Gathering Up Courage

[S] Mark 15:43 --
43 Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.

[O] Joseph had to gather up his courage to ask for the body of Jesus from Pilate.  As far as I know he was not that visible during the ministry of Jesus, in fact, he may have been converted while he was still a council member and it's more difficult for him to stand up for his faith all of a sudden.  On the flip side, because he was involved in the social leadership he was able to approach Pilate and ask for the body.  It seems that standing up for Jesus is always a challenging thing and I appreciate reading how Joseph had to muster up his courage to do what he did.

[A] Joseph was used to fulfill the plan of God but that didn't come without a price.  Likewise, I need to pay the price to be used by God to fulfill His plans through my life.  That is to say, not that I need to make more monetary contributions, but in order to be used as His instrument, I must endure through a process difficult or challenging for me to bear.  I seem to be going through one of them now and I only pray that I would make it through to see His big plan for me.

[P] Dear Father, grant me Your endurance to pass through this heat in order that Your plan will work through my life and that You will be glorified.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.