Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  (1 Corinthians 1:20)

Gerhard Hamm

Paul describes here the main difference between human and divine wisdom. The world only acknowledges human wisdom and such was also the case in our country. We Christians were considered second-rate citizens. Oh how often children from Christian families had to suffer scorn and abuse! At school, they received lower marks and were labeled bad students.

Many things have changed in Russia since 1989. Never before has there been such openness for the Gospel as there is now. Once, during an open air meeting, a very learned woman came to me. She was a lecturer at the Atheistic University. She looked pale and confused. When I asked her what I could do for her, she answered, "I have been fighting your God, your Bible, the Christians for twenty years now..." She hesitated for a moment and then continued, "But I was wrong." She fell silent again ... "and now I want to know more of the truth. Help me."

Her head bowed, this learned atheist stood before a Christian who had formerly been considered a second-rate citizen. I told her about the Gospel and prayed with her. Then she went home, walking in the light.

"The One enthroned in heaven laughs" (Psalm 2:4).  For He is in command, nothing is too difficult for Him. The Iron Curtain fell and God is building His Church.

Is anything too hard for the Lord?

[Judy Harder]

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.  (Psalm 73:23-24)

Gerhard Hamm

It is not always easy to live close to the Lord, for the powers of evil are always attempting to disturb our relationship with God. But, thank God, Jesus is more powerful than Satan. People who know Christ may count on His protection when the devil is cunningly trying to tempt them.

I have often experienced this in Siberia. When I was still living in the polar region, where the temperature in winter was sometimes 56 degrees below zero, the KGB one day offered to get me out of the cold, on condition that I help them out in "a small matter." I was offered a good job in a prison camp with a nice, heated room from which I was able to listen in to the conversations of other Christian prisoners. All I had to do was pass on the contents of those conversations to the KGB. "We would only like to know what kind of things people talk about." It was a very tempting offer, away from the cold, no more forced labor. But the Lord was there to help me. I saw the viciousness of the plan. "Do you know what Judas did after his betrayal?" I asked. The man shook his head. "Judas committed suicide ... and I want to live."

The conversation was over. I did not get the warm room and the attractive job. I had to get back into the cold. But my heart was warm.

Satan always offers us a compromise, so be watchful. Christians who enter into a compromise are of no value to God or man. Only those who remain faithful to the Lord, anywhere and under any circumstance, are valuable.

[Judy Harder]

I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.  (John 4:35)

Gerhard Hamm

Although Christians in Russia were considered to be second-rate citizens for many years, we are happy now to see that many people show an interest in us. Many atheists and communists are disappointed and are searching for a new ideology. They ask Christians to tell them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yes, the fields are ripe for harvest in the former Soviet Union.

After the downfall of communism, I spoke at an open air meeting in Siberia. More than 4,000 people came to listen. I knew this place in the woods very well because I had looked after my father's cows there 50 years ago. Many, many people were converted and accepted the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Among them was a teacher. She came to us and said, "Oh, Lord, forgive me, forgive me, forgive me please. For years I have told the children that there is no God, but in my heart I knew I was wrong. As from this day, I will tell the children that there really is a God and that He forgives our sins."

Yes, the fields are ripe for harvest. If God can cause such a breakthrough in this communist stronghold, we can only say, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14).

God makes all things new. In your life and in mine. Today.

[Judy Harder]

Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. (Daniel 6:11)

Gerhard Hamm

Daniel prayed in spite of the king's decree. He was aware that praying was dangerous, but he also realized that prayer was of vital importance. How odd that praying could cost him his life, while not praying would kill him spiritually. It was no difficult choice. To him, his relationship with God was more important than his position or his life.

In Russia, prayer also met with great opposition. The devil knows only too well that praying people are victorious people.

One day, I was arrested together with 30 other brothers in Moscow. We were taken to the police station and locked up in an ice-cold room. It was a few days before Christmas and we thought we would probably not be home by then. It was no use complaining, so one of the brothers said, "Let's pray." We all knelt down on the cold concrete floor and then there followed a miraculous hour of prayer. The policeman was dumbfounded, but afterwards he said, "What kind of fanatics are you? How dare you pray in an atheist police station?" A long conversation followed.

Later on, an officer appeared and he said, "We don't know what to do with you. If we imprison one of you, he will convert another prisoner. If we imprison two, another two will be converted. Go home, you won't bother us there."

And he was right. Prayer gives strength and opens doors. If it doesn't open doors of prison cells, it opens the hearts of people inside prisons. What a powerful weapon! Use it.

[Judy Harder]

Lord, teach us to pray. (Luke 11:1)

Gerhard Hamm

I am so grateful to my parents for having taught us to pray. And above all, for having been praying people themselves.

We saw the value and the power of prayer in our parents. Father was shot and killed for it and mother deported to Siberia, where she died. We, their children, have never considered this a tragic loss, but a spiritual victory.

Their prayers were taken up to heaven by angels and put into golden censers (Revelation 8:3, 4). And their prayers were heard. They had twenty children, ten of whom are dead now, and many of them died in Siberia. We, the remaining ten children, suffered much in Siberia, but God has been good and merciful to us. All ten have become servants of the Lord. In times of severe persecution, we saw how our parents found strength in the Lord, through prayer and faith. We want to follow in their footsteps and go on. Do our children see the power of prayer in us?

"Lord, teach us to pray."

[Judy Harder]

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. (Psalm 126:5)

Gerhard Hamm

Crying is a natural human quality. You can cry out of grief, but also because of joy. You can cry out of anger, but also out of pity.

During a meeting in Siberia at which 11,000 people had gathered, I met a woman who was very depressed. She was crying about her own life as well as her daughter's, who she was very worried about. "Oh, help me please; I am so worried about my child. She is an alcoholic and drinks all day. Her husband has beaten her up many times. Her life is hell on earth, is there still hope for her?"

I told her that God is able to make all things new. He can set people free from sin, from alcohol and bad habits, so that we become a new creation. I found out that the woman had not yet decided to give her life to Christ. So I asked, "How can you expect God to do something for your child when you don't follow Him yourself?"

The next day, she came to the open air meeting again. She was beaming with joy through her tears. She cried, "I have given my life to the Lord. His peace is in my heart now and I believe that He can forgive and cure my child too. I will pray for it every day."

What a change! And the change will have its effect on her child. From tears to joy. "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." For God hears!

[Judy Harder]

This psalm was probably written by David when Absalom was plotting to dethrone him. It seems that David was aware of this plan. What can he do to stop it? He turns to the Lord, his God.

David

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell....
Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies - make straight your way before me.
Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.
Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you.
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
(Psalm 5:1-4, 8-12)

[Judy Harder]

So Abram left, as the Lord had told him. (Genesis 12:4)

Constantin Caraman

The next few meditations are about ordinary people who did extraordinary things.

People who blessed those who persecuted them.

People like Enoch who walked with God in a world of haste.

People like Job who trusted the Lord for better or for worse.

Is this not what God expects from us as well? If He does - He enables.

Abraham seems to have had a mission that was impossible. Emigrating at the age of 75, leaving his country; without even knowing where to go.

Abraham heard and obeyed the Word of the Lord. No objections like, "Lord, are You quite sure? Here in Ur are many more possibilities to serve You. This is the cultural, commercial and political centre of the world." No, Abraham obeyed God unconditionally. And God changed his name: Abram (father of height) became Abraham (father of a multitude).

Abraham did an unusual thing which made him tower above all others (father of height) and as such he became a source of blessing (father of a multitude).

Abraham, God's friend.

What was his secret? Unconditional obedience to the Lord.

[Judy Harder]

Enoch walked with God. (Genesis 5:24)

Constantin Caraman

Walking with God. Can it be done today?

Was it not much easier for Enoch to walk with God? Did he not live in the "good old days?" No, those old days were not that good. They were times of change and apostasy.

In fact, people lived according to their own standards so much that it was not difficult to notice a man who had different standards, God's standards: he walked with God.

He did so in spite of the slander and temptation of the world around him.

No, it is not at all easy to walk with God. It is much easier to only believe in God in your hearts and live like the rest of the world. But that is not walking with God. That is a compromise which makes any walk with God impossible.

How then do we walk with God? By acknowledging Him in all things, in seeking Him, and living for Him.

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:6).

How delightful it is to walk with God in those paths.

[Judy Harder]

I have sinned against the Lord. (2 Samuel 12:13)

Constantin Caraman

It takes courage to tell a king the truth, especially when the truth will result in punishment. Punishment for the king (by God) and punishment for yourself (by the king). John the Baptist did it and it cost him his head.

When David made some serious mistakes, God sent the prophet Nathan to point them out to him. It was a difficult task for Nathan. Which one of us would like to be a bearer of bad tidings? But Nathan went to tell the king what the consequences of his sin would be. How did David react? Did he have Nathan killed? No, David did something unusual - he accepted the criticism and admitted the guilt, "I have sinned."

He did not try to defend himself, but humbled himself before God. Is this not characteristic of a man after God's own heart?

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
(Psalm 139:23, 24)