Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)

Joseph Ton

Hardly anyone in Eastern Europe believes in Marxism. The real Marxists live in the West. A friend of Joseph Ton in Moscow once told him, "Marxism was pure deception, but what is the alternative?" Many people know what they don't believe, but they don't know what they do believe. What they are really saying is this, "We tried Satan's lies and we got hell. We now know that we were deceived, but what is truth?"

Lies enslave people, but the truth always sets you free. The world tells our young people, "Why shouldn't you be free to do anything you like? Why shouldn't you live it up?" And young people say, "Yes, I want to be free." But soon they discover they are not free at all. They have become slaves to all kinds of bad habits. Satan promises freedom, but enslaves people. His sole aim is to destroy our personality.

God's truth really sets us free. "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). It is a freedom that is real and lasting. Forever. Through the Son - Jesus Christ - the Savior.

[Judy Harder]

We have escaped with our lives as a bird from a hunter's snare. The snare is broken and we are free!
(Psalm 124:7 LB)

Joseph Ton

When Joseph Ton was forced to leave his native country Romania because of his faith in Jesus Christ, the Lord encouraged him with this beautiful psalm.

If the Lord had not been on our side (let all Israel admit it), if the Lord had not been on our side, we would have been swallowed alive by our enemies, destroyed by their anger. We would have drowned beneath the flood of these men's fury and pride.

Blessed be Jehovah who has not let them devour us. We have escaped with our lives as a bird from a hunter's snare. The snare is broken and we are free!

Our help is from the Lord who made heaven and earth.

(Psalm 124 LB)

Let us pray that the truth of this Psalm may be experienced by all who suffer for His Name.

God will help them out, and you.

[Judy Harder]

David pours out his heart in a moving prayer. He feels deserted by everybody and everything. "No-one is concerned for me" (v.4).

Only God can deliver him from prison.

"Set me free from my prison that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me" (v.7).

David

I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.
When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me.
Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.
I cry to you, O Lord; I say, 'You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.'
Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.
Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.
(Psalm 142)

[Judy Harder]

Is anything too hard for the Lord? (Genesis 18:14)

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise. (Psalm 8:2)

Open Doors Contact Person

Although the Russian government no longer persecutes Christians for their faith, some believers still suffer for confessing Jesus Christ.

In April 1992, a twelve-year old boy, Volodya, experienced the following:

"I heard about the church meetings on Karl Marx Street and went there because I wanted to know more about God. When I was told that Jesus loves children as well I asked him to love me too. When I told my mother, she was very upset and angry. She told me that God does not exist. I was beaten every time I went to church. But I still went. Then one day my mother decided to join me so she could talk to the pastor and tell him not to let me go to church any more. But I took her to the pastor on a Sunday so she would have to listen to his preaching first. As she sat there, something happened, she started to cry almost uncontrollably. She realized her need for God ... and asked the pastor to pray for her. Now we go to church together."

May you be encouraged today, as you pray for members of your own family. If a twelve-year old boy dares to take such a stand for Christ why not you today? God will honor such a commitment. "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

[Judy Harder]

Then it was said amongst the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy. (Psalm 126:2,3)

Open Doors Contact Person

Some time ago, while travelling in central Cuba, we wanted to visit a pastor we had never met before. We only had his name and address. We had no idea how old the pastor was or to which church he belonged. We had just brought his address along in case we would come near his home. Today was the day. When we arrived at the house the door was opened by an elderly woman. We mentioned the name of the pastor, after which she invited us into her home. She showed us a picture on the wall. "That is the man you are looking for," she said. "He was my husband, but he died many years ago."

We felt ashamed, very ashamed. We did not know what to say. Before we left we gave the woman what we had brought for her husband, a Study Bible. When she saw it she exclaimed, "I have never been visited by a foreign missionary, but I have prayed for a Study Bible for twenty years. Today God has answered my prayer and released me from my prison of loneliness. He sent you and you gave me the greatest gift I had prayed for. Thank you for coming."

We left a woman filled with joy. We were there too late, and yet on time.

Take a moment today to give thanks to the Lord for what He has done for you.

[Judy Harder]

The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. (John 1:9)

Horacio Herrera

Our century is often called the century of light. So many new discoveries, so many new insights - indeed a century of light. Yet, we see more darkness around us than ever before.

Why? Because people do not see The Light, but follow other, destructive lights - horoscopes, fortune tellers and the zodiac. They think that these are trustworthy stars, "It is written in the stars."

Remember that Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Jesus is the light of the world - leading to salvation. Satan appears as an angel of light - leading to bondage and destruction. Which star do we follow?

Psalm 36:9 says, "For with you is the fountain of life. In your light we see light."

He has revealed that light to us through his word, which is a light for my path (Psalm 119:5).

In my country of Cuba, Christmas is not officially celebrated. Only the Christians celebrate Christmas, and although we don't have commercial Christmas lights, we have the light, Jesus, who enlightens us daily.

The star of Bethlehem still brings everlasting light and joy to those who seek Him.

As a bumper sticker reads: Wise Men Still Seek Jesus.

[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]

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said, "Do not be afraid, I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead and behold I am alive forever and ever."
(Revelation 1:17,18)

Ali Sougou

Ali Sougou was the first ever indigenous Christian of the Comoros Islands, a beautiful group of islands in the Indian Ocean, east of the continent of Africa. Born and raised in a Muslim family, Ali met Christ in a supernatural way.

His first contact with Christ came through a Christian who visited his island. Ali was confused about what he had heard from the man. "Jesus loves me and died for my sins? Who is this Jesus?" He dare not ask the Christian. He could not anyway, as the Christian had already left the island. And there was no other Christian to ask.

Ali went home - disturbed and confused. All he wanted now was a quiet rest and a good sleep. That night something happened. Ali realized he was not alone in the room anymore. Facing him across the room stood a man. The beauty of His countenance was beyond description. His white robe lit up the room. His eyes were as blue as sapphires. "He held out his hands and placed them on my forehead." Ali said later, "I know now that I was in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ."

It was Ali's first introduction to Christianity, or rather, to Christ Himself. "I rose from my bed and searched the room; the windows were closed." Jesus appeared to him - a night to remember. That night became Ali's new day.

A supernatural meeting with the unknown Savior. There was nobody to tell Ali about Christ - so Christ revealed Himself to him.

If God could meet Ali in such a wondrous way, can He not meet you - 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.

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]

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.