Day by Day

[Soldier4Christ]

"Real Wisdom"

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5

On January 1st, the Associated Press carried an article about a man in Mesa, Arizona, who took one of his pet buffaloes for a ride.

No, he didn’t put the great beast in a horse trailer and drive him around the neighborhood. The man put a saddle on his bison and tried to ride him. Now the article didn’t say if the man did this sort of thing regularly. That’s why I don’t know if this was the first time or the hundredth time the man went riding.

I do know this time the man was bucked off and trampled. The unnamed fellow was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Since he has probably been released by the time you read this, I can be forgiven if I ask, “What was he thinking doing something so silly, so dangerous?”

His actions are almost as bad as those Pam and I observed when we were living in western South Dakota near Custer State Park. There we watched in astonishment as a man tried to put his little daughter on a wild buffalo so he might take a vacation picture. We, along with a lot of others, called out and dissuaded him from his foolish action.

Right about now, I imagine, you, like me, are thinking, “I’m glad I’d never do anything as stupid as that.”

I know I won’t. Not because I’m so smart. I probably won’t try to ride a buffalo because I don’t own a buffalo. But if I did, who knows?

In truth, each of us do some very strange things, stupid things, sinful things –things, which can get us into temporal and eternal trouble.

This is why we need a Savior. Jesus is the only One of the human race who has done the right thing, the smart thing all of the time. In perfect love He came and lived a perfect life. This He did, so that we, who were being trampled by our own transgressions, might be rescued and saved.

Now, as forgiven children, we ought to be able to see life a little more clearly. We ought to put away the foolish pursuits of the world and live our lives with the wisdom God wishes to give.

And if we don’t have such wisdom right now we ought to listen to James. In the first chapter of his book he wrote, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, Who gives generously to all. . . .”

[Soldier4Christ]

"Getting Busy"

And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:11-12

In my wanderings I’ve come across a great many retired pastors. Now I’m using the word “retired” in the loosest way possible. Most of these pastors are still working. They are serving vacancy congregations, calling on the hospitalized and shut-ins, and they are preaching almost every Sunday.

Almost to a man, each of them says, “I’m busier now than I have ever been.” Then, with a twinkle in their eyes, they add, “Only I don’t have to be the Pastor-on-call at Voter’s Assemblies.”

The activity of these pastors is quite a contrast from the four people in New York who are competing to be the world’s couch potato king.

And what do you have to do to earn such a dubious title? Nothing. You have to do absolutely nothing. On New Year’s Day four people sat down in front of a dozen large-screen televisions to watch continuous TV for as long as they could.

The old record was 69 hours and 48 minutes. These folks are trying to break that record. If they do, they’ll receive $5,000, a high-definition TV, and a reclining chair.

When I read of that story, which is being carried on television, I thought, “Thank the Lord He didn’t have the same kind of attitude when it came to us!” Truly, when our first ancestors fell into sin, the Lord could have assumed the role of Divine Couch Potato, contenting Himself to watch humanity begin and continue a hopeless procession into the fires of hell.

He could have, but He didn’t.

The Lord, in His grace, got involved. So we might be saved from our sin, so we might be rescued from damnation, Jesus took our place under the law, resisted Satan’s every temptation, died the death we deserved and, in His wonderful resurrection conquered the grave.

For His involvement, the Savior received no cash, no easy chair, no TV. He has never asked for or wanted such things. What He does want is people who, by the Holy Spirit’s power, acknowledge Him as Savior and actively hold fast to the full assurance of hope that comes through Him alone.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hold Fast"

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Diego Palacios from the Mexican city of Monterrey had a wonderful Christmas vacation.

Diego had that wonderful type of Christmas vacation a ten-year-old boy hopes will never end. At least that’s what most little boys hope.

But Diego Palacios is not just a young man of hope. Diego is a young man of action.

Diego Palacios decided to do everything in his power to make sure his Christmas would keep on going.

To that end, the Monday after Christmas, Diego snuck into the kitchen, got a bottle of industrial glue, slathered it on his right hand and glued himself to his bedpost.

That’s the way Diego’s mother found him when she woke up: watching the television with his hand glued to the bed.

As a responsible adult, parent, and grandparent, I am forced to say, “Diego did a very, very bad thing.” As a guy who loved his Christmas vacations as much as Diego, I can’t help but smile, just a little bit.

When I first heard Diego’s story, I thought, what a wonderful Daily Devotion theme. After all, Diego is like most of humanity. We don’t want what is best for us or what is right for us; we cling to that which we shouldn’t.

We sin.

Because we are glued to our wrongdoing the Lord sent His Son into this world to free us from the bondage of our transgression. By the blood of Jesus Christ we are forgiven of our sins and released from the destiny that once awaited us.

As Luther said, by the Holy Spirit’s power we are called by the Gospel, enlightened by God’s gifts, and sanctified to be God’s saved and changed people of faith. Like Paul said, we are enabled to “hold fast to that which is good.”

[Soldier4Christ]

"God Is Serious"

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Jane Hambleton of Des Moines, Iowa, has style.

You have to have a lot of style when you have laid claim to the self-adopted title, the “meanest mom on the planet”.

You can be forgiven if you wonder exactly what Jane has done to deserve such a moniker. The answer is simple. When Jane gave her son a car for Thanksgiving, with the car came a list of rules. It was a short list of rules: “No booze” and “Keep the car locked”.

Unfortunately, one of those rules was broken and Jane decided to put her boy’s car on the market. She took out an ad in the local paper that reads:

"OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet."

So far Jane has received more than 70 phone calls. Many of these have come from emergency room technicians, nurses, and school counselors. Not a single one of those calls criticized Jane for being cruel, heartless, or out of control.

Now the reason I find Jane’s story relevant for a daily devotion is this: God has said, “The wages of sin is death.” Unfortunately, the world hasn’t taken Him seriously. Far too many think, “God wouldn’t punish us for having committed a few, small transgressions.”
Well, folks, God’s not cruel, but He is a Lord of His Word and He will punish sinners for their actions.

God will punish us sinners or else He will punish a heaven-sent Substitute. Amazingly, along with being a God of justice, God is also a God of grace. By God’s grace, Jesus was born into this world to take our place, to fulfill the law we have broken, to take our punishment. This Jesus did so we might be free of punishment and condemnation.

As Paul said, “The free Gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

[Soldier4Christ]

"Christ, My Caretaker"

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow. Matthew 6:34a (NIV)

Every creature in this world is longing for love in the form of caring, safety, and security. We all have the power to love and care for others. But there seems to be a failure in loving and caring, which creates problems like depression, tension, and worry.

It is true that people die every day due to the weighty pressures of sorrow and worry. Our anxieties take us very close to the graveyard. No tablets, pills, or injections can remedy our sorrows completely.

Since worries and anxieties affect the mind and heart, only a person who knows our mind and heart can cure our sorrows.

In our spiritual life, worries make us doubt the love of God and the protection He promised to offer.

Our anxiety can even weaken our faith. What shall we do? Let us turn to the voice of Jesus Christ. He says, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:34). These words urge us to be confident of His gracious caring and loving. We do not know what the future will bring. Only God knows. Therefore, He directs us to think about today rather than tomorrow. We are not to worry about food, clothing, or housing for God knows our needs and will amply supply them.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

[Soldier4Christ]

"Where Are You Going?"

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. Jeremiah 29:11-12

It was in the last century, a very poor, young man went to London. There, he became acquainted with a young lady of the nobility, who also happened to be wealthy. They fell in love. At her insistence, she was the one who went to ask her father for permission to marry the young man. The father replied, with considerable concern, "He's got no background, you don't know where he's come from." She said, "Yes, I know, but I know where he's going, and I want to go with him."

How I wish somebody would say that about me.

The truth is most of us don't know where we're going. Oh, we know if we're going to work or to the market. But where are we going with our lives? It gets pretty confusing, doesn't it?

We lose a job, or a friend dies, or our plans fall through and everything changes. Thankfully, we have a God who knows where we're going, even when we may not.

Indeed, He sent His Son into this world to help us with our daily, as well as our eternal, destinations. To that end Jesus was born, He lived, died, and rose. Now, because of what the Savior has done, countless Christians can tell you that when your life is in the Father’s hands, you can be at peace. After all, in Jesus, your destination is secure.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Peace Percentage"

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Although it was frustrating when I was in school, there are times I'm glad I'm no genius when it comes to mathematics. Figures for me can be pretty discouraging. For example, people who are in a position to know have calculated that over the last approximately 3,000 years of recorded world history, the earth has only been at peace eight percent of the time.

Before you get out your calculators, let me tell you that adds up to about 286 years. During that same period of time, around 8,000 treaties have been made and broken. Please, don’t ask me for the list. I’m only reporting what they’ve told me. Yes, there are times when I'm glad I don't know numbers.

As I look at all the people I meet, I wonder if they are at peace much more than that eight percent. Sin, the world, and the devil always seem to come up with something to rob us of peace. It can be the person at work who gossips, or the individual who takes the parking place we had our eye on. There's always something.

Thankfully, Christians know that when the peace-robbers come, they have a Savior who is a peace-giver. His sacrificial life and resurrection show us that He cares. He cares so much He invites us to take our peace problems to Him.

Jesus is the only Person to whom we can turn; He is the only One who can lift our burdens, the only One who can offer us peace. And although I’m no mathematician, I feel comfortable in saying the more we trust Him, the higher will be our percentage of peace and thankfulness.

[Def]

"Peace Percentage"

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Although it was frustrating when I was in school, there are times I'm glad I'm no genius when it comes to mathematics. Figures for me can be pretty discouraging. For example, people who are in a position to know have calculated that over the last approximately 3,000 years of recorded world history, the earth has only been at peace eight percent of the time.

Before you get out your calculators, let me tell you that adds up to about 286 years. During that same period of time, around 8,000 treaties have been made and broken. Please, don’t ask me for the list. I’m only reporting what they’ve told me. Yes, there are times when I'm glad I don't know numbers.

As I look at all the people I meet, I wonder if they are at peace much more than that eight percent. Sin, the world, and the devil always seem to come up with something to rob us of peace. It can be the person at work who gossips, or the individual who takes the parking place we had our eye on. There's always something.

Thankfully, Christians know that when the peace-robbers come, they have a Savior who is a peace-giver. His sacrificial life and resurrection show us that He cares. He cares so much He invites us to take our peace problems to Him.

Jesus is the only Person to whom we can turn; He is the only One who can lift our burdens, the only One who can offer us peace. And although I’m no mathematician, I feel comfortable in saying the more we trust Him, the higher will be our percentage of peace and thankfulness.

Thank you Pastor Roger you are so encouraging
in my world i  have to turn to Christ and His sacrifice on the cross and  I believe that He paid for my salvation and bore my burdens  and trust in the power of his promise that he would give me the peace that no one can understand.
If I Obey and trust everything will be fine but i got to live by faith all the time.boy i will be glad to see Him coming for me.Glory praise God.
Love in Jesus Def

[Soldier4Christ]

"Being Prepared"

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. Titus 3:1

Every good Boy Scout knows he’s supposed to be prepared.

Being prepared usually covers such things as helping little old ladies across the street and, in this age of political correctness, helping little old men across the street, as well.

None of the Scout manuals I have ever read include saving the President of your country from the assassination attempt of a knife-wielding murderer.

Even so, last week in the Maldives, a nation of islands in the Indian Ocean, a fifteen-year-old Boy Scout by the name of Jaisham did exactly that.

When he saw a man lunge at the President with a knife he had camouflaged in the national flag, the Scout jumped into action. Jaisham grabbed the knife and received a hand wound as a reward for his bravery. Because of his action, the President was saved and the assailant was captured.

It was a noble act that has caused Jaisham to be proclaimed a national hero. Quite rightly, I think.

Now the reason his story is shared is this: The United States is in an election year. Like most election years things have a tendency to get a little crazy as candidates come at each other with verbal daggers and commercial assaults.

Everybody seems to be criticizing and demeaning everybody else.

That’s not the way Christians are to act.

In the book of Titus we are instructed, “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work.” And that’s what this devotion is doing. It is reminding all of the Savior’s followers that they, as citizens of an earthly country, as well as the heavenly kingdom of God, are to be obedient to those who have been placed in authority above us.

Our words should show that we are ready for every good work. In short we should be like Jaisham. We should be prepared to help our leaders and not hurt them.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Real Fear"

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

Dana Shafman is a lady to be respected.

Yes, I know, everybody is supposed to be respected. But if I ever have an opportunity to meet Dana, you can be sure I’m going to treat her with a great deal of deference. That’s because Dana Shafman of Gilbert, Arizona, carries a pink stun gun.

For those Daily Devotion readers who don’t know what a stun gun is, let me explain: A stun gun is a battery powered, non-lethal, self-protection device. The stun gun fires two darts into attackers and gives them a knockdown jolt of electricity.

Most of the time those who have experienced the shocking shot have not volunteered to do so again.

Now, from her home Dana is selling those stun guns to women who are concerned about their personal safety. Sort of like a 21st-century Tupperware party. Every month Dana is selling about 30 of those $350 dollar stun guns. When asked to explain why the high volume of sales, Dana explains, “The worst nightmare for me is, when I’m sleeping, someone comes in my home.” Most of the people at her stun-gun parties agree with her.

There is no question that we live in a mighty sinful world. Every day the news is filled with terrible and tragic stories of what human beings are doing to each other. For that reason I can understand the fear that has gripped so many hearts; I can appreciate the desire to be protected. Even so, I don’t think fear of physical attack should be anyone’s worst nightmare.

That fear should be of something far more sinister. Wishing to warn those He wished to save, the Savior said, “Do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Jesus knew that as terrible as temporal attackers might be, they can’t compare to the spiritual forces, the principalities, the powers of darkness, which are trying to harm us eternally. So we might be protected from these sinister, satanic forces, Jesus entered this world. To put Himself between evil and us is why He lived, suffered, died, and rose. Now all those who are brought to faith in Him as Savior are protected.

As Psalm 46:1 says, “God (not a stun gun) is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

[Soldier4Christ]

"God Delivers"

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. Psalm 50:15

Pam and I have been spending a lot more time giving thanks for God’s gift of good health.

We had to. Over Christmas one of our classmates had two strokes and another had a heart attack. Those friends are improving. Another classmate who had a massive stroke has gone home to his Lord.

Sadly, according to an article last week in HealthDay News, often people who are in dire straits have to wait for treatment when they go to a hospital emergency room.

Indeed, the time people wait for treatment in an emergency room has increased thirty-six percent for all patients. Even worse, those who are the sickest seem to have to wait the longest. One-quarter of all heart-attack patients have to wait fifty minutes before they see a doctor.

Because some hospitals have shut their emergency rooms and more people are using those emergency rooms still functioning, a real bottleneck in emergency care has developed.

Now, I don’t know about you, but when I think I’m dying, I don’t want anybody to say, “Please, take a number, sit down and wait.”

If I don’t want somebody to say that to me at a bakery or a bank, I certainly don’t want to hear it when my heart is flopping around like a fish out of water.

As I said at the beginning of this devotion, Pam and I are giving thanks for good health. But we’re also giving thanks we have a God who is never too busy to hear our prayers, our fears, our concerns, or accept our thanks.

The heavenly Father who gave His only-begotten Son as the sacrifice to save us from our sins has promised that He will, because of His risen Son, listen to us.

That’s the level of concern the Psalmist was trying to convey when He relayed God’s command and promise: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you and you will glorify Me.”

With Jesus as our Intercessor, we know we have a listening ear, a friendly ear in heaven. And, just as importantly, we have a God who, having heard, will respond to our requests.

[Soldier4Christ]

"No Confession"

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Some people know how to throw a party where everybody has fun. Some people don’t.

According to the Associated Press article that ran last week there is a sixteen-year-old in Melbourne, Australia, who fits into the second category.

The young man took advantage of his parent’s absence and decided to invite some of his friends to his house for a bit of frivolity.

He invited a few people, more than five hundred showed up. After the neighbors complained about the noise, the police arrived and asked the mini-mob to tone things down or knock it off. The suggestion of the officers wasn’t appreciated.

Some of the partygoers responded by throwing glass bottles at the police cars and others vandalized the neighbors’ homes. It took thirty police officers, a dog squad, and a helicopter to restore control. The bill for putting a lid on the party was right around eighteen thousand dollars. It’s a price the boy may have to pay.

And what do you think was the boy’s reaction to all of this? Was he embarrassed? Did he think about running away from home before his parents returned? Was he sorrowful and repentant? If you thought he was any of those things, you’d be wrong.

When the lad was asked if he would ever throw such a party again, he replied, “I would do it again this weekend… if my parents were not due home from vacation this week.”

This comment reminds me of the way some sinners act. Since they think God isn’t watching they believe the Lord doesn’t see what they’re doing, and they feel free to sin as much as they like.

And they do so without any kind of repentance.

Well, the boy is going to find out mom and dad are coming home, and sinners are someday going to see the Savior return in judgment. This is why a repentant heart is in order. A repentant heart, that’s what John wanted God’s people to have. We who have been redeemed by the Savior still sin; that’s a given. What should also be a given is we should be contrite for our past wrongs and committed to doing better in the future.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Witnessing"

For God did not give us a Spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

Many times I debate with myself exactly what is meant by “witnessing”. How does one bear witness? Need I communicate my truth to every person I see? In my heart of hearts, I believe if I possess true conviction, I should not shy away from doing exactly that.

There is not one person in this world who does not need to hear the Good News of God's forgiving love for us in Jesus Christ. So there should be no reason why I should not be able to tell it to all. And yet, time and again, I find myself making excuses about why I should not communicate my beliefs to this or that person. Sometimes it’s because I am afraid I will alienate that person. At other times it is because I convince myself there is no way I can get through to them. But mostly it’s because I fear ridicule.

I find myself cringing when I encounter people enthusiastic in their witness. Whether I observe them on street corners or meet them in person, such people have a way of making me feel very uncomfortable. I believe the main reason I feel this way is because I am forced to appraise my own witness. Why am I unable to loudly declare my beliefs? Have I not received as much, if not more, than these people?

Of course, I know God understands my character and does not expect me to engage in contrived testimony. However, I think the reason I feel guilty in the face of witness from others is because, deep down, I feel I am not doing enough. I turn again to Christ and His forgiveness.

Bearing testimony in the face of opposition and ridicule, not to mention at the risk of offending someone else, requires courage. It requires courage to risk imparting the message and courage not to be discouraged whatever the outcome.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Love Guaranteed"

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Every time we go down to the mall and walk past the pet store, Pamie drags me in. She gets such a kick out of looking at the small puppies and kittens. Although I don't like to admit it, for fear we’ll end up bringing some furry critter home, they really are adorable.

On a recent visit to see the kittens and puppies, the pet store had a new sign in the window. It read, “Love Guaranteed Forever”. Now, there's no question in my mind that the pet store certainly does try to sell love, but that part about “forever”? Forever seems to be stretching things a bit.

Animals, no matter how much we love them, or how devoted they are to us, end up coming and going. And we do, too.

Is there any place where love can be guaranteed? Even the most faithful of spouses will eventually end up having to say an earthly farewell. Many of you, with an ache in your hearts understand what I'm saying.

That's why, if we are looking for permanence in love, it’s not out of line to say it can be found only in the Lord. By His grace and through the redemptive act of His Son, our heavenly Father offers us a love, which is guaranteed for all of our tomorrows –and into that time when tomorrows and time are no more.

Only through our forgiving, loving Lord can we receive a loving commitment, which is guaranteed to last forever.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Wanting"

And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Ephesians 2:8

My wife asked me to pick up a few items at the grocery store yesterday. As I waited in line, I was moved with sympathy for the mother who was refereeing the escalating battle between her two small children.

One was three years old; the other was four.

Once when she came up for air, the mother looked at me with pleading and pained eyes. She sighed. That sigh moved me to ask, “Can you tell me what they’re arguing about?” Worn and weary she replied, “The same thing that is wrong with the rest of the world. I've got three pieces of candy in my purse, and each of my boys wants two."

She was right. Almost everybody wants to get what’s coming to them, and a little bit extra. How hard it is to learn to be content.

It's a lesson I don't quite have mastered. How about you? If we're ever going to get better as individuals or as a world, we're going to need some outside help. Saint Paul found that help from the Lord who taught him to be content wherever he was.

Maybe that's because Paul, through His Savior Jesus, had received more than he ever deserved or thought possible.