIEVER BRAVERY every day. That’s why I ask God to help me see that it will not come under my own power trying to be brave. That it will only come from me having CAPITAL B BELIEF in him and his promises.
  
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
  
If you were tested for your level of BELIEVER BRAVERY, how would you score?
  
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31