Never Give Up!
“Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.”
1Timothy 6:12 (NLT)
On January 30th 1965, Winston Churchill was buried in the shadow of a Cyprus tree in the village churchyard of Bladon, a mile from Blenheim Palace, where he was born—this was his wish.
Churchill was an amazing force here in the UK during WW2—he bellowed defiance across the channel, he encouraged the people to dig their heels in and never give up. He spoke with power and authority and looked for the most part like an angry bulldog! But because he deemed Britain to be great, by sheer force of will during those war years, he managed to make her so again.
Throughout the history of Britain, this kind of leader rose up again and again; what’s the saying—“Cometh the hour, cometh the man!” We might also mention these names alongside Churchill’s; Sir Francis Drake, Lord Horatio Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and General Bernard Montgomery of Alamein—just to name a few. I believe that this Old Lion will continue to occupy a supreme position of honour beside them throughout the history of this nation for a long time to come.
One of his many sayings comes back to haunt my thoughts from time to time and that is: “Never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in, except to convictions of honour or good sense, never yield to force, never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy!” He shared this thought to the staff and pupils of Harrow School on the 29th of October 1941, only two years after the declaration of war with Germany.
Courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to bear that which is fearful or difficult; it weds a positive outlook with bold action. Just before the conquest of the Promised Land God tells Joshua, who was Moses’ successor, “This is my command —be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). What encouragement. God is with us! Jesus echoes these thoughts as he prepares to be taken up into heaven to be with his Father. He says; “And be sure of this; I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28: 20).
Let’s give the final words to Paul—“Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love” (1Corinthians 16:13-14). Imagine how Churchill would say those words!
Prayer
Our amazing Father, thank you for all the power your Spirit supplies in our daily lives—power for victory and a love that casts out all fear.
Amen
Study by Cliff Neill
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About the Author:
Cliff Neill is an Elder in Grace Communion Church Luton.
Local Congregation:
Grace Communion Church Luton
Farley Hill Methodist Church
North Drift Way
Farley Hill
LUTON
LU1 5JE
Meeting time:
Saturday 10:30am
Local Congregational Contact:
Harry Sullivan
Phone: 01908-582222
Email: harry_sullivan@wcg.org.uk