Friday March 11, 2011

Read Daniel 6:23-24. Rev 20:7-15

Courage to stand against the enemy and to engage him/her/them in battle comes from a variety of sources. But don’t be fooled. Courage is not just the absence of fear. Courage is the ability and willingness to move forward despite our fears. One source of courage is knowing the end result. In Christ, you and I know the end result - all evil will be defeated. All sinners and wicked people will be cast into the lake of burning sulphur and fire. All those who love the Lord Jesus Christ and have honoured Him with their lives will be resurrected to eternity in a perfect paradise of blessing and bliss.  Can I walk courageously forward through this muddy situation I am in? Of course I can, because I know that Christ has won the victory. I know that the evil one attacking me at this time will be thrown in to the lake of fire for all eternity and that those who resist in rebellion against God will join him. That certainty, that knowledge, that assurance allows me to walk forward into battle with courage.

Throughout the Bible we see many episodes where the wicked get what they deserve. Here in Daniel 6, those who lied and sought to remove Daniel from his post were thrown into the lions’ den together with their families. Even before they reached the floor of the pit, they were overpowered and killed by the lions. Indeed, the lions were hungry for they hadn’t eaten the day before!

All these types of scenes in the Bible point us to the final and irreversible judgement of the evil and wicked. God will judge the world through is Son Christ Jesus. He will bring restitution.  He will vindicate us His  people. He will deliver us safely into His heavenly kingdom.  You and I can be confident and courageous because of the nature of our God and because of the promises that He’s made. Evil will not flourish. It will not be victorious. God will vindicate His people and judge our enemies. In Christ I can be courageous.

Take time to reflect on what your life would look like if you were more courageous for Christ Jesus. Picture it. Dream about it, then spend time asking God to make you that much more courageous for Christ Jesus.

Prayer:-

þ Pray that the pastors and workers at Shiloh Church Ministries in India would have great courage to continue preaching the good news. Pray that we’ll see more people come to the Lord through their witness and testimony. Pray this too for the believers in Nigeria, Nicaragua and Burma.