Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

...and they will call him Immanuel, which means, 'God with us'. (Matthew 1:23)

Jan Pit

If you want to know who God is take a good look at Christ. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us. Jesus answered, "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father?" Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?" (John 14:8-10).

God came to dwell among us. He became man in Christ. He, the Almighty Creator, became man. That is why He can identify with us in good and bad days; in storm or shine; in times of happiness and in times of deep sorrow and loneliness.

That is why he is called "Immanuel: God with us."

Not an abstract God above us, but a man of flesh and blood alongside us, giving us a model on how we should live.

We can entrust ourselves to such a Savior and through Him we can call God "Abba-Father."

What a privilege.

What a God.

What a Savior.

Whose birth you can celebrate each blessed Christmas season.

Kneeling at the manger, because you have knelt at the Cross.

Have you never done that before? Why not do so today?

[Judy Harder]

I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the Gospel of God's grace. (Acts 20:24)

Ali Sougou

Ali Sougou grew in his Christian faith, especially after he had received a Bible. But then another crisis came - Ali was arrested by the police and thrown into prison. Three months later he appeared before a special court. Those presiding were Muslim leaders, army officers, village leaders and other authorities. The trial took place in the open air with a huge crowd of spectators present.

The verdict was unusual; Ali could choose his own punishment from three alternatives: 

1         Life imprisonment

2         Death by firing-squad

3         Deportation from the country

As he stood there, wondering what to say, Ali knelt down and started to pray. He prayed loudly so that the crowd could hear his prayer also. "Lord Jesus, here I am and I know you are with me. Help me to choose what you want to me choose." The judges were astonished. They had expected Ali to choose deportation, but he seemed to be willing to be shot. The crowd shouted, "He is a fool - he is mad, he is crazy. You cannot sentence a crazy man - let him go home."

He never had to choose - the crowd chose for him, which was accepted by the judges - fearing the crowd. Ali could go home! He learned the secret of spiritual victory: if we are willing to lay down our lives on the altar and leave the verdict to God, He will choose the best for us - to His glory.

[Judy Harder]

Faith by itself, if it is not accomplished by action, is dead. (James 2:17)

Ali Sougou

One of the people who witnessed Ali's trial was a police inspector, whose duty it had been to watch all of Ali's movements - Whom did Ali visit, who visited Ali, what did they talk about?

When Ali was set free the Muslim leaders of the judges called the Commissioner of Police and told him to provide Ali with a truck and driver and send him home. The police officer was to escort Ali. Upon their arrival at Ali's house, the truck driver left - but the police inspector stayed. "Can I talk to you in private?" he asked Ali. They went into another room. "I was surprised to see you did not choose your own punishment. You prayed to Jesus Christ, I would like to know more about Him. Your God worked very hard on your behalf." Some days later - after many hours of discussions - the police officer received the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord.

Now there was not one but two Christians on the island. Ali's steadfastness spoke to the crowd. Ali's willingness to die led to the policeman's salvation.

The world will judge us by our deeds - not our words. "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Your good deeds are no guarantee for your salvation, but they may become the way to salvation for someone else.

Ali Sougou from the Comoros. This first Christian convert on this Muslim island came to know Jesus Christ in a special way. He writes about that experience. Edited with permission from the book In the Shade of the Moon published by Baruk, 1990.

[Judy Harder]

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:6)

Ali Sougou

More people became interested in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and accepted the Lord. They not only experienced many trials and hardships, but also the provision of the Lord in great and small matters. One such provision was experienced by an elderly Christian couple, travelling home one day when their car started to sway dangerously. It wobbled to a standstill and Brother A discovered that they had a puncture. They had no spare tire in their car - hardly anybody has on those islands - so what could they do? They found themselves on a deserted road in the middle of nowhere.

"Let's pray about it," Sister B said, "Our Father in heaven knows our problem. Let us ask Him for help."

Yes, their help came from the Lord (Psalm 121). Another Christian came along the same way and had a spare tire! (first miracle). But ... nobody had a jack. "Lord, we thank you for the tire; please send someone with a jack." After some time a truckload of men stopped next to them. "Can we help?" they asked. "We've got a puncture, there is a spare tire, but we don't have a jack." "No problem," the men said, "we'll fix it for you." More than ten men jumped out of the truck, hoisted the little car in the air with their bare hands while another man changed the tire (second miracle). A few minutes later the happy bunch of Comorean workers jumped back onto the truck, waved and were gone.

Were they Comoreans ... or were they angels? Sent by God?

[Judy Harder]

On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.
(2 Corinthians 1:10)

Jan Pit

From our hotel on the Comoros Islands we had a magnificent view of the Indian Ocean, while behind us there were charming hilltops to be seen. On the slopes we discerned small villages, tucked away behind palm trees and banana plantations. In one of those villages there is a Christian, the only one among thousands of Muslims. Visiting him was impossible, for it would endanger his life. He was so close ... and yet so far away. We prayed for him and pleaded his case with the Lord whom he followed. The Lord knows his whereabouts, his situation and He is acquainted with his loneliness.

We would so much have liked to hold his hands for a moment and to have encouraged him. To have told him that we remembered him. But we could not. It goes without saying that you start praying for someone like that, knowing that your prayer will be experienced by him as God's strength.

In prayer we can bring him before the Throne of God, so that he will know that though he may be lonely, he is not alone. The Lord is with him and we can visit him in spirit and encourage him that way.

That afternoon, I learned from another Christian that although he is having a hard time, he is standing firm. Yes, we ourselves will receive many blessings when we read of God's faithfulness in their lives. We can also encourage them by praying for them. A blessing and a responsibility.

Have you already "visited" someone today?

[Judy Harder]

More than conquerors. (Romans 8:37)

More than conquerors

On the last day of the year and on the last page of this devotional book we can sum up everything with the wonderful words of Paul:

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God be for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is it then who condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... Now in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

That is the comfort for the suffering church. It is also her testimony.

May this also be your comfort and testimony - now and always.

[Judy Harder]

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

Irina Ratushinskaya

It is the most shocking demand on Man, absolute perfection. No less than that. Is this really addressed to us? To people for whom it is already quite an achievement just to realize their sinfulness?

Some people think that the acknowledgement of sinfulness is a pretty spiritual achievement. But does it help? It is not just the diagnosis, but medical treatment that is needed for the recovery of a sick person.

We often hear people say "I am no saint', even with some kind of satisfaction, as if to say, "I admit that I am no saint, so I have fulfilled my duty." But that is only part of the duty.

Every demand made by Christ also contains a promise. He does not only command us to do things, He also offers us His help. If we would only believe it is possible! Perfection is an infinitely daring concept. It requires courage even to imagine it. Nevertheless the demand is addressed to you and to me.

How do our hearts respond to the demand ... and to the promise of this miracle?

[Judy Harder]

have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. (John 16:12)

Irina Ratushinskaya

It is difficult for us to form an idea of the heavenly Kingdom. Our normal powers of imagination fall short, they are too limited.

But it is important to realize that it is real and awaiting us. Let us just try to imagine ourselves telling a human embryo what kind of world it will be born into. Let us assume that the embryo is really trying to understand us. How can we ever explain what sunlight is, or a family or a church?

If, however, on the basis of the fact that it isn't able to imagine the outside world, the unborn baby should decide not to be born ... it would die and never see the outside world. We are only the embryos of our future immortal souls. It is so difficult to picture the life that is to come, but it will come.

How wonderful it is that eternal life will be better than anything we could ever imagine now.

[Judy Harder]

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.
(Mark 11:24)

Irina Ratushinskaya

We usually add the following words to our prayer, "Thy will be done, not mine."

It sounds very devout, but is it? When a prayer is not granted, was it because it was against God's will or because we did not really believe it would be heard?

There is however one prayer that is always in harmony with God's will. You all know it. Its first words are, "Our Father."

Let us consider the prayer that Christ gave to us for a moment. The Kingdom of God will indeed come on earth; His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We will be given our daily bread and our sins will be forgiven! And we will do no more sin. The attacks of the devil will not be successful, for God will protect us.

Isn't this miracle greater than the boldest of our own wishes?

Today, presently - we can do it with God's help.

Are we afraid it will not come true after all? So what? We can ask the Lord to strengthen our faith in Him. He can do it. Now.

[Judy Harder]

The people who surrounded David had no more fight left in them.

Did they lose a battle? Did their crops fail? We don't know.

They seem to have lost their faith in God and they criticize David who continues to trust in the Lord.

How does David react to this defeat and criticism? He prays.

David

Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him.
In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord.
Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord.
You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone,
O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
(Psalm 4)