The Blue Church

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way  and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, ³ though its waters roar and foam  and the mountains quake with their surging.” – Psalm 46           

 

^{Our refuge and strength….}

^{An ever present help……}

^{I will not fear…….}

 

^{I wonder if this is the way many Christians felt when a while back ISIS moved into Mosul, Iraq and killed, raped, maimed and displaced thousands of Christians. For the Christians who fled and survived, they left behind everything. Their homes. Their jobs. Their possessions. They left with only the clothes on their back, and this after many of them had watched loved ones murdered right in front of them in the name of Allah.}

^{Refuge and strength for the refugee?}

^{Ever present help for those who were now hopeless and helpless?}

^{No fear…..yet feeling terrified as the bombs dropped and ISIS moved in, and machine gun and knife wielding militants swept through their neighborhoods.}

 

^{Now, fast forward to days later when many of the refugees have found a street, or a bench, or an abandoned building to lay their head. They are now surrounded by many others who have experienced the same plight. What can be heard? What can be seen?}

 

^{Singing…praises to God.}

^{God’s Word being preached.}

^{People comforting one another with the love of Christ.}

^{People talking about how they have been counted worthy to suffer for Christ and rejoicing that in the midst of (and because of) the persecution, many are coming to Christ. Some are talking about how even their own bodies are expendable if the cause of Christ can be advanced.}

^{Christians and non-Christians, some from other countries are entering into the danger and helping the refugees.}  

^{Christians forgiving and praying for those who have persecuted them…..}

 

^{They are finding strength.}

^{They are receiving help.}

^{They are feeling courageous, not afraid.}

 

^{How can such things be explained? Take a look at what Psalm 46 says.}

^{God is our refuge……in times of trouble.}

^{It does not say we will never be afraid.}

^{It does not say that trouble will not come.}

^{God says that when it comes, He will be our refuge from the trouble and will help us to regain the strength we had previously known in Him.}

 

^{One displaced believer from Mosul stated that the persecution made the Gospel of Christ so important, for clearly the sins of mankind were on display and a Savior was needed for so many..}

 

^{Some Christians hold a low view of themselves when they feel afraid or weak or helpless. They don’t want to share these feelings with other believers because they feel that they should always be strong. They do not understand that God knows our weaknesses and that we will feel this way….sometimes often depending on what we are going through. Then He beckons to us…..”Come, I know you are afraid, come and find refuge in Me in your time of trouble. I will be your strength. I will be your help. I will give you courage to face the next day. I love you and know your sorrows and your fears.}

 

^{Do you need God to be your refuge and help today? If He can do it for the refugees of Mosul, He can do it for you. Who knows, He might even use your weakness to display His power and in so doing, some will come to Christ.}

 

^{Don’t be concerned about telling another believer you are hurting and need help. We are not super-humans. Just humans who know a compassionate and loving God…and His church.}

 

For Him,

 

Rob