It seems like everyone today wants things…money, high political or business office, community status, position, fame, and fortune (material goodies) …. Etcetera, ad infinitum!

And so, a lesson from the past…

However, there was a wonderful song from decades ago called “Stout-Hearted Men”, composed by Sigmund Romberg with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. The words are all about the fact that the world needs… and people are looking for… a few stouthearted—brave and courageous—men.

The song, included in the 1940 musical film, New Moon, is set to a marching tune and carries a good and positive motivational message. It’s catchy and inspiring, gathering up the audience with its enthusiasm!

Here is a link to the lyrics, and on this page is also a video clip from New Moon of the performance by Nelson Eddy: Nelson Eddy – Stout Hearted Men Lyrics | Lyrics.com

The lyrics and music are still under copyright, so I can’t print them here, but I encourage you to go to the page and read and listen to them.The stirring music makes the poetry come alive!

How stout is your heart?

Listening to – or just imagining the lyrics like this automatically starts a person thinking about his or her own stout-heartedness—as well as that of others.

The big question is: whose heart in human history was the stoutest heart of all? Three guesses and the first two don’t count!

You know the answer!

But…how fervently do you believe what Jesus Christ inspired to be written in God’s Word? Does the gospel of the soon-coming Kingdom of God energize your prayers, your meditation, and your diligence in overcoming?

Thankfully, some people in the world’s public – even today – see at least the need for the essential, character qualities of actual, spiritual, stout-hearted men, women and children! Unfortunately, so much of that spiritual grit is motivated by “wars and rumors of wars” (see Matthew 24, especially verse 6).

Yet understand, God has not called the whole world’s population to repentance and faith in His truth… yet—at this time! In due course He will, but not yet.

Securing our own “stout hearts”

Nevertheless, that dynamic, courageous energy should be pulsating within the hearts of the brethren of the true Church of God today!

Every individual since Adam and Eve will have his or her unique opportunity of God’s personal, special, calling to true and faithful repentance. Though, for all of us in the true Body of Christ today—and you know who you are—this is our chance to understand God’s truth and spiritually overcome.

The opportunity, the path to resurrection in the Family of God, is being offered to us now – today! Make sure that you energetically respond to that calling to the true faith of Jesus Christ. To borrow the rhythm from the song, let us become spiritually stout-hearted brethren in God’s true Church!

– Commentary by Randy Stiver

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