Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation. (2 Corinthians 1:6)

Joseph Ton

What Paul wants to say is that I am suffering for your salvation.

To illustrate this, we must go back to the time when Romania was still suffering under Communism. In Joseph Ton's church, one Christian was a manager in a big factory. As a consequence of his conversion, all employees of the factory were called together by the Communist Party to witness his degradation from manager to the lowest job in the factory. "How should I defend myself?" he asked Joseph. "Don't defend yourself at all," Joseph advised him, "you'd use the time they give you to defend yourself better, by telling them who Jesus is and what He means to you."

It was really impressive how he bore witness of his Savior in front of all those people. Afterwards, he was degraded and his salary lowered accordingly. But his faith was rewarded. His suffering brought salvation to other people, for later on, he told Joseph, "Everywhere in the factory, people take my hand and ask me to tell them about Jesus. Many of them ask me to get them a Bible."

Because this brother was prepared to suffer for his Lord, other people were saved. Those who are prepared to pay the price (status, salary, defamation) will be a blessing to others and will also receive God's prize: eternal life.

Joseph Ton from Romania. Joseph Ton describes a number of spiritual principles of God's faithfulness despite suffering. Edited with permission from the Dutch booklet entitled Lessen in Lijden.

[Judy Harder]

Shall we accept good from God and not trouble? (Job 2:10)

Joseph Ton

Job had to suffer for God's honor. Satan contended that Job only served God out of self-interest. Then God allowed Satan to take everything away from Job - his whole fortune, all his children and his health. His own wife said, "Curse God and die." And his "friends" said, "You're done for. God has become your enemy." But Job answered, "I don't know what He has against me, but even if he slay me, I will hope in Him."

At that moment, there must have been a burst of applause in heaven. God really had people on earth who possessed nothing and still remained faithful to Him. Job did not worship God because He was so good to him, but because God is God.

Such people give God glory. They live and suffer for the glory of God. God is looking for people like that.

[Judy Harder]

Does Job fear God for nothing? (Job 1:9)

Joseph Ton

In Romania, there was a Christian poet named Traian Dorz. He spent more than sixteen years in prison because of his faith in Jesus Christ. One day, he was sentenced to another two years in prison because of a book he had written, a collection of Christian poems for children. He was seventy years old at the time! In prison, he wrote another poem, in which he says;

"Lord, help me to love You,
even if none of my prayers are heard.
Help me to trust You,
even if there will be
no reward in eternity."

Of course there will be a reward for this saint in heaven, but what he wanted to make clear, was that he loved God not because He answered all his prayers, not even because he was hoping for a reward, but because God is worthy to be served. He served God for Who He is, not for what He does.

God's answer to Satan's question, "Does Job fear God for nothing?" is "Yes!"

God was faithful to Job and Job was faithful to God, in spite of all the "why's."

[Judy Harder]

Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourself were suffering. (Hebrews 13:3)

Joseph Ton

Suffering is a favor that is to be shared with the whole of Christ's Church.

If my hand hurts, I say, "I don't feel well."

If one part of the Body suffers, the Bible says (1 Corinthians 12) the whole Body suffers.

Millions of Christians in other countries are suffering. Do you feel the pain too? If they suffer, I, who am part of the same Body, should also feel pain. If we do something for persecuted Christians, we suffer with them.

For example, persecuted Christians always pray for a Bible of their own. Printing Bibles in the free world is very expensive. Those who are prepared to make a financial sacrifice for the printing of these Bibles suffer with those who have none. They work hard to send spiritual food to the people who suffer. When they receive their long-awaited Bible, they shed tears of joy.

Jesus said, "Whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).

If a Christian is beaten, Christ suffers.

If a Christian is helped, Christ is helped.

If we pray for those who suffer, they will be comforted.

That is the way God works, and we are God's fellow-workers.

[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.