Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

January 2, 2011   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


"...are you for us or for our enemies?" "Neither", he replied. ... Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence and asked him: "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"   (Joshua 5:13,14)

Joshua

Shortly before the first big confrontation with Jericho, Joshua had a very strange encounter himself.

He had only just been called to be the leader of his people, and now he has been asked to surrender his leadership to the commander of the army of the Lord.

Joshua's spiritual maturity is proven by the fact that he would rather be second-in-command in God's army, than first-in-command of his own.

When asked if the man was for or against the Israelites, his only reply was, "neither." What the messenger of the Lord was really saying was "I have not come to take sides. I have come to take over."

Whoever is willing to surrender the leadership to God will experience that no wall is too high for God, no river too deep, no problem too great.

Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? 

Got any mountains you can't tunnel through?

God specializes in things thought impossible; He does the things others cannot do.

[Judy Harder]

January 3, 2011   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.  (Hebrews 11:30)

Joshua

After Joshua's voluntary surrender of his leadership to the commander of the army of the Lord, some more strange orders followed. "March around the city." "Make seven priests carry trumpets in front of the Ark." "Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout."

Very unusual military commands. An army does not show itself to the enemy. You don't ask the chaplains to walk in the front lines, waving their Bibles.

It seemed so illogical, unprofessional, and unmilitary. God's way of doing things often seems unreasonable.

Joshua had to learn that this was not going to be his war, done in his way, but God's war, done in God's way. He responded with an unquestioning obedience.

Faith expressed in obedience to God's Word is always the key to victory. And victory came because Joshua and his people fully trusted God.

When you face a "Jericho" in your life, you too may see the walls tumble down as you trust in God and in His way of handling a crisis situation.

[Judy Harder]

January 4, 2011   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,

Then choose for yourself this day whom you will serve ... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
(Joshua 24:15)

Now then, throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.
(Joshua 24:23)

Joshua

Once again Joshua addressed the nation. He reminded them of God's faithfulness and deliverance. Through his farewell message he stressed the grace of God. "I gave," "I brought," "I destroyed," "I delivered." Not once did he mention his own achievements because, simply, he acknowledged God's hand in it all. He challenged the people to follow that God. He himself set the example; "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." He practiced what he preached. His mind was made up, his course was clear: we will serve the Lord.

The people responded. "We too will serve the Lord." It was then that Joshua challenged them to prove their sincerity by their works. "Throw away your idols." We can only serve God fully if we throw our idols away!  Idols of any kind, any idol blocks the way to full communication with God. A price needs to be paid. A reward is waiting: To walk with God - to the land of promise.

[Judy Harder]

Bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you. (Luke 6:28)

Irina Ratushinskaya

Almost every demand from Christ seems impracticable. If we, however, want to follow the Lord, then there is no other way. More than once I experienced this from the KGB prisons.

The response of the world to the tormentors of the KGB is hatred, and every hour, the KGB gives more reasons to hate them. But I soon noticed that if I hated them as well, I would be eaten up from within. I have seen fellow prisoners so filled with hatred that they lost their mind and so destroyed their personality. And that's exactly what the KGB wants.

How should we as Christians control these feelings? Christ commanded us to cast out hatred by love. That is not easy. This demand by Christ seems impracticable. But there is no other way.

"Pray for those who mistreat you." Such a prayer may save them, but in any case it will save us.

Writer for the month - Irina Ratushinskaya from Russia was imprisoned for seven years in a labor camp. She has written about her experiences in a moving book entitled Grey is the Colour of Hope published by Sceptre Books, 1989.

[Judy Harder]

January 6, 2011   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering.  (Hebrews 13:2)

Mehdi Dibaj

These days there are celebrations everywhere. People outside celebrate the day of the Revolution and you, my son, are celebrating your birthday today (7 years old).

Inside my prison cell I am celebrating my forty-third year of becoming a Christian and today I am celebrating the entering of the eighth year of the test of my faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

There is a celebration and joy within my heart. I thank my loving God ever so much that He counted me worthy to be here in prison for more than seven years now because of my love and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my Christian brothers and sisters who have supported me with their prayers and love, so that the victory should belong to the Lord.

Victory is yours, risen Jesus, Son of the Creator, our Redeemer.

Mehdi Dibaj is from Iran. While this book was being compiled, Mehdi Dibaj had been in prison for nine years. Early in 1994 he was released, but was murdered six months later. His courtroom defense was edited to form part of this book.

[Judy Harder]

January 7, 2011   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, whoever loses his life for me will find it.  (Matthew 16:24-25)

Mehdi Dibaj

One of my guards in prison once asked me, "Does Jesus Christ know that He has someone in this prison who loves Him?" I told him, "Jesus Christ our Lord has millions of people all over the world who love Him and who wish to sacrifice their lives for Him. I too wish to be one of them."

How sweet it will be if one day my life is sacrificed for Him, when my spirit with joy and purity will fly towards Jesus. I don't want to hide from you my dear son that I always envied those Christians who all through Church history were martyred for Christ Jesus our Lord. Because, for a Christian it is a loss to leave this world by natural death. What a privilege to live for our Lord and to die for Him as well. And I am prepared for the name of Jesus Christ our Lord not only to remain in prison but to give my life in His service as well. Because living is an opportunity for me to serve Christ and death is a better occasion to be with Christ.

Mehdi Dibaj is from Iran. While this book was being compiled, Mehdi Dibaj had been in prison for nine years. Early in 1994 he was released, but was murdered six months later. His courtroom defense was edited to form part of this book.

[Judy Harder]

January 8, 2011   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.  (Hebrews 13:5)

Mehdi Dibaj

Jesus said, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it" (Matthew 16:25).

Every Christian should be willing to be such a sacrifice for God that he gets cleansed by the fire of hardships and sufferings. "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" (1 Peter 2:21).

My heart rejoices as I walk with Jesus
the world behind me, the cross before me
I will follow Him for ever ... every day.

He will never leave us. He will never forsake us. It is the wish of every father and child to walk together. God too wishes that we walk with Him - that is to obey Him.

"I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless." Two people can only walk together if they agree together.

In the triumphal procession of Christ we will go forward by the power of God.

Mehdi Dibaj is from Iran. While this book was being compiled, Mehdi Dibaj had been in prison for nine years. Early in 1994 he was released, but was murdered six months later. His courtroom defense was edited to form part of this book.

[Judy Harder]

January 9, 2011   


from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way.  (Psalm 46:1-2)

Mehdi Dibaj

In the story of Daniel's friends in the fiery oven, God teaches us an important spiritual truth, if we want to walk close to our Lord we must be willing to go into the fire because it is the safest place for us. Not only will our socks not burn, but our clothes will not even smell of fire.

I praise God that during these seven years that I have been in prison for my faith, the Lord Jesus Christ has been my strength in a wonderful way. I not only may walk close to Him in the midst of the fire, but I go forward as well.

He leads me through water and fire

He leads us in the way of the Cross.

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

Mehdi Dibaj is from Iran. While this book was being compiled, Mehdi Dibaj had been in prison for nine years. Early in 1994 he was released, but was murdered six months later. His courtroom defense was edited to form part of this book.

[Judy Harder]

January 10, 2011   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. (Psalm 68:19)

Mehdi Dibaj

On a busy road with strong winds and heavy traffic, the crossing of such a road is a frightening experience. A child would be very scared and cry, "Daddy carry me, Daddy carry me."

In our walk with God we often experience the same storms and danger. Sometimes the pressures are so intense that it seems impossible to go forward anymore.

In such storms, what should our attitude be? Is there any hope or help from God?

The Lord says; "Call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you and you will praise me."

Yes, we may cast all our burdens upon Him, for He cares for us. He daily bears our burdens.

[Judy Harder]

January 11, 2011 

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:

Mehdi Dibaj

In days of trouble I have learned to pray - listen - praise.

Pray

"Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me" (Psalm 17:.

Listen

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). "It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord" (Lamentations 3:26).

Praise

"I sought the Lord, and he answered me, he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called and the Lord heard him. He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:4-8a).