Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

 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.

Writer for the month - Samuel Lamb from China. This noted pastor was in prison for over 20 years. He is still under great pressure from the authorities. Hundreds attend his so-called House Church, especially young people. His story is available in a book Bold as a Lamb published by Zondervan, 1991.

[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]

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,
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.

[Judy Harder]

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Pastor Samuel Lamb

The Lord's blessings are different to different people. Some people suffer physically or through illness, the only important thing is, how do we react? Some people suffer spiritually, because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Again, the only importance is, how do we react?

There is no need for us to chase after miracles, but if we need a miracle, God specializes in miracles. The greatest miracle God can do in our lives is to give us peace, whatever the circumstances may be. A Chinese proverb says, "A crisis reveals our character." How do we react in terms of crisis? Do we get confused, angry, disappointed - in God and men? Or do we trust God - who is still in control? Our spiritual character must be built before we enter a crisis so that in the midst of the trouble we can draw from our spiritual knowledge and experience.

[Judy Harder]

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. (Colossians 3:16)

I have hidden your word on my heart that I might not sin against you.  (Psalm 119:11)

Pastor Samuel Lamb

I mentioned already that I had been in prison for more than 20 years - of course without a Bible. And yet I had a Bible ... in my heart. It did not come there automatically or easily. It has cost me a lot of hard work and many, many hours of study.

It started when I was young. We lived in a little hut - not even a house, but my parents did not complain. The beauty was not in the house but in those who dwelt in it. My father called our residence the "Hallelujah-hut." A strange name maybe, but it was that word which was heard and spoken many times in that hut. Around the hut we hung all kinds of verses from the Bible - a very strange sight for other people, but very good for me because I started to memorize them. Throughout the years that I had a Bible, I started to memorize the Scriptures and by the time I was thrown into prison I had memorized the Bible from Romans to Hebrews, as well as many psalms and some other parts. Don't ask me why I memorized those Scriptures - only God knows, but when I was thrown into prison I had the Word of God in my heart - and nobody could steal it away from me. It took me a few years to learn it - it was a blessing for 20 years. And it still is.

[Judy Harder]

Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. (Luke 22:31, 32)

Pastor Samuel Lamb

During the sixteenth year of my imprisonment something dramatic happened. All the prisoners - Christian and non-Christians - were called together to have a session of so-called self-criticism. Some Buddhists were asked to criticize Buddhism - others were asked to criticize Confucius. I was asked to criticize Christ.

I quickly prayed to God. "Sir, I cannot criticize or deny my God. He is the way, the truth and the life."

"Criticize" the man shouted, "it will benefit you." I thought: Will I be released after sixteen years instead of after twenty years? It would save me four years of hard labor. But then I thought: If I criticize Christ to come out of jail four years early, the sixteen years in jail would all have been in vain. I was trembling. Freedom so near - temptation so real.

Then the Scripture I mentioned came to my mind, "Be alert, your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith..." (1 Peter 5:. I also thought of Peter, who boasted in himself ... and fell. "O Lord, keep my faith" I cried. If Peter denied Him three times, I could easily deny Him thirty times, three hundred times. Thank God, He heard my prayer. In those twenty years in jail I have not denied the Lord once, not because I was so strong - but because the Lord protected me.

Praise be to Him and to Him alone. "I have prayed for you." Thank you Jesus.