20, 19, 18, 17…3, 2, 1. That’s all it takes—20 seconds of courage. When we look at monumental moments in life, could they not all be boiled down to 20 seconds? The greatest baseball play you have ever seen is shorter than 20 seconds. The most spectacular dunk of the basketball season could be replayed 5 times in 20 seconds. A job could be won or lost within the first 20 seconds of the interview.
What really made me think of 20 seconds of courage is the movie “We Bought a Zoo.” In this movie Matt Damon, as Benjamin Mee, notices that his thirteen-year- old son has a crush on a girl he has gotten to know. However, his son is too scared to make a move and say something to the girl. While sitting down and talking to his son, Damon makes a statement I will never forget, “… it only takes 20 seconds of courage.” His point was if his son could muster the courage to talk to his “crush” for 20 seconds, it could potentially change his life. Could 20 seconds really change a life?
I think about the time it took Jesus to tell his apostles “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” in Matthew 28:18-20.
I know this took less than 20 seconds and in this time Jesus started something that would change the history of the world!
So, here is my challenge for the day; give God 20 seconds of outrageous courage! Whether you will fight off that nagging temptation that Satan continually throws at you or finally talk to that one friend about salvation, give God 20 seconds of courage. God has already changed the history of the world once in 20 seconds. What will you let Him do through you in 20 seconds today?
- Austin Johnson serves as youth minister for the Calvert City Church of Christ in Calvert City, KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com
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