Day by Day

[Soldier4Christ]

"Through a Glass Window at Church"

My soul faints with longing for Your salvation, but I have put my hope in Your Word. Psalm 119:81
   

One Sunday morning our family arrived late for the 9:15 service at church. Already somewhat in turmoil because of the last-minute rush, we found ourselves sitting on chairs in the overflow area looking through a glass window. The service proceeded. We strained to hear. We longed to participate and find nourishment in the Word of God. But only snatches of the readings and the sermon drifted through.

Growing frustration welled up within me. I needed God’s peace and assurance, His guidance and direction. I needed to confess my animosity toward the family for making me late and to explain to them why the worship hour on Sunday meant so much to me. I realized how cut off I felt from the congregation at worship.

Perhaps the psalmist experienced similar feelings when he wrote, “My soul faints with longing for Your salvation.” He felt cut off from God’s presence as others persecuted him and his suffering continued. But he added the words, “I have put my hope in Your Word.” He knew that God had promised salvation through the coming of the Messiah.

Our family learned a lesson that Sunday through the glass window at church. We discovered how easily we can take hearing God’s Word for granted. Distraught in our late arrival and frustrated by our straining to hear, we fainted with longing for God’s salvation. But in the car on the way home and at the Sunday dinner table we put our hope in God’s Word. We confessed to one another our wrong words and actions. We shared our need for regular growth in God’s Word. And most of all, we looked to Jesus Christ, our Savior and friend, who graced our dinner and even our discouraging hour in the overflow area. We can always see and hear Him, even through a glass window at church.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Polite Welcome or Demonstrative Love?"

Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him … A woman who had lived a sinful life … brought an alabaster jar of perfume. Luke 7:36, 37
   

If Jesus came to town for a visit, how would you receive Him? A certain Pharisee gave Him a polite welcome. He provided a meal and a forum for conversation. Perhaps the man was a collector of celebrities or a curiosity seeker. On the outside he played a good host, but at best he gave Jesus a halfhearted welcome.

We might want Jesus in our home, too. He might be good for the business or contribute to our status in the community. Might we restrict ourselves to a polite welcome, not really listening to His Word except with a critical or patronizing air? Would we remain untouched by Him or His message, except when He approves of what we are already doing?

A notorious woman enters the house. She expresses demonstrative love toward Jesus. She wets His feet with her tears and wipes them with her hair. She kisses His feet and pours perfume on them. Jesus praises her act of love. He announces that her many sins have been forgiven. Her faith has saved her.

Polite welcome or demonstrative love? Do you love Jesus with a reckless abandon, sparing nothing in expense or open loyalty, not worrying about what others think? Demonstrative love means a deep caring and commitment 24 hours a day. The critical coldness of self-sufficiency permits at best a polite welcome. Unwilling to admit sin, the Pharisee thinks he needs no help – and therefore gives no love.

But the woman recognizes a tremendous need for help as a fallen sinner. She accepts Jesus in faith as her Savior from sin. She knows His full forgiveness. And she responds joyfully with actions of love. Admitting our need for a Savior – because of our cold, selfish hearts and many other sins – we turn to the Man who poured out unrestrained love on the cross. He forgives fully. Joyful beyond words for His forgiveness, we demonstrate a living, active love.

[Soldier4Christ]

"The Disciple Whom Jesus Loves"

Today’s Reading: John 21:15-25 & Psalm 134

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. John 21:20
   

Jesus called John a “son of thunder.” John had suggested a Samaritan village be destroyed because of its lack of hospitality (Luke 9:51-55), sought a greater reward for following Jesus (Matthew 20:20-28), and learned that it would be better to drown in the sea with a millstone necklace than to cause difficulties for others within the Kingdom of God (Mark 9:38-42).

So, what happened to change this “son of thunder” into “the disciple whom Jesus loved?” The reality of God’s love. The former “son of thunder” now tells about a God who so loved the entire world that He gave His one and only Son (John 3:16). The ex-status-seeker writes, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). The once religious elitist now declares, “Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God” (1 John 4:2).

For the love of God in Christ Jesus to have accomplished what it did, John obviously opened himself to following the Lord. And you? What does He promise as a result of your Baptism? What does He say to you every time you open His Word? What does He offer you at His Holy Supper? And why does He hear and answer your prayers and daily provide you with strength, guidance, and direction?

Indeed, it’s because you, too, have experienced the reality of God’s love. His resurrection made it certain on that first Easter Day. Brought from sin to righteousness through Christ, you are a disciple whom Jesus loves!

[Soldier4Christ]

"Our Extraordinary Lord"

Today’s Reading: John 21:1-14 & Psalm 136

“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” John 21:3
   

Pretty ordinary scene, isn’t it? The disciples were simply standing around, wondering what to do, and they decided to go fishing. Then into that ordinary scene stepped their extraordinary Lord, showing a real interest in them, calling out, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” (John 21:5).

Likewise, He is interested in you and me. Into our ordinaries, our extraordinary Lord comes asking, “How are you doing?” He doesn’t really have to ask—He’s God and He knows. But we need to know He’s interested and that He cares about even our most ordinary activities, problems, and concerns. It may not be as if we’ve bottomed out and feel abandoned; it’s just that things, our ordinaries, are just that—ordinary and nothing much seems to be happening.

All we really need is to know that someone’s interested, someone cares. And we have such a Someone—His name is Jesus. Because we are His people, because He has claimed us as His own through the saving waters of Holy Baptism, all and any of our activities interest Him. If we care, He cares. What an extraordinary Lord for our ordinary lives!

As we stand between the day of His crucifixion and the day of His resurrection, His Word assures us that we are in relationship with Him at all times and in all places. This is our extraordinary Lord stepping in to our ordinary days—caring, listening, and meeting our needs. Our reaction? Let’s take the words of worship and praise offered by those early disciples: “It is the Lord!” (John 21:7).

[Soldier4Christ]

"A Better Way"

Today’s Reading: John 20:19-31 & Psalm 56

[Thomas said,]“Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it.” John 20:25
   

Thomas demanded proof. A week later, our Lord quoted his demands right back: “Put your finger here; see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side” (John 20:27). These, the very hands nailed on the cross the first Good Friday—for Thomas and for us! This, the very side pierced with the sword for Thomas—and for us!

Our Lord willingly condescended to the demands of just one of His followers. Why? Thomas had built a barrier, yet Jesus loved him. Like Thomas, we often build barriers between ourselves and the blessings God has for us. We make our belief and trust dependent upon our own preconceived notions and unreasonable demands. All too often we’re tempted to suggest that it would be easier to believe and to trust if only …

Yes, there’s Thomas’ way—the demanding way. And then there’s the better way to faith, to belief, to trust in Christ—take the apostles, the evangelists, the prophets, who wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, at their Word—His Word. God's Word is His gift to us. Why place demands on the Giver or His gift? Telling God we will accept His Word only if we understand it, or only if we feel worthy of His message, insults and offends the Giver and His graciousness.

Yes, Jesus Christ holds out a better way: “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

[Soldier4Christ]

"The Living Christ"

Today’s Reading: John 20:10-18 & Psalm 40

[Mary] turned toward Him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said, “Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet returned to the Father.” John 20:16-17
   

Mary had come to pay her respects to a dead Jesus. She’s not unlike some who will be worshiping on Easter morning—coming to pay their respects to a Christ who’s a part of their past. At one time, they placed high hopes in Christ, and then something went wrong. Whatever happened, it left them with a dead Christ, and inwardly, they weep for Him.

But—as Mary found out—there’s no such thing as a dead Christ. Mary—like many—longed for and looked for Jesus. But, it was not she who found Him, but He who found her. When Mary called out “Rabboni!” she addressed Him as her Teacher, though the events of Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday proved Him Lord and Savior. Thus He said to her, “Do not hold on to Me.”

Today is Maundy Thursday. As such, Christians are reminded, by grace and through faith, to cling to the risen Christ as their Lord and Savior. He blesses us as He comes to us in His supper, allowing us to touch His love and forgiveness as we eat and drink.

To you who weep for missed opportunities or broken relationships, do not hold on to those crippling words, “if only,” when Christ announces, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:5).

Your Christ … my Christ … our Christ lives!

[Soldier4Christ]

"Let's Have Some Excitement!"

Today’s Reading: John 20:1-9 & Psalm 126

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. John 20:3-4
   

Peter and John ran from one resurrection discovery to the next. First, the stone had been rolled away. Second, the burial clothes lay folded within the tomb. Third, the place where His body had been laid is now empty. What excitement! Most of the disciples missed out on the excitement of that first Easter, because they didn’t go to the tomb. Why? Perhaps they had convinced themselves that nothing would ever happen.

Sound familiar? There can be no real excitement and enthusiasm about Christ and His church when we think nothing will happen … and so we hold back. Nothing’s likely to happen by telling someone about Jesus … by inviting someone to church … by putting such a small amount in the offering … so we hold back, thinking nothing’s going to happen anyway.

Unless excitement—or the lack of it—drives us to the Word of God to see Christ in person, we run the very real risk of being quite disappointed this coming Sunday. Yet Christ and His Word—and that alone—can lead us from any temporary Easter excitement to the excitement that lasts forever.

His joy is yours, and your excited faith can declare along with Job, “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25). And because of that, come running! You can expect to be excited this Sunday … and the Sunday after … and the Sunday after…

[Soldier4Christ]

"On Mt. Calvary"

Today’s Reading: John 19:23-42 & Psalm 98

Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. John 19:30
   

My cousin Wayne is two years older than me. I wasn’t exactly the biggest kid on the block and one day I found myself on the receiving end of the schoolyard bully’s fists. He had pinned me to the ground, when all of a sudden—out of nowhere—came Wayne. Talk about timing! He stepped into the mess and sent the bully packing. Wayne was #1 with me for a long, long time!

Sin … Satan … the world … a condemning conscience … broken Commandments. These have all of us pinned to the ground, hopelessly overpowered. But at just the right time, “God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law” (Galatians 4:4-5). Jesus Christ stepped in, saving us from sin’s eternal condemnation. He’s got to be #1 with us for a long, long time!

Christ made Mt. Calvary our mountain of victory. God, in the person, life, and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, dealt with all sin completely and effectively. Friends, know this for sure: Sin is no longer an issue with God—forgiveness is!

One day, a fierce wind toppled a farmer’s apple tree. His hired hand asked, “What do you want me to do with this mess?” “Pick up the fruit,” the farmer replied, “then burn the tree.” Many are the times we come to the Lord crying, “What am I going to do with this mess?” “Pick up the fruit and burn the tree,” our Lord answers … because of and, as a result of, the tree on our mountain of victory … It is finished!

[Soldier4Christ]

"Power"

Today’s Reading: John 19:1-22 & Psalm 14

[Pilate asked,] “Don’t You realize I have power either to free You or to crucify You?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above.” John 19:10-11
   

Pilate liked to think of himself as a man with power. After all, as the Roman governor, he had power over the province of Judea, including matters of life and death. He even thought he had power over the life and death of our Lord.

Are there “Pilates” among us? A worker says, “This is my paycheck!” An executive claims, “I came up by my own efforts!” A honor student boasts, “I owe this to my straight A’s!” To Pilate—and to all Pilates—Jesus makes it clear: Power belongs to God alone. If we possess any power here on earth, it comes from God alone.

Almighty God challenges no one to do battle over the question of who has power. He simply invites us, and all people, to acknowledge His gracious lordship and to confess Him to be our Shepherd, Lord, and King. Pilate chose Caesar. In so doing, he lost Christ.

How is it with us? We claim we acknowledge Christ as King. After all, we’re baptized, we pray to Him, and we worship Him. Nonetheless, we must also continually ask, “Whom do we follow? What do we choose?” Ambition or Christ? Security or the Kingdom of God? Status or the righteousness of God?

He gives to each of us the benefits of His passion, if we will but believe, accept, and acknowledge Him to be our Lord. And—wonder of wonders—He makes it possible and gives us the power to accept, to believe, and to choose Him as Lord—Lord of all power and might!

[Soldier4Christ]

"Imagine!"

Today’s Reading: John 18:15-40 & Psalm 130

“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “… I said nothing in secret. Why question Me? Ask those who heard Me. Surely they know what I said.” John 18:20-21
   

Jesus has taught in public places and has held no locked-door sessions. Now on trial, He moves to a very bold position—He places His entire defense with His hearers!

Imagine … Jesus says, “Go out and ask those who have heard Me speak. I’ll stake My life on what they will say.” Imagine … every fisherman, tax collector, blind man, woman drawing water from the village well, or little child … if they have heard Jesus speak, He places His defense with them.

Jesus Christ is still on trial. Many challenge His lordship and deny His claims. Yet He responds, “Ask those who heard Me.” Every factory worker, office worker, homemaker, student, or church member … if they have heard Jesus speak, He places His defense with them.

Imagine … Jesus taps us on the shoulder and says, “I’m calling you to take the witness stand in My defense. I’ll stake My life on what you will say. You have heard My teaching.” Me—a witness for Jesus?

And what about Jesus? He moves from His trial to His cross on Calvary. On that cross, He says, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34) … then He secured that forgiveness. He accepted the God-forsaken agony of the damned. He exclaimed, “It is finished” (John 19:30). He won forgiveness for the judges, for the man with the hammer and nails, for the witnesses that did not appear…for you…for me…for us.

[Soldier4Christ]

"In Love"

Today’s Reading: John 18:1-14 & Psalm 91

“I am He,” Jesus said. John 18:5
   

"I am He.". Twice Christ pointedly and definitely identified Himself. This He did out of love for His disciples. In love, Christ, the Defender, placed Himself between the mob and His beloved disciples. In love, Christ showed His love and defended His own.

We, too, are Christ’s disciples, and Christ is our Defender. Though an angry mob may never confront us, Christ, in love, defends us in countless ways. He sends His holy angels to protect us: “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11).

Once captured, Christ declares, “If you are looking for Me, then let these men go” (John 18:. In love, Christ, the Good Shepherd, concerned Himself with the safety of His sheep. In love, Christ demanded the release of His disciples for their physical safety—sure—but also for their spiritual safety. Christ knew that they were not yet strong enough in faith to withstand persecution. To put His disciples to the test now would threaten their still-weak faith.

We, too, are Christ’s sheep, and Christ is our Good Shepherd. In love, He guards us, watches over us, and ever assures us that “God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Let us remember—in love, our Lord allowed Himself to be betrayed and captured. In love, He entered His passion. In love, He died that we might live. As we enter the week of our Lord’s passion, let us keep before us His divine love … His boundless love … for us.

[Soldier4Christ]

"One in Him"

Today’s Reading: John 17:20-26 & Psalm 133

“I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You.” John 17:20-21
   

Our Lord prays for oneness among Christians. As the Father and the Son are one with each other and with the Holy Spirit, so we—sons and daughters, brothers and sisters in Him—see that unity and reflect it to one another. As you hear Him praying for the oneness of God's family, listen well, for you hear the very voice of our Savior, who soon goes to the cross to secure our oneness through His suffering and death.

Is such oneness possible? It is, if we focus our eyes of faith on His Table—the Sacrament of Holy Communion—and upon Jesus Christ, Host at His Table. “Take and eat; this is My body. …Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood” (Matthew 26:26, 28). We come to His Table aware we receive His body and His blood broken and shed for us. And as we kneel at His Table, let’s look across and around His table and become aware of our fellow believers. He gave us our redemption and salvation, not to be lived out by us in isolation, but rather in fellowship with one another.

As we gather around His Table, we express and display our oneness—oneness with the Father and with one another, made so by His body and His blood. What better place to express this blessed gift of oneness than at His Table? What finer way to continue in expressing that oneness than by repeatedly and frequently returning to His Table?

[Soldier4Christ]

"Ears Burning?"

Today’s Reading: John 17:1-19 & Psalm 9

“Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name—the name You gave Me—so that they may be one as We are one. … I have given them Your Word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.” John 17:11, 14
   

Throughout His prayer, our Lord talks to—intercedes with—the Father for you … for me … for all His disciples. His prayer gives body and form to what’s happening right now: namely, Jesus Christ, sitting at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, speaking with the Father on our behalf. Are your ears burning? They should be!

We might ask, “Well, what’s He saying?” Certainly many things—but there’s one thing I assure you He is not saying. He is not saying, “Father, forgive them.” Why? He doesn’t have to, because you and I and all believers have been forgiven. He accomplished forgiveness for us on Good Friday and proved it on Easter Sunday. He no longer carries out any atoning work for us now—It is finished! Now, He intercedes for us.

Our text offers a sampling of what Jesus says to the Father on our behalf. “Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name …I have given them Your Word.” His Word in the Bible: hear it, read it, pray over it, dig into it, study it. This keeps us in His name. The Holy Spirit operates in and through His Word, convicting us of sin and convincing us of salvation. His Word strengthens us as Christians.

Our Lord has given us His Word, and now He intercedes for us that we remain in it. Are your ears burning? Thank God, the answer is yes!

[Soldier4Christ]

"A Lost Life"

Then He said to them all: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:23
   

Let me tell you about a recruiter who appeared at an Ivy League University. Representing some of the poorest school districts in the country, the woman stood in front of the students and said, “I don’t think I belong here. I was told this was a Beemer campus (a school at which the students are affluent enough to drive BMW cars) and I can see you are destined for success. There’s no point in asking you to walk away from that so that you can go to a poor place you’re not sure of, and where you probably won’t be appreciated. I wish you luck.” Then as the recruiter sat down she said, almost as an afterthought, “But, if by some chance I’m wrong, and you are interested in what I’m saying, visit with me afterwards.” The meeting ended, except for the mass of students who mobbed the woman, the students who thought their lives had a higher purpose.

That story gives me the opportunity to ask, “Do you think your life has a higher purpose?” Is it possible you were born merely with the objective of attending school, going to work, having a few years of retirement before someone says a few words over you at the cemetery? Is that all we are, all we were meant to be?

The Lord has never thought so little of us. When He made our first ancestors and set them in the Garden of Eden, He gave them a purpose. God’s purpose was set aside when humankind followed Satan’s suggestion to sin. Even though we discarded Him, God refused to reject us. In love, He sent His Son into this world to pay the purchase price for our freedom. In love, He sends His Spirit to call us to faith and to a cross.

Nowadays it’s fashionable for ministers to say "when you become a Christian, your life will be sweetness and light." Jesus makes no such promises. On the contrary, He says, "If you follow Him, you will carry a cross." I cannot, at my computer, say what your cross may be. I do know it is a special thing, designed to strengthen your faith, make your witness more solid, your faith more sure. God has allowed this individual cross to come so that your life, relying on Him, may have a higher purpose.

[def]

"A Lost Life"

Then He said to them all: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:23
   

Let me tell you about a recruiter who appeared at an Ivy League University. Representing some of the poorest school districts in the country, the woman stood in front of the students and said, “I don’t think I belong here. I was told this was a Beemer campus (a school at which the students are affluent enough to drive BMW cars) and I can see you are destined for success. There’s no point in asking you to walk away from that so that you can go to a poor place you’re not sure of, and where you probably won’t be appreciated. I wish you luck.” Then as the recruiter sat down she said, almost as an afterthought, “But, if by some chance I’m wrong, and you are interested in what I’m saying, visit with me afterwards.” The meeting ended, except for the mass of students who mobbed the woman, the students who thought their lives had a higher purpose.

That story gives me the opportunity to ask, “Do you think your life has a higher purpose?” Is it possible you were born merely with the objective of attending school, going to work, having a few years of retirement before someone says a few words over you at the cemetery? Is that all we are, all we were meant to be?

The Lord has never thought so little of us. When He made our first ancestors and set them in the Garden of Eden, He gave them a purpose. God’s purpose was set aside when humankind followed Satan’s suggestion to sin. Even though we discarded Him, God refused to reject us. In love, He sent His Son into this world to pay the purchase price for our freedom. In love, He sends His Spirit to call us to faith and to a cross.

Nowadays it’s fashionable for ministers to say "when you become a Christian, your life will be sweetness and light." Jesus makes no such promises. On the contrary, He says, "If you follow Him, you will carry a cross." I cannot, at my computer, say what your cross may be. I do know it is a special thing, designed to strengthen your faith, make your witness more solid, your faith more sure. God has allowed this individual cross to come so that your life, relying on Him, may have a higher purpose.

Can get any higher than that.,Pastor Roger`s unless he put`s me in a bed.and i have no problem with that either, one moment at the time.it would be hard very hard but the harder it get the closer He is and that`s the Truth.please Father God  have mercy on me but not my will but yours,Father God just following Jesus here not being funny.don`t hurt me anymore.please..in Jesus Christ my Lord Name I ask, i justdont think i can take anymore.your will not mine.