Posted on 07/03/2004 4:23:16 PM PDT by Commander8
2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
In December 17776, Thomas Paine wrote in THE CRISIS, "These are the times that try men's souls: the summer soldier and sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyrrany, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation withus, that the harder the conflict the more glorious the the triumph." Not all wars are bad. Paul spoke of "fighting the good fight" in 2 Timothy 4:7. Today's text says, "For the battle is not yours, God's" The fight is God's, the cause is God's and the glory belongs to Him. Yes, we have the responsibility, but God supplies the enablement: Set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD" (v.17). Judah's war would demonstrate God's faithfulness to His children; they were not to fear nor to be dismayed. Why? For the LORD will be with you" (v. 17) Do not be afraid to fight the good fights. The storms and trials of life are opportunities for God to prove Himself all sufficient. Almost 70 years ago, the heads of John and Betty Stam were severed from their bodies by a Communist sword. There they sealed their testimony for Christ with their lifeblood. Before her martyrdom, Betty had written in her Bible these words: "Lord, I give up my own purposes and plans, all my own desires, hopes and ambitions, and accept Thy will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all, utterly to Thee to be Thine forever." Her prayer was answered for herself and her beloved husband in the way of the Lord's own choosing. Who will follow their example? JLT
PING
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