“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10
Dear Ones:
For the believer in Christ, the issue of morale is a very important matter. The believer is called to be a follower of Christ, a laborer, a soldier, a disciple, an overcomer. How can he possibly be these things when faced with the obstacles to faith, and very real spiritual enemies in this world? How can he do so when brought face to face with one’s own limits, weaknesses, and even sins? As is the answer to every question in the “new man’s” life in Christ, the Lord Jesus is both the path, provision, and prize. It is as the believer begins to learn the truth of God’s presence, His indwelling in the heart, that light begins to shine on the way in which he must now live this new life in Christ. He is brought to see that faith is the key for all, for it is God’s way of receiving that which has been freely given by God the Father in Christ. But how is this Life, and Power, and the resource for every need, to be appropriated?
There must first be the identification of the specific need of the heart that God desires to meet. Secondly, there must be a specific knowledge of the gift of God, which is to be appropriated. It is in receiving from the Father, by the Spirit, of that gift, that the believer proves and knows God. There will never be on this side of heaven a full understanding of the resources of God, and the extent to which God desires to bestow the gift, but one can know, and practice increasingly, the principle by which it can be received, and known in the life. In Scripture, we find over an over again where the Lord addresses the needs of the heart in a very specific manner only to reveal His solution, and promise to provide. It is in His dealings with us, that we begin to know Him according to His truth, as faith is exerted, and the obedient heart goes forward.
Perhaps one of the clearest passages in Scripture to illustrate this is found in Isaiah 41:10. The context of the verse is found couched in a new beginning for Israel, after she has known the judgements of God. Christ comes to her as the great Comforter, desiring and willing to lift her from the dust of destruction and desolation, to the heights of fellowship, communion, and blessing. This is a steep hill to climb, for her faith has grown so very small. In some instances in the Bible, we find that the harshness of circumstances and the difficulties of life, have brought her to almost hopelessness, the nation thinking that they have been cut off from the Lord, and forgotten. It is to such that are the downtrodden, forsaken, and oppressed, that the Lord comes to again bring them to faith. How does He do this? The first thing He addresses is crippling fear. Because of God’s declared commitment to Israel, and to the believer, this call to dispense with all fear has its logic in the promise: “I am with thee.” God’s presence is the believer’s sufficiency, and God desires to reveal it to the heart. Secondly, the Lord addresses what He calls, “dismay.” This is the disappointment of hope deferred, and unrealized aspirations, but also of being overwhelmed by the opposition to faith and hope. To this matter, He declares, “For I am thy God.” Not only is God present at all times, but He IS the “very present help in time of trouble.” He is the God who has committed Himself to the individual. Then come the wonderful, absolute promises: “I will strengthen thee;” “…I will help thee;” I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” Decisively believing God according to these words, will result in a morale that overcomes, and is victorious.
Dear Father, Give us grace to lay hold of Thee. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad