Courage on Mt Tabor

In his book Miracle on the River Kwai, author Ernest Gordon retold a true story about POW’s in WWII. During one work detail, a shovel was missing, and the guard put all the prisoners in a line, threatening to kill everyone until the person who stole it stepped forward. As the guard cocked his rifle and pointed it at the head of the last person in line, another man stepped forward, stood at attention, and said calmly, “I did it.” After he was subsequently beaten to death, the prisoners picked up his body, shouldered their tools, and marched back to the camp. When the tools were counted again at the guardhouse, no shovel was missing. He died to save everyone. When we hear stories like that, we are inspired and think, “I want to be like that guy.” But where do we get that kind of courage? Matthew 17:1-13 addresses 3 fears that are common to all people and shows how Jesus provides the courage we need to face these 3 fears.