Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

David feels desperate. He is in deadly danger, like somebody who is drowning in a swamp. He can just about keep his head above the water. In this desperate situation he cries out to God. But it seems like God is turning a deaf ear to him. David thinks his end is near. He continues to pray and cry out to God. He is afraid that if he dies, other believers may stumble and lose their faith in the God of David. God's name is at stake.

David

Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.
I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal.
I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.
The poor will see and be glad - you who seek God, may your hearts live!
The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.
(Psalm 69:1-4,30-33)

[Judy Harder]

Again I tell you, that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my father in heaven. (Matthew 18:19)

Pastor Zhu's wife

Praying according to God's will and in agreement with another Christian has great power. Both, however, are very difficult.

First, we need to pray according to God's will. How do I know God's will? We can have long discussions about this. So long that in the end we only discuss, talk and argue instead of praying. Second, to find another Christian who will agree is also difficult. As individuals, we like to have our own opinions and views. The basis for any prayer according to His will is - to His glory. Does my request glorify God?

I experienced this spiritual battle in a very realistic way. I had been separated from my daughter for three years. We both encountered great problems, persecutions and hardships. One day we agreed to claim the promise of Matthew 18:19. We prayed very earnestly - believing it would bring glory to God to bring us together again. All the circumstances were against us. God would have to perform a miracle to unite us again. The people around us would know and acknowledge that only God could bring it about. For Him nothing is impossible.

Moreover, God delights to give good gifts to his children.

What seemed impossible became possible - we were united. "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord" (Proverbs 21:1). He directed the authorities to grant us permission to be united. Let us have faith in a great God.

"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "yes" in Christ. And so through Him the "amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 1:20).

[Judy Harder]

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)

Pastor Zhu's wife

It is quite common that Christians have different opinions about certain matters. That is nothing to worry about. The important aspect is how we deal with differences.

Once, two Chinese brothers had different opinions. They talked about it, but soon their discussion ended in a heated argument. They both thought that their way of solving the problem was the best. The Holy Spirit spoke to their hearts, so instead of arguing about their differences they started to thank God - in prayer - for the things they agreed about - God's love, His creation, His forgiveness and grace etc. As they were praying and praising God they humbled themselves.

Their discussions ended in arguments - their prayers in union and unity. Their attitude became Christ's attitude - that of a servant.

Maybe we should talk less and pray more, and see God at work.

[Judy Harder]

But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say.
(Matthew 10:19)

Pastor Zhu's wife

During the Cultural Revolution I was detained and isolated from the outside world because I refused to compromise with the enemies of God.

My husband was also detained. We were not allowed to communicate with each other. They tried to break our spirit by interrogating us individually.

One day they came and looked triumphantly at me. "Your husband is a good man. You should love him dearly. He loves you too and does not want you to suffer any longer. He has finally given us the names of those who have visited your house last year. Thanks to his co-operation he will be sentenced less severely. And so will you. But before we release you we want to check with you if the names your husband has given are correct!"

Afterwards, one realizes how simple and dirty this trick was. But at the time it was not simple - it was clever. Your body and spirit are weak - you want to get out of that dirty prison. Any offer sounds like an opportunity to be set free. How wonderful is God's grace and protection. When we are weak - He is strong. He will give us words to speak - and power to remain quiet where needed. How He does it? Through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

If God's word exhorts us not to worry when we get arrested, how much less should we worry about small, petty daily matters.

"Do not worry - for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).

[Judy Harder]

The greatest amongst you will be your servant. (Matthew 23:11)

Pastor Zhu's wife

This is not an easy command. Normally, people like to be served instead of serving others.

Jesus Himself set the example, "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve" (Matthew 20:28). The Disciples of Christ should follow in His footsteps.

During the 1950s I was studying at Beijing University. I loved to attend the meetings of the Christian Students' Association. This association did not have full time staff members - no, those who served the Christian students were fellow Christians. Not because they wanted to be great or important, but because they were important, because they served other people. When the government clamped down on the Church they arrested many of our "brothers and sisters." We could not meet openly anymore. We had to meet secretly - in homes. But we had learned an important lesson from our "brothers and sisters" - how to serve others. That's how we continued - serving one another. You want to be a blessing to other people? Then serve them maybe in a small way, a smile, a letter, a visit...

"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

[Judy Harder]

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? (1 Corinthians 6:7)

Pastor Zhu's wife

Quarrels among believers are never good. Lawsuits among believers are even worse. When there is a conflict among believers, they should talk it over in the love of the Lord - with a humble and forgiving heart.

Do not wait and grumble against each other. It only gives the devil a chance to intervene. "Completely defeated" means "failure."

Jesus teaches us that victory is not the emphasis of personal innocence and fairness, but peace and humility among the Body of Christ (Matthew 5:39,40).

We Christians in China often find ourselves in a situation where we have to appear in court. We are ill-treated, put in prison without cause; nobody defends our rights.

We have every "right" to complain. But it will not be to our advantage. We will only suffer more and lose our peace in the Lord.

If we are learning not to react in a worldly way against unbelievers, how much more should the mind of Christ dwell in us when we disagree with fellow Christians? "Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose ... in humility consider others better than yourselves ... your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:2-5).

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and then remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23,24).

[Judy Harder]

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. (1 Peter 2:2)

Li An

The Word of God nourishes us and meets the needs of our spiritual life. It generates in our hearts, causing us to grow gradually. Modern man prefers to listen to new and trendy teaching. It works temporarily as it is new and soothing to the ears. But it does not last.

"All men are like grass and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands for ever" (1 Peter 1:24,25).

This is the pure spiritual milk which causes us to grow up in our salvation.

"I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word" (Psalm 119:14-16).

"The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple" (Psalm 119:130).

"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter that honey to my mouth. I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:103-105).

(This meditation was edited from the booklet Morning Light compiled by Jonathan Chao, Chinese Research Centre.)

[Judy Harder]

David is very, very sad. His best friends have left him, or even worse, they have turned against him. David is suffering from this, spiritually, emotionally and physically. He can deal with the fact that his real enemies are against him, but to be considered an enemy by his friends hurts deeply, very deeply.

David

O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent,
for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues.
With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause.
In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.
They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.
With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord; in the great throng I will praise him.
For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him.
(Psalm 109:1-5,30-31)

[Judy Harder]

If you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed ... in your hearts set apart Christ as your Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience. (1 Peter 3:14-16)

Oswaldo Magdangal

Every testimony of struggle and victory contains a danger. After all, the person in question can be made the center of attention so much so that not Christ, but a man or woman is glorified. When you read about victories in the coming week, you must not think: how strong this man's faith was!

When you read about his pain, you must not think how he suffered!

Brother Wally himself said the following, "My testimony is not even my testimony, really, but the story of the Lord Jesus Christ in my life. Every Christian has a story to tell and it is always the story of Jesus. That is the most wonderful thing about being a Christian - we have a common story to tell, the story of what Jesus Christ did in our lives. I thank God that a Christian's life is the best life conceivable. Everything else pales into insignificance beside the privilege of being called a child of God."

So let our life and suffering, our struggle and our victory, our words and silence always glorify His holy Name. "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be glory" (Psalm 115:1).

[Judy Harder]

For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered ... I am convinced that neither death nor life will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:36-39)

Oswaldo Magdangal

Saudi Arabia is the cradle of Islam. Every Saudi who becomes a Christian can be sentenced to death for it. Christians can only meet in total secrecy, and building Christian churches is strictly forbidden.

As the Saudi Arabian Minister of Information, Ali Ben Hassan ash-Shair said in an interview with the French paper Le Figaro in August 1992, "The Saudi government cannot allow any churches on its territory because it is Allah's command."

Brother Wally comes from the Philippines and he had been working in Saudi Arabia for more than ten years, when he was imprisoned and sentenced to death.

In Saudi Arabia, the death penalty can be executed in two ways - decapitation or hanging. Decapitation is for criminals, murderers, drug dealers etc. Hanging is reserved for blasphemy and subversive activities. Brother Wally was sentenced to death by hanging - because of his testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Islam considers this blasphemy, which deserves the most dreadful way to die - hanging. Brother Wally wrote, "Although we had prepared ourselves for suffering and the Lord had also prepared us spiritually, it is quite different when it happens to you personally. In the middle of my struggle in a dirty little death cell, the Lord encouraged me with the following words, 'My son, I have seen everything. I assure you that I will not leave you or forsake you.' The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. In the deepest darkness, He is the light. God gives strength in suffering - always, everywhere."