Several occasions in the news this week have affected me, and my mind immediately went to scripture. One, a hockey player, refused, because of his Christian faith, to support the team’s decision to wear a gay-pride tee shirt to uphold the rights and privileges given to the LGBTetc. coalition.Rejoice!, The young man is a Russian Christian. In my determination this year to find encouragement in spite of things each day which distress me because of the counter culture, critical race theory, climate change nonsense, WOKE pronouns, and diminution of freedom by “big government and bureaucratic edicts, all of which attack my conservative values. My year’s slogan “See God in ’23–Look for Godincidences” will guide my thinking. It reflects my attitude of gratitude that I worship the God who is sovereign, victorious, righteous, and eternal. This present distress, as other generations have seen fail, pales in comparison to God’s eternal truth.
When intolerance for Christians and mockery of conservative values assault me and demean my faith values, I immediately go to scripture to counterbalance the insult. Here’s a favorite: Matthew 5:10-12, New Living Translation: “God bless those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are My followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.”
The entire chapter, Romans 8, is encouragement for us as well. It’s signature verse: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
John Mossell wrote the lyrics for “Fight the Good Fight” in 1863, part of his collection of over 300 hymns he wrote as archdeacon of the Church of England. This one I memorized as a child, and I think about it when disappointment comes or now, when I see oppression and corruption and long for the church’s revival to stand up against the “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” (to quote Shakespeare in Hamlet). I may not be able to defy all that is being thrust at me by talking heads pronouncements, but I can thwart the attacks by counterbalancing what appears to be truth with the absolute truth that God is in charge, and He indeed will win the battle for man’s soul.
Here are Mossell’s strong words of hope and encouragement for this day and forever:
1 Fight the good fight with all your might,
Christ is your strength and Christ your right.
Lay hold on life, and it shall be
your joy and crown eternally.
2 Run the straight race through God’s good grace;
lift up your eyes, and seek his face.
Life with its way before us lies;
Christ is the path and Christ the prize.
3 Cast care aside, lean on your guide;
his boundless mercy will provide.
Lean, and the trusting soul shall prove
Christ is its life and Christ its love.
4 Faint not, nor fear, his arms are near;
he changes not, and you are dear.
Only believe, and you will see
that Christ is Lord eternally.
Hymnary.org. Public Domain
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