What Does the Bible Say About Duty, Courage, Strength, and Steadfastness?
Continue in prayer, and watch
in the same with thanksgiving.
COLOSSIANS 4, verse 2.
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
1 CORINTHIANS 16, verse 13.
We kneel how weak, we rise how full of power.
Why therefore should we do ourselves this wrong,
Or others--that we are not always strong,
That we are ever overborne with care,
That we should ever weak or heartless be,
Anxious or troubled, when with us is prayer,
And joy and strength and courage are with Thee?
R. C. TRENCH.
It is impossible for us to make the duties of our lot
minister to our sanctification without a habit of
devout fellowship with God. This is the spring
of all our life, and the strength of it. It is prayer, meditation,
and converse with God, that refreshes, restores,
and renews the temper of our minds, at all times,
under all trials, after all conflicts with the
world.
H. E. MANNING.
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Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit ye like men.
These are weighty words from Paul. These words, in my opinion, stand shoulder to shoulder with
George Washington's "Put only Americans on duty tonight." In the dark night of the revolutionary war, all held their breath as everything was in the balance. George Washington knew that on this fateful night, no summer solder or sunshine patriot would do. Only those with honor, fealty and love of country should stand guard.
"England expects every man to do his duty." Admiral Horatio Nelson
Or Winston Churchill's stirring words to the English people:
"Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour."
Paul's words are just as powerful. He boils it all down to 11 words in one sentence.
I'm reminded of my stepfather's words to me, as he was lying in a hospital bed after just having had a massive heart attack. "You're the man of the house now." I was 15 at the time. I understood what he meant. "I've been taken down. You take over. Watch out for your mom and little sisters."
Paul tells us what is expected of us. Stand in the faith, have a bucket full of guts, be a man. Be a woman.
Be there for your kids. Be there for your mate. Be aware. Follow your deepest and highest instincts. Do your duty.
Paul said it all.