COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT!

Now Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs, who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon. ... My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet....So they pulled Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the dungeon.  (Jeremiah 38:7-13)

One of the reasons that Black History is so important is because many people do not know of the many contributions made by Black individuals.  Many people who went on to do great things started in humble circumstances.  As a people, we have often been told that we cannot excel in life.  Sometimes, we begin to believe that we cannot excel and we do not try to excel.  But we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. 

Jeremiah was a great Prophet of God.  He has a Book in the Bible named after him.  Many people do not realize however that a man named Ebed-Melech, a Black Man, who had no other claim to fame, saved Jeremiah's life when it was very risky for him to do so.  He had the courage to do what was right.  Jeremiah's enemies had him thrown into a dungeon that had no water, but just mire.  No one came to Jeremiah's rescue but Ebed-Melech.  Of course doing so put his life at risk.  The people who put Jeremiah in the pit would just as easily kill Ebed-Melech for helping out.  But Ebed-Melech knew that it was wrong to put Jeremiah in the pit and took it upon himself to go about getting him out.

We must have the same kind of courage today.  Doing what is right will often times put you in peril with others.  But it is worth it.  Just as Ebed-Melech took action to correct injustice, we must do the same today.  Even if we have to walk in the opposite direction of others, it will pay off after a while.