Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

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

Yang Zhang

To lay up God's words in our hearts takes time. It means that we have to read God's Word so many times that it becomes a part of us.  Some people have the Bible, but they never read it. They have laid up God's Word on a bookshelf.

But we must lay it up in our hearts. Nobody can take that away from us. Wherever we are, we have it with us. In freedom - and in prison.

That is why we in China, read God's Word as many times as we can. We feel already privileged to have a copy of the Bible. But we also know that the Bible can be taken away from us any time - or that we may be sent to places where we cannot take a Bible along. That's why we memorize as much as we can.

One of the best known Christians was Rev John Sung. He once said, "When I was young I was locked up in a mental hospital for 190 days. I was so glad that I could keep my Bible and I read it many times through during those six months."  When he came out of the mental hospital his doctors expected that his spirit had been broken. But he came out a stronger Christian than ever before. None of the doctors understood - but we did!

Do you?

Writer of the Month: Yang Zhang from China. A fiery evangelist from China writing under a pseudonym for his protection.

[Judy Harder]

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Yang Zhang

When I was studying theology the Rev Chia was our principal. A very humble man and devoted to prayer. Prayer had become so much a part of his life that you could always call upon him to pray for you in times of need.

I remember a time when I visited him, together with some other students. During our conversation he would, unintentionally, close his eyes and pray for us.  We all felt so humble and small in his presence. This man taught me to pray, not by what he said about prayer, but by the way he prayed.  When he prayed he was in touch with God.

But I also learned that the Rev Chia was not special. God is special. He has no favorites. All of us are called to pray and be in touch with God. Whenever I think of the Rev Chia I pray this prayer, "Lord teach me how to pray."

[Judy Harder]

...Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.  (Matthew 25:34-36)

Open Doors Contact Person

Queen Wilhelmina, former Queen of The Netherlands, wrote a book after her abdication entitled: Lonely but not Alone.  The same title could be given to a book about the Suffering Church, "Lonely but not Alone."

A while ago, an Open Doors co-worker visited a church leader in Vietnam. He had brought several small presents and gave those to the pastor. They were gratefully accepted, but the pastor commented, "The greatest present to us is your being here. Now we know for sure that we are not forgotten. We often feel lonely, but God is always with us. Your visit means more to us than the presents you brought. Thank you for coming."

Flowers, a card, a short visit. How encouraging they can be. Those who bless the lonely will never be lonely themselves.  "You who are blessed by my Father..."

[Judy Harder]

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father."  (Luke 3:

Li An

We cannot depend on tradition to be saved. For example, "I am from such a denomination" or "I am from such a church." We cannot depend on spiritual heroes; "I am a follower of..." or "I am a co-worker with..."  We are to produce true fruit of repentance. If we do not bear such repentance, nothing else can save us.

A Christian lady in Shanghai summed it up so nicely when she said "before the Communists came with power I was a Lutheran. Now the Communists have closed down all our churches. All I can say now is I am just a Christian."

In the final analysis this will be the only true testimony that will count.

"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13).

"For you know that it was not with perishable things ... that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ. Through him you believe in God ... and so your faith and hope are in God" (1 Peter 1:18-21).

[Judy Harder]

The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Open Doors Contact Person

A Chinese Communist had a Christian wife. He was very much opposed to the Gospel. He had tried his best to make his wife recant her faith. In vain.  One evening, he got so mad at his wife that he threw her out of the house in her pajamas. The poor woman did not know where to go. The fact that she was blind made her situation even worse. She sat down on the steps in front of her house, shivering with cold, and prayed for her husband.

After a while, he started feeling sorry for her and he let her come in again. To make up, he asked her if she needed anything.

She answered, "I need encouragement and I find that in the Bible. Would you please read something from the Bible to me?"  To her great surprise, he conceded and started reading to her from the Word of God.  God's Spirit started to work in the man and the prayers of his wife were answered. He continued to read the Bible and a few days after the incident he gave his life to Christ. Today he is a Bible teacher in China.

We can never expect too much from God.

[Judy Harder]

And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  (Matthew 10:38)

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. (Acts 5:41)

Open Doors Contact Person

"Take his cross" - it sounds ominous. This does not sound like something that goes with faith. Victory, blessing, peace - these are things which make you happy. But struggle, the cross, suffering, these have such a negative sound to them.

Yet Christians who have endured suffering, often consider it an honor to have been counted worthy to take part in Christ's suffering.

A twenty-one year old Chinese woman from Guangzhou told us openly about the many chances she had in China to be a witness for Christ. "Aren't you persecuted then?" she was asked.  "Yes," she answered, "but that does not matter. It's the way of the cross."

We are not asked to seek persecution and suffering. We are called to take up our cross.  Whoever has to carry such a cross, will be given sufficient strength to do just that.

"But rejoice" ... yes, it really is written there. "But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:13).

[Judy Harder]

David is short of words to thank and honor his God. To thank him for answering his prayer; to honor him for his faithfulness.  He challenges others to always trust in the Lord - and never to forget to thank Him.

David

I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
(Psalm 34:1-7)

[Judy Harder]

God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear ... he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Remarkable Remarks  God's Provisions - Our Responsibilities

Pastor Lamb - China:  "Abraham sent Ishmael away with a water bottle, God provided a well."

Yiddish Proverb:  "God gave burdens, but also shoulders."

Brother Andrew:  "When I tell those who suffer: don't run away from your country, I should add: I will help you."

Chinese proverb:  "Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle."

Horace Bushnell:  "What you call hindrances, obstacles and discouragements are possibly God's opportunities."

Corrie ten Boom:  "God has no problems - only plans."

Anonymous:  "Your problems become God's plans, the moment you give the problems to Him."

[Judy Harder]

In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.

(Job 1:1)

Job

One person we could not leave out of this book is Job. In no other book of the Bible are we confronted with the problems of suffering so much. Yet the question "why" is not clearly answered. Eliphaz and his friends had an easy answer - it was Job's own fault. For them and for many today, suffering is a consequence of sinning. Others will announce boldly their theory that those who follow God will never be in need. However, Job 1:1 challenges this dangerous suggestion immediately, "this man was blameless and upright, he feared God and shunned evil."

Job suffered so much precisely because he was so God-fearing. In Job chapter one, verse one, he is described as blameless, upright, God-fearing and one who shuns evil.

Those who are really blameless are also upright.

Those who really fear God, also shun evil.

Job practiced what he preached. He not only came across as blameless, but was also known as an upright business man. He not only said that he feared God, but he also made a conscious effort to keep away from evil.

Such people automatically become a target of Satan. But they also become honored by God.

In Job's case God let the devil do his utmost. Incomprehensible, sometimes unacceptable. Had God such great trust in Job? And Job in God?

This is what it is all about this week. Job's secret is our instruction today - blameless and upright, God fearing and shunning evil. Then, even in evil days, you can stand fast. And in dark days you can see light. The light.

[Judy Harder]

When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom. - (Job 1:5)

Job

Job was not only an upright believer (there was no better on earth, 1: and an outstanding business man (the richest in the area, 1:3); he was also a good father.

Whenever his children came together to celebrate, Job sat at home and worried. He thought it was good that they kept in touch with each other regularly - that there were such close family ties. He was not aware of what took place on such occasions - he was not invited. The older generation was not invited - it was not appropriate.

Job was with his family in spirit. He knew that the prosperity of his children could easily lead to leaving God out of their lives. "Surely they will not forget God?" Because he could not at that time speak to his children about God, he talked with God about his children. This was Job's practice.

Praying is sometimes the only thing that you can do for your children. Admonishment often brings distance rather than nearness. Children must be able to go their own way. Job had to let his children go - we must also.

The best way to let them go is to place them in the hands of God. Job did this. You may also do this - over and over again.