​

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

The Courage of Jesus

Scripture — 1 Peter 2:21–23 (NRSV)

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.”

Devotion

There is a kind of courage that looks strong because it can hit harder, shout louder, or make the other person afraid.

Then there is the courage of Jesus.

Jesus stood before people who mocked him, lied about him, abused him, and eventually killed him. He did not pretend that evil was good. He did not soften the truth to make powerful people comfortable. But neither did he allow their hatred to determine what kind of person he would become.

Peter remembers it this way: “When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten.”

Jesus refused to become like the thing he opposed.

That may be one of the hardest forms of Christian courage.

When someone is cruel, retaliation can feel justified. When someone speaks contemptuously about us, we want to answer in kind. When we believe something important is at stake, we can convince ourselves that almost any method is acceptable as long as our cause is right.

But following Jesus means that both our ends and our means belong to him.

We cannot defend truth with lies. We cannot defend human dignity by stripping dignity from someone else. We cannot bear witness to the love of Christ while cultivating hatred for our enemies.

This does not mean remaining passive in the face of wrongdoing. Jesus certainly did not. It means that when we resist evil, we resist it as people whose lives are still being shaped by Jesus.

That takes tremendous courage.

Perhaps there is someone with whom you strongly disagree today. You do not have to surrender your convictions. You may even need to speak plainly.

But before you do, remember Jesus.

Tell the truth. Stand firm. Do what love requires.

And refuse to let someone else’s hatred decide who you will become.

Daily Bread

Christian courage refuses to become like the evil it resists.

Prayer

Jesus, teach me your courage. When I am hurt, keep me from returning hurt. When I must speak, make me truthful without becoming cruel. Give me strength to resist what is wrong while allowing your love to determine who I become. Amen.

Click here

Get your Daily Devotion Email from Rev. Dr. Drew Shelley at the First United Methodist Church of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.