Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

Come, let us bow down in worship,
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture...
Today, if you hear his voice
do not harden your hearts...
(Psalm 95:6-8)

Noah

For one hundred and twenty years Noah preached by word and deed, against the corruption and violence of his time. He warned of the forthcoming judgment, but not one man or woman believed. For more than one hundred years the people saw the ark of rescue, but all refused to heed or accept Noah's warning, including even the workmen, who helped Noah build the boat, who heard Noah's witness and observed his godly life. Because of their unbelief they perished outside the boat they themselves had worked on. What a tragedy - so near and yet so far. Time has not changed man. God still warns people of impending judgment. He still offers rescue through the ark of salvation, Jesus Christ.

"As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man, two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day our Lord will come" (Matthew 24:37-40, 42).

"Come; let us bow down before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God..." (Psalm 95:6, 7).

[Judy Harder]

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
(Genesis 9:13)

Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him...  (Revelation 1:7)

Noah

Noah lived in one of the most difficult times of history. In a world without God, where people were egocentric and corrupt. "The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man ... and his heart was filled with pain ... But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord!" (Genesis 6:5-8).  After God's punishment Noah entered a new era in the history of the world, "I have set my rainbow in the clouds ... the covenant between me and the earth." (Genesis 9:13).

The rainbow was a reminder of the past and an assurance for the future, a visible sign of God's promise. Though at the end of this age the earth will once again be destroyed (by fire) mankind lives in a time of grace and promise. Before God will destroy the earth something else will become visible in the clouds - not a rainbow - but the Son of Man.  Between Noah's rainbow and Christ's return we can walk with God. That means walking in God's direction. It involves a break with those who walk in the opposite direction. We may belong to the few who walk in His direction, but we have a great crowd of witnesses surrounding us. Men and women who dared take a stand for Christ. Let us therefore run with perseverance with our eyes fixed on Jesus - until we see Him at His glorious return.

[Judy Harder]

be strong in the Lord ... put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  (Ephesians 6:10-11)

Noah

The Bible is an honest book. It not only speaks of Noah's faith in God, but also reveals his weaknesses. Two verses from Scripture show the difference:

"Noah built an altar to the Lord..." (Genesis 8:20).

"Noah ... proceeded to plant a vineyard" (Genesis 9:20).

In the first instance he was in the presence of God whereas in the vineyard he was tempted by the devil. Victory and defeat are at either extreme, but never far apart.

"...your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:.

The hour of victory can easily become the hour of defeat. We will never be out of reach of temptation. We should always have the shield of faith in our hands as part of our spiritual armor. To "walk with God" does not come automatically. It requires a daily exercise of entering into His presence, listening to His instructions and following them without reservation.

Those who do so will have the experience of never walking alone.

[Judy Harder]

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 6:

Noah

In a time of moral darkness and corruption, Noah walked with God. When God wanted to destroy the human race, Noah found favor in God's eyes.

When we complain about the world in which we live, let us learn these important lessons from Noah's life.

1.        That it is possible to walk with God in spite of surrounding lawlessness and godlessness.

2.        That Noah was obedient when God asked him to accomplish a strange and difficult task.

3.        That Noah warned his neighbors of impending judgment, thus offering them a way of repentance.

4.        That Noah was protected and saved by God, who honored his faith by an everlasting promise.

When the waters of judgment covered the earth, Noah was safe within the Ark. What a wonderful illustration the Ark affords of Jesus Christ who preserves us from the fire of judgment which will come to our world.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ..." (Romans 5:1).

There is hope - for you and your family, whatever the circumstances may be.

[Judy Harder]

David composed this psalm when he had to flee from Absalom. What a tragedy when you have to flee from your own child!

The people reacted in an inhumane manner "God will not deliver him." He had every reason to complain. But David did not do that. He declares that the Lord God is always near, especially in times of pain and suffering. For him it was not mere theory but a practical experience of God's nearness.

"I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me."

David

O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!
Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him."
But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.
Arise, O Lord! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.
From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.
(Psalm 3)

[Judy Harder]

Bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you. (Luke 6:28)

Irina Ratushinskaya

Almost every demand from Christ seems impracticable. If we, however, want to follow the Lord, then there is no other way. More than once I experienced this from the KGB prisons.

The response of the world to the tormentors of the KGB is hatred, and every hour, the KGB gives more reasons to hate them. But I soon noticed that if I hated them as well, I would be eaten up from within. I have seen fellow prisoners so filled with hatred that they lost their mind and so destroyed their personality. And that's exactly what the KGB wants.

How should we as Christians control these feelings? Christ commanded us to cast out hatred by love. That is not easy. This demand by Christ seems impracticable. But there is no other way.

"Pray for those who mistreat you." Such a prayer may save them, but in any case it will save us.

Writer for the month - Irina Ratushinskaya from Russia was imprisoned for seven years in a labor camp. She has written about her experiences in a moving book entitled Grey is the Colour of Hope published by Sceptre Books, 1989.

[Judy Harder]

The Lord is with you, mighty warrior. (Judges 6:12b)
For when I am weak, then I am strong.  (2 Corinthians 12:10b)

Gideon

Gideon a mighty warrior? When you read Judges, the opposite seems to be the case. Gideon was a timid, disappointed Israelite. Yet, God called him a mighty warrior.

Was God being cynical? No, God is never sarcastic. God did not see what Gideon was, but what he could become. God sees us in a different way than we view ourselves. God chooses the weak to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). He can turn a weak and frightened Gideon into a hero and leader.

Don't look upon yourself in a negative way. "I can't do anything, I am a nobody. I have nothing to offer."  Whoever dares to answer "Yes" when God calls, will be anointed by Him.

For the weak are strong. For the weak can count on God's help. And will receive it. Even today.

[Judy Harder]

..Tear down your father's altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord your God on the top of this crag. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering. (Judges 6:25-26)

Gideon

Servanthood starts at home. Before Gideon could lead the people back to their God, he had to get rid of the idols in his own home.

Serving God does not start on the mission field but at home, in your own church and family. That is often the hardest place to serve. It seems much easier to take the Gospel to far away peoples than to share Christ with your family and friends. But those who are ashamed of Christ at home will never be able to serve Him abroad. 

Conversion starts with, "turning your back on..." Coming to Christ means turning your back on your idols, whatever they may be. With this command Gideon's mission started. "Tear down your father's altar." That could cause a very negative reaction from his father. But Gideon was obedient to God. It is true that Gideon was afraid to be so radical. He did it at night, but he did it ... "Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon" (Judges 6:34).

It will always be that way. Is there a Baal idol in your life? Whatever it may be, tear it down, get rid of it. Then God will fill you with a new spirit, the Holy Spirit.

[Judy Harder]

I will place a wool fleece on the threshing-floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said. (Judges 6:37)

Gideon

Was it alright for Gideon to ask for a sign? Wasn't he filled with the Holy Spirit? Hadn't he heard God's voice already? What more did he want?

The fact that God granted Gideon's request, does not mean He agreed with him. But God understands our human weaknesses and treats us with godly patience. God goes to meet us and meets us just where we are.

So to "put down a fleece" and ask for a sign time and time again, is this right?

God gave us His Word as a light for our path and a lamp unto our feet (Psalm 119:105). If God's Word is God's will for your life, He will guide you by that Word. That is no mysterious or magic act. It means: walking with God.

Whosoever follows Him, communicates with Him and keeps His Word, will be guided by Him in all truth.

[Judy Harder]

The Lord said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands."
(Judges 7:2)

Gideon

You cannot be too small for God to use, but you can be too big. That is what the story in Judges 7:2 teaches us.

When we no longer depend upon ourselves He takes us by the hand and tells us that we can trust Him completely. We have to learn to be dependent on God. Without Him we can do nothing. We will also discover that He can do the impossible.

It is not our responsibility to understand how He will perform His work in and through us. He only asks us to trust Him and do what He tells us to do.

It may seem absurd. To win a war with just empty jars. And 300 soldiers against 135,000. Numbers are not important to God. He is looking for empty vessels, in which He can pour out His treasures.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). This way we will get the victory and God the honor. Honor to who honor is due.