Martin Luther King Jr's Courage

The third Monday of January invites us to pause and remember a man whose courage still echoes through history — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was a Baptist minister with a prophet’s voice and a pastor’s heart. He dared to believe that love could outshine hate and that light could still win.

Just before his assassination in 1968, Dr. King spoke words that feel almost too relevant today:
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Those weren’t just poetic words. They were costly ones.

Jesus said something just as startling centuries earlier:
“Love your enemies -- pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)
Let’s be honest -- that sounds upside-down. Love the one who wounds us? Bless the one who curses us? That kind of love doesn’t come naturally. It comes supernaturally.

The night before his death, Dr. King told a crowd he had been to the mountaintop. He knew the danger. He felt the threat. Yet he moved forward anyway -- steady, surrendered, unafraid. Courage isn’t the absence of fear -- it’s obedience in spite of it.

Today, our nation feels so fractured -- again. Voices are louder. Tempers shorter. Compassion thinner. And yet -- the call remains the same. God still asks His children to choose light over darkness, love over hate, courage over comfort.

Scripture reminds us:
“Be strong and courageous -- for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Dr. King’s life challenges us not just to remember him -- but to live like him. To speak truth with grace. To stand firm without becoming hard. To love boldly in a world desperate for it.

The greatest way to honor Dr. King is not with words alone, but with lives that reflect the courage of Christ.

Lord, make us brave enough to love. Strong enough to stand. Humble enough to serve. And faithful enough to believe that Your light still shines -- and always will. Amen.