Thank You, Lord!    

"Rejoice always... in everything give thanks;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you..

I love those two wonderful verses and know them well, but all too often they are hidden beneath all kinds of mental clutter -- even as I seek to serve my Lord. I get so busy with my daily assignments that I forget to "rejoice and be glad in Him." My Goal shifts from God Himself to the work He has given me, and distractions hide the delight of His presence. I become "purpose-driven" though I long to be led by my Lord.

 

Knowing my weakness, my faithful Shepherd gently nudges me back to Himself. He may use a computer problem, or a prayer request, a family crisis or a timely email... anything to remind me that He alone is my wisdom, my strength, my hope and my victory!

 

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me," He whispers silently, "for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. " Then I thank Him, fall on my knees, and draw close to Him again. 

 

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if there be any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting." 

Psalm 139:23-24

 

Nothing is more wonderful than knowing the Shepherd and resting in Him! 

 

Daniel knew Him well. God's faithful Old Testament prophet would rather die than dishonor His Lord by hiding his faith. Even when a new Babylonian law banned Biblical worship, Daniel “knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom." Though impressed with Daniel's faith and integrity, the reluctant king had to yield to his evil counselors who "brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions.” Daniel 6:10, 16

 

You know what happened next. God sent an angel to close the mouths of the lions. Daniel was saved, because God's sovereignty far exceeds the will of man or the strength of a lion.  There is no limit to the reign of our almighty King!! 

 

Yet, our Lord has often allowed His faithful friends to face cruel death and unthinkable suffering in this life -- then rise to a martyr's welcome in His glorious eternity. For those who follow Jesus are also called to share in His suffering, so that greater victories may be won. The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) tells of one such triumph:

"The widow stood near the body of her martyred husband, holding the hands of two of her four children. Her husband had died in prison, and the marks on his body made it clear that death had come slowly and painfully.

"The other believers knew this could be their fate too, yet hundreds came to his funeral. He had died for his faith only three months after his conversion, and now they mourned him. ... Eighty people publicly accepted Christ that day, including many young people who had been part of the Communist Youth Organization.
 

"The Christians walked the length of the city to the river, where they baptized the new believers. The crowd had now grown to over fifteen hundred people.
 

"Soon, carloads of police arrived. They set out to arrest the leaders of the service.... The Christians immediately knelt in prayer, asking God to allow them to finish the service. Then they stood, shoulder to shoulder... as the baptism service went on. ...  One thousand people were inspired by the sacrificial example of one new believer."

Here in America, we often take freedom for granted and put our trust in the "inalienable rights" supposed to prevent such injustice. Could that be an example of misplaced faith? Remember, the Soviet constitution (like the UN Declaration on Human Rights) promised the same rights and freedoms. But those who refused to conform to Communist doctrines were denied all those promised rights. America is drifting along the same path. [See America's Spiritual Slide]

 

As Biblical truth and values are casually tossed aside by a vast army of postmodern "change agents" and a flood of immoral distractions, enticing new beliefs are fast filling the gaps. Then God, who alone can guard our freedom, may well withdraw His protection and leave our nation to its own resources -- just as He did with ancient Israel.

 

But to those who love Him, He promises, “'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'” Hebrews 13:5-6

 

In the midst of today's challenges, we will praise our Father, who never fails His own children. He is our Refuge from raging storms and our Hiding Place from corruption and evil.  His great promises can never be revoked by any human tyrant or anti-Christian politician. No pluralistic world government can topple God's eternal Kingdom. Nor will today's demand for compromise erode the saving faith of those who belong to Jesus. Washed in His blood and filled with His Life, their hope and joy in their King can never be quenched. 

 

"In the world ye shall have tribulation," He reminds us, "but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  John 16:33