Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

This psalm is a eulogy to God's greatness in creation. The great, almighty God, who created everything, is concerned about us insignificant human beings.

David

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:
all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
(Psalm

[Judy Harder]

The arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks in their poison, God's terrors are marshaled against me. (Job 6:4)

Pastor Samuel Lamb

When we suffer we should never grumble against God. Many people cannot endure suffering. They grumble all the time. Job had experienced a lot of suffering.

In the beginning he was spiritually strong. He even rebuked his own wife ."..shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10).

Unfortunately, after a while he cursed his own birthday. Yes, he even grumbled against God. Some people, when they suffer, do not dare to complain to God. They let it out on people around them.

This incident in Job's life meant a lot to me when I was in prison for my faith for 21 years. I can understand Job's victories and Job's defeats. It taught me that grumbling does not help. Not against God, not against those who persecuted me. My dear wife died while I was in prison. I was not allowed to attend her funeral. It was like an arrow of the Almighty, until I understood: God allows the pain, the loss, the torture, but we must grow through it.

"Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse" (Romans 12:14).

"Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me" (Matthew 11:6).

"May God teach us to rejoice when things go wrong - knowing that in all things God works for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28).

[Judy Harder]

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. (1 Peter 4:1)

Pastor Samuel Lamb

Different people may have different reasons for suffering. Needless to say that there is no gain in suffering that is caused by sin.

As Christians we all experience different degrees of suffering. Therefore, we should arm ourselves with a right attitude - the attitude of accepting spiritual suffering as a mark of true discipleship.

Jesus said, "You will indeed drink from my cup" (Matthew 20:23). We need to be willing to suffer daily, even though God did not call us to suffer daily. If we fall through the trials that come our way, then we do not have the right attitude towards suffering.

Suffering is limited - but the attitudes of accepting suffering should be limitless... even unto death. Do we have the right attitude? When you grumble you lose your peace, when you curse suffering you have no victory.

We must make up our minds daily to be willing to suffer for Christ. Then, and only then, will we experience blessing, peace and victory.

[Judy Harder]

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. (Psalm 119:71)

...if you suffer as a Christian do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. (1 Peter 4:16)

Pastor Samuel Lamb

A suffering Christian should never boast in his suffering. Some people suffer as a result of their sins. Their suffering has no room for boasting, but actually it is "good" for them to suffer because through their suffering God calls them back to Himself.

I have been in prison for my faith for more than twenty years. During those years I experienced a lot of suffering and persecution. I asked the Lord daily to help me to remain faithful to Him whatever the pain and sorrow might be that day. Praise the Lord, God answered my prayers. I am not boasting in this, because I did not do it by myself, but by the One who gave me strength.

If I would have relied on my own strength, I would have disowned Him thirty times, or even three hundred times. Let him who suffers because of sin repent and return to God. Let him who stands firm for Christ boast in the Lord.

[Judy Harder]

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. (Matthew 5:11)

Pastor Samuel Lamb

Those who are persecuted because of righteousness are "blessed." When people insult you because you are a Christian, you are "blessed." Suffering for righteousness is participating in the sufferings of Christ. Every Christian should participate in this suffering; "Blessed are you when people insult you ... great is your reward in heaven" (Matthew 5:12).

I want to look to the reward, not to the circumstances. The greatest help during these times of persecution is to keep looking to Jesus. He is always near. The greater the persecution, the nearer He is. The reward in heaven is only an extra bonus.

"Blessed are you." Blessed is He.

[Judy Harder]

Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. (James 1:2)

Pastor Samuel Lamb

In the Old Testament, people received joy after they suffered. But in the New Testament the disciples rejoiced while they suffered (1 Peter 4:14; Matthew 5:11, 12).

When we suffer for Christ, not only do we have to rejoice, but we have to rejoice greatly. "In this you greatly rejoice..." (1 Peter 1:6).

"Blessed are you when men hate you ... because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy" (Luke 6:22, 23).

"The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name" (Acts 5:41).

In Luke 6 the disciples are told to leap for joy because they will receive a great reward in heaven. In Acts 5:41 the apostles rejoiced because of their unity with Jesus. Because we love Him, the world will hate us.

We should not look at the hatred, the insults, the persecutions or hardships but at Jesus. He suffered - so will we. He was glorified - so shall we be. He lives forever - so will we.

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

Twenty years in prison is long. Very long. But not worth comparing with the eternity which awaits us. What a future - what a joy!

[Judy Harder]

If we endure, we will also reign with him. (2 Timothy 2:12)

Pastor Samuel Lamb

Endurance means suffering here. In English the word "patient" is the same for a sick person and for a person who endures. A sick person cannot choose. He must be patient. As we suffer for Christ we have to be like the patient who must be patient.

Those who endure suffering for Christ's sake are patients who are very healthy. They secure blessing upon blessing and will reign with Him in glory.

When we share in His sufferings we will also share in His glory. Do not complain about your sufferings - but pray for endurance. "Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7). Not just prison doors but also spiritual doors of darkness and defeat. So that we might walk in the light.

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).

[Judy Harder]

David thanks the Lord for his help and salvation. We so often forget to do that. David recognizes the help of the Lord and thanks him for it.

Not to him, the king, is honor due; but to Him, the heavenly King.

David

I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.
I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you.
For you have upheld my right and my cause; you have sat on your throne, judging righteously.
You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name forever and ever.
Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy, you have uprooted their cities; even the memory of them has perished.
The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment.
He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice.
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
(Psalm 9:1-10)

[Judy Harder]

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

Pastor Samuel Lamb

When we suffer for our faith in Jesus Christ we should never complain to God or hate those who cause the suffering. The Bible teaches us again and again that suffering is a mark of true discipleship. Those who complain do so at their own cost, they will only suffer more and thus lose their victory, and when you lose your victory, you lose God's blessings. Therefore, hardships and trouble are times to experience the help of God and is that not what we want, God's help?

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."

I have had the privilege to be punished by 21 years of imprisonment. That's what my accusers named it, punishment. It turned out to be my privilege.

The troubles were many. Oh, how I longed for God's help. It has taught me this spiritual truth: The greater the need, the greater the help. What a blessing. I dare say - if a preacher has never suffered he cannot fully comprehend God's help. I have experienced plenty of trouble ... it opened the way to see plenty of God's help. Available for me. Available for you.

[Judy Harder]

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:

Pastor Samuel Lamb

We too often think that God only performed miracles in the time that Jesus walked on earth. What a pity to think that way. Not only because it is not true, but also because it stops us from expecting God's miracles in our own life today.

When I was a child I became very sick one day. The doctor who examined me told my father that I only had a ten per cent chance to stay alive. I was taken to a hospital where the doctor confirmed that there was hardly any chance for me to survive. My father said, "If my son has only a ten per cent chance of survival and is going to die I want to take him to die at home." When we arrived home he asked all the Christians in the village to come to our house to pray. They prayed all through the night. The next day the doctor came to our house thinking I must be dead by now. When he saw me and examined me, he could only speak one word, "miracle." I was completely healed. You see, God not only knows about our spiritual suffering, but also about our physical problems. Jesus Christ is the same today. He still performs miracles, trust Him and seek His help. Too many people never ask - they only discuss, "What if God does not help?" Discuss less, pray more, and you will experience the power of God - even when God answers in a way you did not expect Him to.