Day by Day

[Soldier4Christ]

"In the Good Shepherd’s School"

“I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me.” (John 10:14)

Children from city schools who are enjoying a holiday or vacation in the country will be interested to know that also rural occupations require training. The work of a shepherd, for example, calls for skills that have to be learned. At Rambouillet, France, in a forest 35 miles from Paris, is located the National Shepherding School for the training of people who care for sheep.

Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, was trained for His work. In His home, school, and synagogue in Nazareth the lad Jesus increased in wisdom. He learned from the Holy Scriptures that the Messiah would come to save all people from their sins. He knew He was that Messiah and that He was destined to suffer and die. "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered” (Hebrews 5:. The holy writer adds, “And, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9). Yes, Jesus had to know His work, as the prophet writes, “by His knowledge My Righteous Servant will justify many” (Isaiah 53:11).

To this day as we travel, rest, and seek recreation we are guarded and guided by the Good Shepherd who not only cares but knows how to care. And He knows how to care because He knows us and is known by us. This close relationship is strengthened as in the Good Shepherd’s school we try to know Him better and to serve Him. What a privilege it is to be enrolled in His school!

[Soldier4Christ]

"More Than Jogging"

The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel. (1 Kings 18:46)

Some people find pleasure in jogging, also while vacationing. It is a form of recreation.

Elijah was not a young man when he ran before King Ahab’s chariot from Mount Carmel to Jezreel. Since God had revealed Himself by answering with fire, Elijah believed that Ahab would institute a righteous, God-pleasing rule. So he wished to honor the king by running before his chariot as a footman.

Elijah could perform this physical feat because “the power of the Lord” was upon him, giving him superhuman strength.

Hebrews chapter 11 recalls the role of believers who by faith in God accomplished what is ordinarily beyond human capacity. They “through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised, … shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword, [their] weakness was turned to strength” (Hebrews 11:33,34).

The Christian’s faith is anchored in God, who so loved every person that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, for the salvation of all. Malcolm Boyd asks in the title of his prayer book: “Are You running With Me, Jesus?” The answer is yes. But we need to do more than jog. We can run with patience the race that is set before us.

[Soldier4Christ]

"The Voice of Summer "

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. (Song of Songs (Solomon) 2:12)

“Summer is even at the door; The winter now hath vanished. The tender flowerets spring once more. And He who winter banished will send a happy summer.” Those lines are from “A New Song Here Shall Be Begun,” a ballad Martin Luther composed in 1523 when three martyrs were burned at the stake in Brussels. After the fire had been kindled, one of the men had said, “Blooming roses are strewn around me.”

Under much happier circumstances we can celebrate the coming of summer and the joy it brings when the family takes a vacation or holiday. Inspiring are the sights and sounds of summer: blooming flowers, the singing of birds, the splash of refreshing rain, the gurgle of a stream.

The voice of summer is the voice of God. God speaks through His wondrous works. The order of nature witnesses to His faithfulness. God promised Noah after the flood: “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease” (Genesis 8:22). This promise God has kept to this day.

God always keeps His Word. He promised to send a Savior from sin, and this Savior is His Son Jesus Christ, who died for us and rose again. “No matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20), writes Saint Paul. In the summer sounds you can hear God’s voice. Are you listening?

[Soldier4Christ]

"Look up to the Stars"

Look up at the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.” (Genesis 15:5)

That’s what God said to Abraham to assure him that his descendants would be many, a promise always linked to the promise of the Messiah from Abraham’s descendants.

The stars have a message for us too. The following words of Abraham Lincoln may be seen on an inscription in Springfield, Illinois: “I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.” Lincoln, a Bible reader, undoubtedly thought of the psalm; “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1).

Stargazing has long been associated with astrology, the superstition that stars influence our lives. Even today there are many people who consult their horoscopes.

For the followers of Jesus the stars have a different significance. Sun, moon, stars, the planets and their satellites, are all the work of God. He who set them in their courses will certainly also guide us on our way. Whatever our daily orbit, God will watch over our going out and our coming in.

The stars we see as we camp out under the open sky remind us of the star of Bethlehem that once guided the Magi to the Christ Child. (Matthew 2:1-12). We too worship Him, for He is God’s true Son, our Savior and our Lord, who exchanged His cradle for a cross to redeem us. During these days of your holiday or vacation as you look up to the stars, think of what they mean for your Christian faith.

[Soldier4Christ]

"God’s Gold Star"

“I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (Revelation 22:16)

There are times when we need rest and relaxation, when we need to get away from it all so that we can begin an inner rebuilding; especially after some distressing experience. At such times we need to lift our eyes from our troubled earth and look up to God, the Father of lights.

After Harry Lauder, the famous Scottish singer and entertainer had lost two sons in World War I, he went to Australia to be by himself in order to sort things out. While out walking one evening, he passed several homes that displayed blue stars (indicating sons serving in the armed forces), and even gold stars (indicating sons who died in battle) in their windows, reminding him of other parents’ sacrifices. Then looking up and seeing a bright star shining in the sky, he recalled to his great comfort that the heavenly Father too had given up His Son for the salvation of mankind.

Jesus Christ is God’s Gold star, the bright Morning Star in God’s heaven. His coming had been foretold in these words: “A star will come out of Jacob” (Numbers 24:17). This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus Christ came into our world as the Savior. When we believe in Him, we see light, for as the apostle says, “the Morning Star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19).

When we have experienced bitter disappointments and tragic losses, it’s good to look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. He is God’s Gold Star who died for us and rose again. He is, if you will, God’s Superstar!

[Soldier4Christ]

"Our Lord’s Space Program"

Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)

Whenever we take a trip into God’s great outdoors we can’t help but look up to the stars and the moon when night falls. We are then reminded of the space program and how on July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon’s surface.

Antedating man’s space explorations was God’s own space program. It was God who created the vast reaches of all space – heaven and earth. The psalmist declares, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:3,4).

While all creation tells the glory of an almighty and all-wise God, only the Gospel proclaims the greatness of God’s love in Jesus Christ. God’s space program called not only for creation but also for redemption. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Our Lord wanted the whole world – all mankind – evangelized, so that through the Gospel the Holy Spirit might bring people to faith and a new life. Before ascending into heaven Jesus sent His disciples on a worldwide space program of preaching the Gospel and baptizing all nations.

The Lord looks to you and me to take some truly giant steps for mankind of sharing His love.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Keeping God’s World Beautiful"

The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. (Psalm 24:1)

The Butchart Gardens near Victoria, British Columbia, are visited each year by many tourists and vacationers. Under the hands of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pim Butchart an abandoned limestone quarry was turned into a 30-acre wonderland of flowers, shrubs, and trees. “The Garden Journal” of New York City has called it “the outstanding showplace of the Pacific Northwest.”

We do not all have the money, ability, and time to do what this couple did, but we can all honor this world’s Maker and delight the eyes of others when we brighten up the corner where we are. After all, we live not in our own but in our Father’s world. “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” We have no license to destroy its beauty and natural resources. We are stewards and caretakers, not owners and masters!

Not only this world but also “all who live in it” are the Lord’s. God created all people and through Jesus Christ redeemed them. We need to develop a sense of obligation to God’s earth. We help keep God’s world of people beautiful when we tell them how deeply God loves them and how He makes them clean and fruitful through the Gospel.

Why not start doing this where we are now – today?

[Soldier4Christ]

"Air Conditioning in Reverse"

Unless you speak intelligible words … how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. (1 Corinthians 14:9).

Highway travelers enjoy pleasant motels equipped with air conditioning. This modern convenience makes for truly comfortable living as it cools, washes, and dehumidifies the air.

Human speech can be compared to an air conditioner. Candid and clear speech makes conversation much easier. It “clears the air.”

But there is another kind of speech that might be described as air conditioning in reverse. Saint Paul tells the Corinthians that speaking in intelligible words is “speaking into the air.” Such speech does not edify, inspire, and instruct. It only confuses the mind some more.

Then there is the kind of speech that befouls the air. This includes filthy, obscene, and profane language. Says Saint Paul, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths” (Ephesians 4:29).

What is talk that really washes, cleanses, and conditions the air for good? Saint Paul would have us speak what “is helpful for building others up, according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).

Think how pure, precious, and life-giving were the words of Jesus! Truly they were words of eternal life, coming from Him who earned eternal life for us.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Better than Credit Cards"

[God] having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:14)

Credit cards are a great convenience while traveling. Everyone knows, of course, that credit cards offer nothing free. In due time the charged items have to be paid for.

It is different with the total package of the Christian’s salvation: it is really free! The blessings of forgiveness of sins, peace of conscience, a joyful heart, a purpose for living, the assurance of eternal life – all are conveyed to us free of charge and there will be no charges later on! Saint Paul states it clearly: “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).

This is not to say that grace is cheap, that salvation is something out of God’s bargain basement. Far from it, our redemption from sin cost God’s Son the highest possible price, His holy, sinless life!

A salvation so precious could never be earned or paid for by us. Too much is demanded from one who wants to be his own savior. The debt of sin we owe is entirely beyond our ability to pay. As for good character, good works, our own merits – these cannot be put on spiritual credit cards. And so, our Heavenly Father, in His love, took things in hand, sent His Son to the cross to pay the bill, and now offers the gift of full salvation to us with no strings attached. No wonder Christians sing: “How great Thou art!”

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"Reverence for Life"

With You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. (Psalm 36:9)

Highway travel during holiday weekends or vacation periods can easily end in traffic accidents. That danger is increased when motorists are careless, drive too fast, take to the road when they are overtired, or as the saying goes, “mix gasoline with alcohol.” Such conduct shows low regard for human life.

“Reverence for life” was the working philosophy of Albert Schweitzer, the medical missionary who established a hospital in French Equatorial Africa to save human lives. “Reverence for life” is also good as a guiding principle for all of us to follow as we take to the highways.

We do not possess the right to do with human life as we please, for God is the creator of life! “With You is the fountain of life,” the psalmist declares. My life and the lives of fellow travelers on the highway are a trust from God. As my “brother’s keeper” I am required by God to guard his life as well as my own!

In the Son of God “was life, and that life was the light of men” (John 1:4). That’s a reprise of the words of Psalm 36. Jesus Christ gave His life so that we might have life and have it more abundantly, which means spiritual life leading to eternal life. With His life Jesus redeemed all people, also those who crowd our highways. We have no choice but to show reverence for life.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Avoiding an Oil Crisis"

“The wise [virgins] however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.” (Matthew 25:4)

For much of the world the energy crisis continues. When planning a vacation or holiday trip by automobile, we need to consider the fuel situation – whether we shall be able to get enough gasoline and all.

In His parable of the ten young virgins, Jesus spoke of an oil crisis. The five wise virgins had a sufficient oil supply on hand to keep their lamps burning after the bridegroom finally arrived. The five foolish virgins, on the other hand, experienced a fuel crisis. They said to the others, “Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out” (Matthew 25:7).

Our Lord teaches us to keep ourselves well provided with spiritual oil, with faith in Him, our heavenly bridegroom. He truly loved the church as His bride, and gave Himself for it on the cross. Then He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Before leaving He promised that He would return to receive us to Himself in heaven.

In the meantime we Christians must remain alert and make all preparations to receive Him when He comes. We need to be supplied with the oil of faith which our Lord supplies to us through the Word and sacraments.

When Christ comes again to begin the festivities and joys of eternal life, each of us must have his own faith; none can borrow faith from another. How is it with us? When the Lord comes again, will He find faith in our hearts?

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"Don’t Forget to Write!"

We are all members of one body. (Ephesians 4:25)

The members of a family are like members of the same body. Saint Paul has said, “God has combined the members of the body [of Christ]…If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (1 Corinthians 12:24,26).

Surely those members of a family who are going on a vacation trip should remember those who had to stay behind. They can share their pleasure with those at home by writing to them, even if it is merely a postcard. Even the old cliché “Wish you were here” has meaning when it is said in sincerity and love.

Life is short and all too soon we will be permanently parted from those we love. It has been said that the saddest sentence in English literature is the sentence written by Thomas Carlyle in his diary to his deceased wife: “Oh, that I had you yet for five minutes by my side, that I might tell you all.”

We who are of the same relationship, the same circle of friends, the same family of faith have much in common because of the “salvation we share” (Jude 3) in Christ Jesus, who loved us and redeemed us with His blood. So don’t forget to write to your loved ones at home.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Surprises While Traveling"

“Woman, you have great faith!” (Matthew 15:28)

C. K. Chesterton, once tried to write a play based on the idea that happiness consists of a series of surprises. If this thesis is correct, you should find happiness during your vacation or holiday trip, for along the way you will probably experience many pleasant surprises.

Jesus was once traveling in the area around Tyre and Sidon. While there He had a most pleasant experience. He found persistent faith in a Canaanite mother whose daughter was possessed by a demon. Before relieving the daughter Jesus said to the mother, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.”

At another time and in another place Jesus had the pleasant surprise of again finding faith in an unexpected person – the centurion at Capernaum. Jesus said to those around Him, “I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith” (Matthew 8:10).

Undoubtedly we too have had the pleasant surprise of meeting other Christians while vacationing and of finding strong faith in them. We may have become aware of them by certain insignias on their cars, by their extraordinary courtesy which flowed from their Christian love, or because they bowed their heads to pray in public restaurants. Such pleasant surprises add to our happiness.

But, we have had a much greater surprise: Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners and thus altogether undeserving of any consideration at all! As we rejoice in that fact, we cannot but bring pleasure to Him and to others by letting our Christian faith show by Word and in deed.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Camping Out"

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. (John 1:14)

Many people spend their vacations or holidays camping out. There are various ways of camping out. Some folks carry a trailer, a tent and other equipment with them and “rough it.” Others choose a more convenient way of traveling and live in a camper or recreational vehicle. Still others spend their time off the road in the comparative luxury of motels and hotels.

The Son of God, so to speak, camped out too. From all eternity His permanent home was in heaven. This home He left and lived on earth for 33 years. He traveled extensively throughout “the Holy Land.” His places of abode were temporary. He was born in Bethlehem, lived for a time in Egypt, grew up in Nazareth, journeyed up and down Palestine and beyond, was crucified at Jerusalem, and was buried in another man’s tomb. The foxes had holes and the birds of the air had nests, but He had no permanent place to rest His head. He “camped out.”

All this is implied when Saint John writes that God’s Son, born of Mary, the Word-made-flesh, “made His dwelling among us.” The Greek verb means to lodge temporarily, to live in a tent, as Abraham did, and as the Children of Israel did while they were enroute to the Promised Land, worshiping God not in a firm temple but in a moveable tabernacle.

The Son of God became flesh and blood “so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). It is well for us that God’s Son “tented” among us!

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"Flight Two: Egypt"

An angel of the Lord … said, "Take the child and His mother, and escape to Egypt.” (Matthew 2:13)

Modern air travel is really something to marvel at. Flights to Cairo, Egypt, for example are announced as casually as though they were bus trips to the little town of Cairo, Illinois.

The Bible reports on two flights to Egypt. The first of these was made to save the lives of the patriarch Jacob and some 70 family members from starvation (Genesis 42:1-3).

The second flight to Egypt was even more urgent. At stake was the life of the infant Jesus, whom the Wise Men had come to worship as King. This had aroused the hatred of King Herod, who wanted to destroy the child. So the Holy Family left Bethlehem and fled to Egypt.

Saint Matthew links the two flights to Egypt together. To Pharoah the Lord had said through Moses: “Israel is My firstborn son, and I told you, ‘Let My son go so he may worship Me’” (Exodus 4:22-23). Through Hosea God repeated, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son” (Hosea 11:1). When years later Jesus was recalled from Egypt, the Scriptural prophecy was again fulfilled that had said: “Out of Egypt I called My son” (Matthew 2:15). Jesus was the Son who in all things was obedient where Israel, the first son, had been disobedient.

Flight Two to Egypt was a lifesaver. It is that also for us. Because the life of Jesus was spared, He was able to lay down His life on the cross for our salvation.