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Sunday, August 30, 2026

Courage Without Hatred

Scripture — Acts 5:27–29 (NRSV)

“When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority.’”

Devotion

There are times when following Jesus requires us to say no.

Peter and the apostles had been given clear instructions: stop talking about Jesus. The people giving those instructions had authority, influence, and the power to make life very difficult for them. Peter understood the consequences. And still he answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.”

That is courage.

But there is something else worth noticing. Peter does not threaten them. He does not call his followers into the streets to destroy his enemies. He does not answer intimidation with intimidation. He simply tells the truth and accepts what faithfulness may cost him.

That is Christian courage.

There is a difference.

Our world often gives us only two choices. Keep quiet and go along, or get angry and fight. Jesus shows us another way. We can stand firmly for what is true without hating the people who disagree with us. We can resist what is wrong without dehumanizing those responsible for it. We can refuse to cooperate with injustice without allowing bitterness to take possession of our hearts.

That kind of courage is harder than anger. Anger can feel powerful. Hatred can even make us feel righteous for a while. But Christians do not get to decide that someone is no longer worthy of love simply because we believe they are wrong.

Our courage takes its shape from Jesus.

Jesus told the truth when the truth was dangerous. He confronted injustice and hypocrisy. He refused to surrender his allegiance to the Father. But even from the cross, he did not stop loving.

That is cruciform courage (or cross-shaped courage): conviction without hatred, resistance without dehumanization, truthfulness willing to bear a cost.

There may be places in your life where faithfulness requires you to speak, stand, refuse, or resist. When those moments come, ask God for courage.

But ask for something more.

Ask for the grace to remain like Jesus while you do it.

Daily Bread

Faithful courage refuses what is wrong without surrendering the love of Christ.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, give me courage to stand faithfully when obedience to you is costly. Keep fear from making me silent and anger from making me hateful. Help me speak truth with humility, resist what is wrong with courage, and never forget that every person before me is someone you love. Amen.

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