"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm
46:1)
It was quiet in the Ardennes on Sunday, December 16th, 1944.
People were preparing for their first, free Christmas since the
Nazis had been run out. It was then that hundreds of German artillery
pieces opened up on American positions. Two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand
German soldiers marched in; one thousand tanks rolled in. On the 22nd
the Germans called for the surrender of Bastogne by General A.C.
McAuliffe. History records his simple reply: "Nuts!"
History has
almost ignored the words of a young soldier from the South, who was also
in Bastogne.
Being a relatively new replacement, you might expect
him to be shaking in his boots. He wasn't. He seemed so calm that one of
his comrades asked him something like, 'You do know the Krauts have us
completely surrounded, don't you?"
"Yup," came back the reply. "I
feel sorry for 'em."
"What do you mean you feel sorry for them?
We're the ones who are surrounded."
"Yup, but if'n I understand
correctly, this is the fust time in this war we kin attack the enemy in
any which way we want."
I like the spirit of that fellow.
You know, when I look at the world, I sometimes feel like the Christian
Church is surrounded by enemies, all of whom are calling for us to
surrender. On one side there are those who deny and challenge Scripture;
over there are the persecuting members of other religions; on that side
are those preachers who make up false doctrine as they go along.
It seems like those who are followers of the Christ can go in any
direction they want, and they will end up witnessing to the Savior. If
that's the case -- and I believe it is -- we ought to remember the words
of Scripture that serve as our text.
God is our refuge. He is our
strength. He is our help.
No matter what enemy comes up against
us, we who have been saved by Jesus Christ, who have been given faith in
Him, are not alone. God has promised to be with us. Even more, we have
His assurance no matter what happens on the spiritual battlefields of
this world, we will be given the final -- the ultimate -- victory.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, there are days when we feel surrounded by
great and menacing forces. Grant us to know that in Jesus we are
conquerors, indeed, more than conquerors. Then, reassured and fortified,
let us do the work You have entrusted to us. In the Savior's Name. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries
All rights
reserved; not to be duplicated without permission.
Surrounded
Today's Bible Verse:
"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57)
Surrounded
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