Fortitude With Our Faith

Two powerful phrases in Daniel have stuck out to me recently:

“But Daniel resolved…” (Daniel 1:8)
“But even if He does not [deliver us]…” (Daniel 3:18)

We learn from Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to exhibit fortitude with our faith in God. We’re to speak of this even to not-yet believers!

As leaders we’re called-upon to model this fortitude and faith to others, and foster it amongst those in our sphere of influence. (“Example isn’t the main way to influence others, it’s the only way.”) This is particularly true for our boys and young men. “The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.” (Prov. 20:29)

We need to model this as Jesus did – toughness and tenderness, boldness and gentleness. Strength, assurance, confidence – all under self-control.

The best avenue to living with this kind of fortitude and faith is to enlarge our view of what God is doing, both now and in the future. Small men choose to focus on goofy, little stuff – we’re not called to be small men, but great and godly men. As the hymn says,

“Rise up, O Men of God! Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and hands and voice to serve the King of Kings!”

Worth memorizing:

“But Daniel resolved…” (Daniel 1:8)
“But even if He does not [deliver us]…” (Daniel 3:18)