file: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db940822.txt
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OUR DAILY BREAD                     Monday, August 22, 1994
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READ:  Psalm 118:1-21

                     "WHEN YOU ARE HATED"

            "The Lord is on my side; I will not
               fear.  What can man do to me?"

                         Psalm 118:6

As I was reading about Romanian believers who stood for Christ in 
the face of imprisonment, torture, and death, I thought of our 
Lord's exhortation, "Do not fear those who kill the body but 
cannot kill the soul" (Matt. 10:28). All through church history, 
imprisoned and suffering Christians have found comfort in the 
assurance that God would deliver them -- either back to their 
loved ones on earth or through death to the company of the saints 
already in heaven.

Although severe opposition to Christianity still exists in parts 
of the world, most of us don't face life-threatening persecution.  
But all Christians experience faith-testing trials.

Dennis Byrd, a former professional football player who is making 
an amazing recovery from a paralyzing injury, spoke of his faith 
in Christ on a secular talk show.  But a caller vehemently 
denounced him for an earlier appearance on a Christian television 
program.  The caller's hatred of Jesus Christ came through loud 
and clear.

Like believers down through the centuries, we can expect that we 
will be hated and attacked (John 15:18-19).  But we need not be 
afraid.  God is in control.  He will defeat the forces of evil and 
honor His people.  We too can say, "The Lord is on my side; I will 
not fear" (Ps. 118:6)."

    - Herbert Vander Lugt

     So send I you to hearts made hard by hatred,
     To eyes made blind because they will not see,
     To spend, though it be blood, to spend and spare not --
     So send I you to taste of Calvary.

                            - Clarkson

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
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To be right with God may cause us to be in trouble with man.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  1 Chronicles 1-3

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Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1994, used by permission of
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