Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14)

Esther

The name of God is not mentioned in the Book of Esther. Yet God is present on every page. He shows us how He watches over His people Israel. And He uses people who - at first sight - appear to be "secret" believers.

Haman, the Agagite, hated the Jews. His greatest passion was to destroy all Jews (Esther 3:6-11). The Hitler of the Old Testament.

But God watches over His people in exile. And He uses men and women like Mordecai and Esther. The Jews are not hanged, but Haman, the hater of the Jews is.

Queen Esther, imperceptibly, played an important role. She, together with Mordecai, would save the Jewish people from certain annihilation. Esther means "star." In Jewish history, she still shines brightly.

Yet she did not appear to be a shining light for her environment. She never mentioned the name of God. No, God's people did not talk very much, but God did. He spoke through His deeds.

So, in this "God-less" book we meet an almighty God who is eternally faithful and never gives up on the work that His hands started to do.

In our days, especially in Islamic countries, there are many "secret" Christians. If they would openly profess their faith in Christ, they might even face death.

Let us not give up on them too easily, but let us pray that God's plan in their lives will be fulfilled. Through our intercession we are co-laborers of God's church, for the honor of His glory.

[Judy Harder]

And a sword will pierce your own soul too. (Luke 2:35)

Mary

In our Protestant churches, we do not pay much attention to Mary. Maybe this is a counter-reaction to the over-attention that is given to Mary in the Roman Catholic Church?

Yet in this devotion we want to contemplate her life, her joy and her sorrow. It really is too much to summarize in a few words.

Shortly after Jesus' birth, while in the temple, Mary is confronted with the suffering that she will endure. "A sword will pierce your own soul." Just imagine what it must be like when that is said to you when your child is born!

Yes, the suffering of the child is the suffering of the mother as well.

About thirty years later, the sword pierces Mary's soul, as she watches the crucifixion and death of her son.

She suffers too, together with her child. She does not run from the place, even though it is almost unbearable to watch. She stays with her child. She sees His agony, hears the mocking, feels His pain. Which mother cannot identify with Mary?

Yet this is not the last time we meet Mary in the Bible. In Acts 1:4 she is mentioned again. She meets for prayer regularly with the other disciples. Her Lord (no longer her child) has ascended to heaven already. Her job as a mother has been completed, her task as a sister has started.

We do not worship Mary, but we do have to give her the place that she deserves. Most blessed amongst women. Bearer of the Child, her Savior and ours.

[Judy Harder]

Now he had to go through Samaria. (John 4:4)

Samaritan Woman

Just a few words - "He had to go through Samaria." It is easy to overlook the deep meaning of these words. Jesus did not have to go through Samaria at all. True, Samaria was the short route to Galilee, but a Jew never went through Samaria. They treated Samaria like a contagious disease and always made a detour through the Jordan valley, through Judea to Galilee or vice versa.

But Jesus had to go through Samaria. That means; there was something there for Him to do. There was a person in need, a despised woman, without morals, looked down upon. Sure, it was her own fault that she had lived a promiscuous life without ever taking God into account. But her heart was empty. She longed for real peace and happiness. Jesus meets the woman at the well, about noon. Nobody ever goes to the well at that time of day, but she did. She wanted to be there before all the decent women arrived. Rather alone in the heat of day, than together with other women in the heat of their gossip.

Jesus had to go through Samaria to transform this despised woman into the first missionary to the Samaritans. She had to change inwardly first, but when that had happened she became the first witness for Christ in Samaria.

Samaritans were despised by Jews. But God is always on the lookout for the rejected. The hated "foreign" Samaritans were visited by Christ.

He had to go through Samaria. Amongst millions he notices the individual person.

"But whoever drinks the water I give him, will never thirst" (John 4:13a).

"Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony" (John 4:39).

[Judy Harder]

David is pursued by Saul continually.  Nowhere can he find rest. Nowhere is he safe.  Yet, he does find rest ... in God.  That is why he can say,

"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him" (v.1).



"My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge" (v.7).

David

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong,
and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.
(Psalm 62:5-8,11,12)

[Judy Harder]

The One enthroned in heaven laughs. (Psalm 2:4)

Sister Chen

The kings of the world who oppose the Lord plot in vain (Psalm 2:1). The Lord laughs at them (Psalm 2:4).

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, King Herod wanted to kill Him, but in vain. The priests also tried to kill Him. It seemed as though they succeeded, when Christ was crucified and buried. But Christ rose from the dead.

During the time of the apostles, the Church in Jerusalem experienced tremendous persecution in Jerusalem. The believers were scattered all over the place. The enemy thought he had immobilized the Church - on the contrary. "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went" (Acts 8:4). That's how the Gospel was spread to the Gentiles.

People are still plotting against God. They want to get rid of the Church. They persecute believers, burn their Bibles, arrest their pastors, and close their churches. All - in vain.

The Lord is building (and keeping) His Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

He who sits in heaven laughs. Let's join our great, almighty God in holy laughter. In full confidence that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion, in your life today, despite all circumstances.

Sister Chen is from China and is a pillar of God's house in this vast land. Due to security reasons, we cannot introduce her further to you, but her testimony speaks for itself.

[Judy Harder]

When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.
(Luke 12:11-12)

Sister Chen

Some years ago Brother Yuen was arrested. He was put in prison and then brought to the town square to be questioned openly. All believers were asked to join the accusation. The aim was to scare others by killing him. I was one who was forced to join the accusation.

This is what I saw - Brother Yuen stood in front of the government officials. No sad face, no frustration. Just a peaceful face which smiled. It was as if I saw a life overflowing with peace and love. I saw Yuen very clearly. How in the world could he be so peaceful? I saw a light shine in his eyes that I had never seen there before. O yes, Brother Yuen had always been a faithful Christian. I remembered him as a quiet man, who lived with God without wanting to stand in the limelight. But now ... the light of life was shining from God's throne onto this imprisoned Christian. Then he spoke, as he never had before...

"I love Christ, I spread Christ, I trust in Christ, I follow Christ and I remain faithful to Christ. I am willing to accept what will come to me. I seek nothing else except Him. I hope that more people will come to accept Christ."

We came with sorrow, weakness and pain, yet we went back with comfort, strength and joy. We realized that this was not Brother Yuen, this was God, standing by, holding up, giving words to speak.

That God is ours today, His strength is ours.

Will Yuen's testimony be ours too?

[Judy Harder]

The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand. (Psalm 121:5)

Sister Chen

Difficulties, as high as mountains, come rushing towards me. Strong waves dash against my heel. When the power of darkness focuses on me to attack my faith, I lift my eyes to the hills and ask the Lord for help. He speaks to me, "My strength is made perfect in the weakness of men." This is always a wonderful paradox. I therefore worship His way, with tears.

The greatest joy in my life is to be under the protection of the Holy Spirit, freely walking in and out between the gap of the lion's teeth. I am in the shelter of the right hand of the Almighty, so that the devil cannot touch me. With His grace I can have victory over strong winds and high waves, defeating the attacking enemy.

The Lord is our shade at our right hand. You see the shade when you walk in the light. When there are clouds you may not be able to see that shade clearly ... but it is still there ... because He watches over our lives. He will watch over our coming and going, both now and forever more.

[Judy Harder]

He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord. (Psalm 113:9)

Sister Chen

I remember an old lady, 90 years old, serving the Lord in a very spiritual way. She has been ordained by the Lord to be celibate. To worldly people, she is a barren woman. And yet she is bearing more fruit, spiritual fruit, than everybody else. To this very day, at the age of 90, she lives a life of intercession. She gives birth to many spiritual children. She feeds many spiritual infants with milk, making them grow in the love of Christ.

Is this woman barren? No, she has more spiritual children than any other mother has natural children. The Church in China respects and loves this old, happy mother of many children, very much.

"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green" (Psalm 92:12-14).

[Judy Harder]

They overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Revelation 12:11)

Sister Chen

Are we willing to die for the Lord? That is a difficult question. A question that can be answered however is, are we willing to live for Him?

Sister Suk Wan was such a believer. She lived for the Lord, faithfully and courageously. She was arrested for her faith and thrown into prisons were she was beaten and tortured. She became seriously ill and requested to be brought to the town square to speak to the people. (People were often brought there to be shown to the public in order to deny the faith or to undergo self-criticism trials.) The organizers were convinced she wanted to deny her faith before she would die. Two policemen helped her onto the stage. She could hardly stand. She had bruises all over her face. She gathered her last strength and cried, "To God be the glory. Jesus is my Lord." Then she collapsed and died. She could die for the Lord because she had lived for Him.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

[Judy Harder]

"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life."
(Mark 10:29-30)

Sister Chen

The parents of Sister Suk Wan were already in their eighties when their only daughter died. When the news of her death reached the body of Christ in their town, the Christians were deeply touched and decided to take care of these old people. After some time they said, "We lost our only daughter, but God has given us back so many new spiritual sons and daughters." Their brotherly love for each other touched many unbelievers.

Suffering is never in vain. The blood of martyr Suk Wan became a seed of the Church - growing stronger, in depth and number.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).