Astonishing Courage

Before the delicious, golden delight known as “Chick-fil-A Sauce” was released to the world in 2006, there was another sauce that had been turning heads and tickling taste buds for decades. Since 1968, it’s gone by a few different names — the special sauce, the signature sauce — but my personal favorite? The ‘Secret Sauce.’ This sauce has been the key ingredient that's rounded out a McDonald's Big Mac for nearly 60 years.

You might be thinking, “Why all the talk about fast food? Now my brain is signaling it’s time to hit up the closest drive-through!” But before you grab your keys, think about this with me for a moment. What does secret sauce have to do with this journey of courage we’ve been on? Well, here’s a truth that might shock you to learn: just like a Big Mac from McDonald's or an eight-count nugget meal from Chick-fil-A, our courageous actions are fueled and rounded out by a ‘secret sauce.’

Wait a second. Didn’t we just say yesterday that there isn’t some secret formula to courage? That God chose an unlikely example of courage in Joshua 1-2 rather than the stereotypical “courageous” leader? You’d be right. There is no ‘secret sauce’ that we can bring to the table as it relates to our courage. Rather, the ‘secret sauce’ of courage has everything to do with Jesus and our proximity to him.

Look at how this plays out in Acts 3-4. Two of Jesus’ disciples, Peter and John, were in Jerusalem after Jesus’ resurrection. They went up to the temple to pray and worship, and along the way, they passed a beggar, a man who had been lame since birth. We learn later in the story that this man was over 40 years old, meaning he had been in pain and struggling for a long time. The beggar asked Peter for money, but instead of putting coins in his cup, Peter looked straight at him and said,

“Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 

 We’ve been reading our Bibles for too long if our jaws don’t hit the floor at these words. Have you ever tried to tell someone who was lame to get up and walk? What an act of courage and faith on Peter’s part. But guess what? The man gets up. In fact, the Scripture says he “jumped to his feet.” As you’d imagine, people were losing their minds, worshipping and questioning, and unsure how to react. There was a sense of stunned amazement, up until Peter and John got dragged in front of the religious leaders of the day — the Sanhedrin. 

This is where Acts 4 picks up. Peter and John, questioned by the religious elite, were accused of disturbing people instead of healing them. In response, Peter and John stand firm in their faith, filled with the Spirit, and courageously speak the truth. Look at how the religious leaders replied in Acts 4:13:

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

Do you see the ‘secret sauce’ of courage? 

It’s not Peter or John’s schooling. It’s not their extraordinary intellect, riches, or personal disciplines. It’s not even their oratory performance or good looks. No, the ‘secret sauce’ of courage is this: they had been with Jesus.

Can you say the same?

We’re halfway through this week’s journey towards taking a step of astonishing courage. If you’ve been walking with us, God has likely laid something on your heart that He wants you to be courageous about at the end of this week: one step, action, or word to be spoken. 

We know courage requires risk. That’s what Rahab taught us. But if today, you feel the tension of that risk, or some fear and trepidation are trying to creep into your mind, remember this: courage doesn’t come from anything you can bring to the table. True courage comes from spending time with Jesus and letting His strength, grace, and love saturate our souls.

As you press into Him, pray this today:

Jesus, I want to be courageous this week, so meet me where I am. I am drawing near to you, and I want to be with you. Would your Spirit overflow into my heart, helping me move towards astonishing courage?