Most of us know what it feels like to stand between two sets of values. There is what everyone around us seems to do, and then there is what we sense God calling us to do. That gap can take courage. Often it shows up in small choices. How we speak. How we forgive. How we spend money. How we respond to unfairness. And sometimes in bigger moments where we feel pressure either to blend in or to live out our faith.
Romans chapter 12 gives us a simple but life changing picture of courage. Paul asks believers to offer themselves to God and then to refuse being shaped by the world’s patterns. Instead he urges us to be transformed as God renews our minds. This is not loud, dramatic courage … instead it is daily, consistent courage that intentionaly chooses God’s way.
What Scripture shows us
Paul uses the picture of a living sacrifice. He is inviting believers to place their lives before God, trusting that God’s ways bring life. We don’t do this to earn God’s favour. It is a response to God’s mercy. It is a way of saying “Lord, you can shape my thoughts, my decisions and my behaviour.”
This connects strongly with the values of God’s Kingdom. Scripture shows that Kingdom values look different from the values of the world. They emphasise righteousness, justice, love and faithfulness. These shape the way Christians live, even when culture leans in other directions. Called to be a Soldier describes this tension clearly. It teaches that Salvationists are called to make the values of God’s Kingdom the standard for their lives, even when these values challenge the norms around them .
It also explains that we cannot simply reject our culture as wrong. Instead we must engage with discernment, affirming what is good while challenging what is harmful or not God-glorifying. This takes thoughtful, prayerful courage. It involves listening to the Holy Spirit and checking that our actions line up with Scripture .
Why this requires courage
Choosing Kingdom values can feel costly at times. Honesty, purity, generosity, compassion and integrity are beautiful, but they may set us apart. Yet these are the qualities that show the presence of Christ in us. When we live by them, we become “salt” and “light” in our world, pointing others toward hope and wholeness.
The Handbook of Doctrine teaches that Christian discipleship is a continuous relationship with Christ, lived out in obedient faith. This means we keep choosing what is right even when the easier option lies in front of us. It also teaches that obedience is a response to God’s love, not a burden, and that the Holy Spirit empowers believers to make choices that are in line with God’s will .
This is the heart of courage. Not bravado. Not willpower. Courage comes from knowing who we belong to and trusting that God is at work in us and through us.
Reflection questions
- Where do you feel the most pressure to fit in with the world’s expectations rather than God’s values?
- Which Kingdom value challenges you the most at this time?
- What small act of courageous obedience could you take this week?
- Who can encourage you as you try to live out these values?
Prayer
Lord, help me to recognise the places where you are calling me to live differently. Give me courage to choose your values over convenience. Shape my thinking. Renew my mind. Help me to reflect the life of Jesus in what I say and do. Amen.