“EMERGING VICTORIOUS” This New Year may well find you facing fears that are left over from last year or which seem to loom in the unknown future of your tomorrows. During World War II, a military governor met with General George Patton in Sicily. When he praised Patton highly for his courage and bravery, the general replied, Sir, I am not a brave man. The truth is I am an utter craven coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life when I wasnt so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands. Years later, in his autobiography, the general said, I learned very early in my life never to take counsel of my fears. Now it occurs to me, if General Patton can admit he had his fears, most certainly we must confess we also have a certain lack of courage when we are confronted by fearful situations. Such is our sinful human condition. It is a condition only Jesus can successfully confront on our behalf. After all, only Jesus has shown He has the ability to defeat the devil. Only He can stop Satan and his sly suggestions, which lead us into sin. Scripture tells us that of all the billions of people born into this world, only Jesus had the ability to say, No! to temptations, and only He has been able to conquer death. With those credentials, we must admit that only Jesus will be able to help us with our fears. This is precisely the point St. Paul was making in Romans when he said, when it comes to tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril and sword, Jesus is our divinely given Helper. But Pauls list wasnt complete. He listed other fearful things. Paul said there is fear that comes when death approaches and the fear daily life will bring. There are the fears which are brought about by unseen principalities and powers. There are fears which come to us in the present and those which will arrive in the future. Human fears are numerous, and the situations that bring those fears are not totally avoidable. But thankfully, by Gods grace, there is also hope. Even as St. Paul was sure that fearful times would come, he was equally sure that nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is ours in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Indeed, looking to the Bethlehem manger, the Jerusalem cross, and the borrowed and empty tomb, the apostle assures us, against all these fears we will emerge victorious because in Christ, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, in this coming New Year there will be many good times and bad times, happy times and sad. There will also be fearful times. Grant that Jesus may be by my side during all those times. In His Name I ask it. Amen. In Christ I remain His servant and yours, Pastor Ken Klaus Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour® Lutheran Hour Ministries
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 13:34:04 +0000
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