08302026 Faithful Helper

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our faithful Helper.

After a providential deliverance in a frightening battle, Samuel called the attention of the people of Israel toward God. In the aftermath of the victory, Samuel established a visible reminder of God’s help. “Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12).

The meaning of Samuel’s object lesson was implied: A faithful God would walk with them into the challenges of their future. God had helped Israel in this one battle; historically, He had helped them over and over again. If the people could remember the past help of God, they would be inclined to trust Him in the future. Given His past actions, there was no reason to think He would stop.

This truth is recognized many times throughout Scripture. David learned this lesson early in his life. When he came before Saul with the offer to fight Goliath, David verbalized this truth. “David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37).

We could step anywhere into the life of Joseph, and we would find the same truth. When he was sold by his brothers, God preserved his life. When he entered slavery, he rose to a position of trust. When he was wrongly imprisoned, God continued to bless and advance him. When he was forgotten by men, he was not forgotten by God. “The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper” (Genesis 39:23). At numerous points, Joseph could have given in to despair, but I believe he was conscious of this ongoing divine help.

Daniel provides another example. How many dangers did the man live through? He was taken into captivity, forced into education and training for the foreign power, and then threatened with imminent death over the failures of other people. This was Daniel’s life for decades, and when he was old, he was again threatened with death for his faith in God. In this case, even the heathen king could see God’s record of deliverance. “Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee” (Daniel 6:16).

One final example is Paul. The man’s entire life and ministry as a Christian was filled with threats, beatings, imprisonments, riots, deprivation, shipwrecks, and more. What did Paul see about God’s actions toward him? Paul could remember being let down over a wall in a basket. He could remember an earthquake that delivered him from prison. He could remember standing up and walking away when he was stoned and left for dead. He could remember a nephew with a timely warning, sympathetic rulers, and armies that rushed to his rescue. So when he was in the teeth of an impossible storm at sea, in a broken and helpless ship, accompanied by despairing men, Paul expected God’s help once again. “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me” (Acts 27:25).

John Newton learned this truth and penned it in his hymn “Amazing Grace.” He wrote, “Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come. ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”

Indeed, we have every reason to believe that God will continue doing His work in us and helping us along the way. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). “For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).

May you rest with confidence in His power and care.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA 

08222026 To Be Revealed

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our omniscient God. He knows all things, but that doesn’t mean He reveals everything to us. There are many things that we don’t know, at least not yet.

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Our vision is dim and incomplete.

One thing that we do not fully understand is our own heart. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). We can try to evaluate, and we can ask God for help, but we are limited in understanding the depths of our beings.

We also do not fully know what we will be some day. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). We can anticipate that day, knowing that God will change us, but for now our comprehension of what that will be like is limited.

We do not know how God uses the events of our lives within His plan. “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” (Genesis 50:20). In the middle of those difficult years, Joseph and his family did not know what God was doing, but God knew, and He was doing it.

We don’t know what heaven will be like. We know a little bit, but as far as having any real comprehension of that day, we can’t fathom it. It will make the trials of this life insignificant. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4). We can read these words, but we can’t really wrap our minds around them, because this is nothing like our current context. We can’t relate. But it is coming.

We don’t know how God will use our labors for Him. “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good” (Ecclesiastes 11:6). The sower does not always know the condition of the soil – who will respond and who will not. The sower does not always know the results of his labor. He sows and waters and sometimes moves on without seeing the reaping, but that does not mean that the reaping does not happen.

Imagine this scene in heaven. “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands” (Revelation 7:9). So many people from so many nations will be there. We don’t know all the steps along the way that led them to salvation. We never knew that some of those people would ever respond. But there they will be.

We do not know the depths of our heart, but God will still make us into who He wants us to be. We do not know God’s workings through the difficulties of life, but God will still work out His good purposes. We don’t know all the glories of heaven nor how they will erase all the trials of this life, but God has a wonderful world waiting for us. We don’t know how God will use our feeble efforts, but God is in the business of redeeming souls and gathering a harvest.

Thank God for His complete knowledge and for the things that we will someday see, even though our current vision is dim.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

08162026 You Are Rich

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God of all resources. Whatever the need, God is able to supply it. No matter the realm of life, God can provide blessings.

Missionaries are not generally perceived as being rich. In fact, through the years, the opposite picture has often been painted. You know, their car is on its last legs, they live on rice and beans, and everything they own is second-hand. It is true that some of God’s most devoted servants have lived with great deprivation, at least for portions of their lives. It is also true that God takes care of His children, and I am confident you have experienced that in some wonderful ways.

Here is the bottom line. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

God is well able to do this, because God owns all the resources. “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof” (Psalm 50:10-12).

On the other hand, if we are hungry, or if we have some other need, we can go to God and ask Him to provide. “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them” (Isaiah 41:17).

Certainly, we are thankful for the practical provisions of God which He has shown us many times. Most, if not all of us, probably have experienced amazing instances of that – stories that raise goose bumps or that cause our eyes to well up with tears.

As we grow in maturity, we become more and more aware that God’s greatest gifts are not practical, but spiritual. When we consider the spiritual side of things, we realize that God has blessed us beyond measure. In fact, we are quite rich.

“For ye know that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). When we look beyond the external trappings of life, we are aware that our previous condition was one of squalor and deep poverty. Jesus temporarily gave up His riches in heaven to humble Himself on this earth; through His great sacrifice, we have been saved and have been lifted far above our previous condition.

My mind goes to a few Biblical examples. Who could have been in a worse position than Rahab? We don’t know her full history, but many prostitutes are driven to that profession out of desperation, selling their bodies in an attempt to provide for their needs. Certainly, from a moral perspective, she was quite poor. The Bible does not reveal precisely when she was transformed, but she came to believe in the God of Israel. In the end, she alone was redeemed out of all Jericho. She found the stability and provision of marriage and became part of the line of Christ. She went from deep poverty to great riches.

Saul/Paul is another example. His outward position was much different. He would have appeared wealthy and powerful. But internally, he was poor and depraved. When God transformed him, everything was reversed. He ended up living his life of ministry with few material resources, but with profoundly rich spiritual blessings. Reading Paul’s writings reveals his awareness of how richly God had blessed him.

One such passage – which I always think someday I will come back and spend some time in – is Ephesians 1. Paul starts out by recognizing that God “hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (v. 3). What riches do we have in Him? Here is a quick list.

Divinely chosen before the foundation of the world (v. 4). Being made holy and blameless before God (v. 4). Being made the children of God (v. 5). Experiencing the pleasure of God (v. 5). Divine acceptance (v. 6). Redemption and forgiveness (v. 7). Abundant wisdom (v. 8). Revelation of God’s great will and plan (v. 9). The anticipation of a future gathering to Him (v. 10). An inheritance (v. 11).

I’m sure a deeper study would refine that list and make it more meaningful and perhaps more thorough, but even some of the words and phrases reveal the richness of our position in Christ. “Blessed.” “Spiritual blessings in heavenly places.” “Chosen.” “Children.” “Accepted.” “Beloved.” “The riches of his grace.” “Abounded toward us.” “Good pleasure.” “An inheritance.” “Sealed.” “Redemption of the purchased possession.” In verse 18, Paul prays that his readers would understand and know “the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.”

Congratulations! You are rich! May God comfort you with your position in Him. And may He truly enable you as you seek to share with others the riches that God desires to give them. Not a health-and-wealth gospel. Not a magical prayer of Jabez. But true riches that meet the needs of the soul, that can transform a wretched life into one of blessing.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

08092026 Too Hard

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God of impossibilities. He is able to do everything that He determines to do.

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? Saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 8:6).

The word “marvellous” refers to something that is great, difficult, or wonderful. For someone looking forward at the scenario, it is too hard. If the scenario is somehow resolved, someone looking back would call it miraculous.

The word was used regarding Sarah’s having a son in her old age, translated “too hard.” It is used of the plagues brought upon Egypt that effected the exodus of the Jews, translated “wonders.” God uses the word to declare that nothing is too hard for Him. “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”

Consider the spread of the gospel. Surely it was “too hard” for tradition-steeped Jews to accept something new. Yet on Pentecost, “about three thousand souls” were saved, “and the Lord added to the church daily.” Well, okay, the common people maybe, but it was “too hard” for the stubborn and powerful religious leaders to convert. Hmm. “A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” But never Gentiles! That would definitely be “too hard.” Enter Cornelius. “The Gentiles had also received the word of God.” But what about totally pagan and pantheistic peoples that lived far away from Israel and had no previous exposure to the God of the Jews? That would be “too hard.” The journeys of Paul and the other disciples demonstrate otherwise. From Rome, Paul writes, “All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.”

Since that time, God’s message of salvation has continued to spread into all the world, reaching people and places that man declared “too hard.” How could the gospel ever be effective in oppressive places like China, Russia, and North Korea? How could the gospel reach superstitious and religion-controlled places like Burma and India? Surely Dark Africa would be too hard. Or the islands with cannibals and headhunters. How many people failed to establish any foothold in the New Hebrides Islands? And the Muslim world? Impossible. What about the “uncivilized” and uneducated native tribes of the Americas? The drug culture in New York City?

“Fun” is not the right word, but it would be fun (rewarding, inspiring, breath-taking) to trace out some of those stories. Because God did take His message of salvation to all of those impossible peoples and places. In some cases, only a small minority accepted His truth, and in others, great awakenings came that changed the whole culture of that place. Because God has reached impossible people. God has reached impossible tribes and impossible countries.

Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). True, not every person will choose to believe. Not every country will turn in dramatic fashion. But some will believe. There is nothing too hard for God.

May God give you grace, patience, and power as you work with those who seem more resistant and less inviting. I pray that He will enable you to see the results of His salvation even where it seems “too hard.”

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

08022026 Rod and Staff

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our Great Shepherd. God cares for His sheep gently, but sometimes He also cares for them fiercely.

One night this week I was thinking again about Psalm 23, and as I came to verse 4, I had some new thoughts. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

My personal belief is that the psalm is a compilation of different things that the Shepherd does at different times. While it does end with a future-looking focus, I don’t see the psalm as a sequential timeline for life, but more cyclical. Life changes, and at some points we find ourselves in verse 2a and other times in 2b or 4a or 5c.

So I don’t think that the rod and staff comforting is necessarily connected to the walking through the valley, but in some cases it will be. I was thinking specifically about how those two concepts might be connected.

Usually I think of the rod and staff as God’s guidance and correction of me – of how He works to keep me on the right path. And that is comforting.

But here’s a thought. Might not the Shepherd also use those tools to attack the enemy? If a wolf or bear or lion comes after me, I have a Shepherd who defends me. So He raises that rod and brings in down in repeated blows upon the attacker, driving the enemy away, or even killing it. That is comforting.

Here’s another thought. Sometimes we get a certain picture of someone in our minds, and perhaps there is a particular image that sticks with us. For example, we might picture a judge with a gavel, a policeman with a revolver, a doctor with a stethoscope, a carpenter with a hammer, or a plumber with a wrench. We picture these men with a tool that represents their actions. There is comfort in that. We are comforted to think that each of those people knows how to effectively use his tool; it is their expertise with the tool that allows us to trust them.

In the same way, there is comfort in thinking of the Shepherd with His tools. They are symbols of His care and guidance and protection. They are tools that He uses effectively. I can trust His ability to use them on my behalf. I can trust that He is never without them, that He never loses them, that He never fumbles with them awkwardly, that He never needs to learn how to use them more effectively. Yes, there is comfort in knowing that my Shepherd has the right tools for the job and that He uses them consistently and effectively as He interacts with me. It’s a good way to picture Him.

May our good Shepherd lead you, guide you, protect you, and comfort you this week.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA