“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:7
Courageous follows the lives of 4 Police officers in the Albany Sheriff’s Department and their unemployed friend. Adam Mitchell, Shane Fuller, Nathan Hayes, David Thomson, and Javier Martinez, are (for the most part) all trying to be good fathers to their children. I think the thing that I like the most about this movie is that it is about average ordinary men making a decision to make their families a greater priority.
Adam Mitchell is a guy who thinks he is doing a "good enough" job as a husband and a father. He works hard all day to keep Albany
When his daughter is killed by a drunk driver, Adam realizes that being "good enough" is aiming too low. Convicted that he must do better with his son Dylan in the future, he set out to study God's Word and purposes to sign a declaration of commitment to his wife and family which is the direct result of this study. When he goes to his buddies simply to ask them for accountability, they decide to join him and make declarations of their own.
The next part of the movie shows the men striving to put their commitment into practice. Adam commits to join his son Dylan in a 5K race. Nathan realizes the great responsibility he has can make sure that his daughter realizes her true value so he takes her out to dinner and asks her to commit to sending any interested suitors to him first. David seeks reconciliation with his family (after committing his life to Jesus Christ) which includes a cheerleader that he got pregnant several years before and just left in his four-year-old daughter. Javier turns down a promotion he only recently received when they ask him to be dishonest. He is later rewarded when it turns out that it was a test from his employer.
Shane (though he made the same commitment) clearly has the most struggles with it. Short on cash, he begins stealing drugs from evidence so that he can sell them. He is found out and then arrested. While this is not a happy ending it underscores the need for accountability and the true commitment that it takes to be a man of integrity.
The movie ends with the following challenge "Where are you men of courage?” I was so excited when I heard about the theme for this movie because this is the very question I have been convicted to ask over the last seven or eight years as well as a major reason I started the Ministry Speaking4Him.
As a single young man this movie has bolstered my commitment to continue my journey to become a man of courage that young lady can rely on to be a godly husband and my future children can look to as an example of their Father in Heaven. This is sobering task for any man. We all have our faults and this side of glory we always will, but that does not negate our responsibility to continue to strive for excellence. The family is in chaos and it is long past time for action! We must as the apostle Paul says forget those things which are behind and "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14
I would encourage any man regardless of the stage that you are at in life to see this film. Even if you are fairly young it is never too early to set your sights on being a man of courage. For the women among my readers, I encourage you to see this film so that you will know the kind of man God would desire for you. Don't settle! I believe you are God's greatest gift to mankind and that you should be treated as such! You are extremely valuable and any man who does not think so is not worth your time or attention!
In closing I just want to ask that question once again. "Where are you men of courage?" Are you ready to step up and embrace the challenge that God has clearly outlined for you in His Word? Remember he will not ask you to do anything for which He will not adequately equip you!!!
Speaking4him,
Andrew
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