Day by Day

[Soldier4Christ]

"Of Great Value"

Know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Matthew 24:43

I don’t know the names of everyone who reads these Daily Devotions, nor do I know your financial situation. Even so, I’m willing to go out on the limb and say, “You probably don’t have any single item in your home worth fifty million dollars.” (If you do, email me and we can talk about you adopting me.)

If you do have something worth fifty million dollars, I’ll bet you have some serious security guarding that item. That would be the sensible thing to do.

Sadly, a museum in Sao Paulo, Brazil, may not agree. Last week, while the four guards were changing shifts, thieves used a hydraulic jack to pry open the museum’s main doors and a crowbar to smash a glass door. In three minutes the crooks stole a Picasso painting worth fifty million dollars and another piece of art worth five and a half million dollars.

The President of the museum said they didn’t have the necessary finances for better security.

Now he may be telling the truth, but it seems if you have two pieces of art worth over fifty-five million dollars you probably can get a loan.

Now if you’re like me, you’re probably shaking your head and asking, “How can anybody have their priorities so messed up as to leave something so valuable unguarded?” I don’t know, but I see it all the time. You do too.

All of us are acquainted with people who don’t give a moment’s thought to the value of their souls –an item worth considerably more than fifty million dollars. They live their lives with the false notion that everything is going to be okay, and nothing bad can ever happen to them.

It is a foolish idea because God has warned humanity there are thieves out there: the devil, the world, and our flesh, who are constantly plotting to steal those souls. Because our enemies are planning to try to steal us from our Savior, Jesus has encouraged us to be ready, to watch. Watch for their temptations. Watch those times when they will try to take you away from Him.

It’s good advice; it’s sensible advice. It’s advice I would follow if I had something worth fifty million dollars. It’s advice I should follow because I have a valuable soul, which the Savior has bought at the cost of His life.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Great Wine"

And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, “The old is better.” Luke 5:39

My grandmother, Frieda Reinhardt, considered herself “frugal”. Frugal, that is, but never cheap. I don’t know about that, but I’m absolutely sure she never paid ninety dollars for a bottle of wine in her life. To Grandma, one wine was pretty much the same as another. And when it came to quality, she maintained, “It’s all in your head.”

She may have been right. Last month a journal called the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published a report from the California Institute of Technology and Stanford Business School. In a variation of what Jesus said about wine preferences in our Scripture today, these giants of academia and higher learning have concluded people enjoy a ninety dollar bottle of wine more than they enjoy one that sells for ten.

Many of my wine aficionado friends are saying, “That’s a real no-brainer.”

Maybe. . . but here’s the catch. For the experiment the wine in both bottles was the same. You got it. . . it was the very same wine. The only difference is one group of people were told the wine cost ninety dollars and the other was informed the wine was selling for ten dollars.

The scientists did all kinds of fancy studies and used a lot of big words that explained what had happened in people’s brains. It all boils down to this fact: When people think they’re getting something very expensive their brain appreciates it more.

Just goes to prove what one of our directors at Lutheran Hour Ministries used to say, “People don’t appreciate something if it’s free. . . or cheap.”

Maybe that’s why so many people don’t appreciate their salvation.

You see, the price Jesus paid for our redemption cost Him everything. He left heaven to become one of us. He turned from the praises of the angels and allowed Himself to be bombarded by the verbal insults and challenges of those who hated Him. Jesus spent His life and died a terrible death so that all those who believe on Him as their sacrificing and sacrificed Substitute might be freely forgiven and saved.

But many people, instead of seeing what their redemption cost Jesus, prefer to think of the “nothing” it cost them. And since it cost them nothing, to them it’s worth nothing.

That kind of thinking is not only wrong, it’s downright dangerous. This is why our prayer is twofold. We’re going to give thanks for free faith that has been given to us, and we’re going to ask the Lord to give it to others.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Truer Words Were Never Spoken"

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17

Bella DePaulo is an expert on lying.

Bella is not an expert because she does more lying than other people. She is an expert because, as a visiting professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara, she has done research on lying and other forms of deception.

According to DePaulo there are generally two kinds of lies:

1. Self-centered lies, told to make the teller look better, or to avoid conflict or embarrassment.

2. Other-centered lies, told to spare another individual’s feelings.

Of course, most of us would add a third type of lie—the kind people tell to manipulate, deceive, and hurt someone else.

The key point DePaulo wanted to make is this: we all lie. A lot.

Some say Abraham Lincoln never told a lie, but I think that trophy has to go to Jesus who alone was perfect in thought, word, and action.

In truth, we do lie. Many of us lie when we think we have to; some lie when it’s not necessary; some even lie when it’s going to hurt them.

People lie.

That is why it is wonderful to have a Savior who tells the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Of course humanity may not like what the Lord says. People argue when God says, “The wages of sin is death.” Other religions don’t like it when Jesus says, “Nobody can be saved except through Him.”

No matter what people may want to hear, the Lord’s inspired, inerrant Word tells the truth. Now, because God has spoken the truth, we can put absolute confidence in what He tells us. We can trust Him when He says, “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3: 17-18).

[Soldier4Christ]

"God Is Different"

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news.

First, let me give you the bad news. The bad news is there is a lot to feel dreadful about in the month of January. For example, you might have noticed the news is filled with stories concerning the mortgage crisis, the cold and inclement weather, rising gas prices, and the presidential primaries for both parties.

To that general list you might add your own personal difficulties.

Things are so bad you may not be surprised to hear Dr. Cliff Arnall, a researcher for Cardiff University, has decided January is the darkest month of the year. Factoring in things like the weather, consumer debt left over from the holidays, and the collapse of most people’s New Year’s resolutions, Dr. Arnall says he has been able to identify January as the most depressing month of 2008.

Even more, he says he can pick out the worst day of the year.

That’s the bad news. Here’s the good. The day Dr. Arnall designated as being the bottom of the pit was the third Monday of January—January 21st , to be exact.

And what’s the good news? The good news is you have survived what Dr. Arnall calls Blue Monday.

Don’t you feel better now?

Truly, Christians who know the Savior are not immune from dark and depressing days. We know that having Jesus as our Redeemer does not mean every day of our lives will be filled with blue skies and the twitters of little birdies.

No matter what we may hear elsewhere, Jesus never promised that.

But that doesn’t mean Jesus leaves us helpless or hopeless. With Christ by our side we are able to weather the storms, pass through the dark valleys and know, because of Him, we are conquerors and more than conquerors. Not even death can bring us down to a place so low Jesus can’t help.

Because all this is so is the reason I selected the verse for today’s devotion: This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (And we can, you know.)

[Soldier4Christ]

"Surrender Completely"

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22 (NIV)

The rich, young man wanted to hear quite the opposite of what Jesus was telling him. He had lived a good, moral life and was willing to do whatever was required. But he could not give up everything and surrender completely. He loved his money and possessions too much.

We are all in this situation. We are people with a divided heart. We love God, but we also want the things of this world.

In the Old Testament, when a sacrifice was made, the offering was burned until it was totally consumed by the fire. God wants us to surrender ourselves to Him this way—completely. Then we can truly follow Christ, and HE will fill us.

[Def]

"Surrender Completely"

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22 (NIV)

The rich, young man wanted to hear quite the opposite of what Jesus was telling him. He had lived a good, moral life and was willing to do whatever was required. But he could not give up everything and surrender completely. He loved his money and possessions too much.

We are all in this situation. We are people with a divided heart. We love God, but we also want the things of this world.

In the Old Testament, when a sacrifice was made, the offering was burned until it was totally consumed by the fire. God wants us to surrender ourselves to Him this way—completely. Then we can truly follow Christ, and HE will fill us.

AND THE THRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE.!!GLORY..AMEN

[Soldier4Christ]

"Groundhog Day"

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

It's Groundhog Day. What an event!

It's not a church holiday or a national day of celebration, but it nevertheless causes a fair amount of excitement. For those of you who don't know, each year, on February 2nd, an army of reporters and guests descend on Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to see the weather predictions of Phil, their grand groundhog. His shadow is supposed to say whether we can expect six more weeks of winter. In all honesty, I must confess I'm not sure whether the shadow means a longer winter, or a shorter winter. All in all, it's not important. What is important is that people love to celebrate –even if it's a groundhog's shadow.

Thankfully, we have many other, very real causes for celebration.

The birth of a child, a promotion at work, a good report card, a teenager passing his driver's test, a family reunited –all are wonderful events in our lives.

But as great as these causes for celebration are, they are nothing compared to the celebration taking place in peoples' hearts when they realize the crucified and risen Christ is with them through all the changing seasons of the year.

With the ever-living Savior watching over us, it doesn't make much difference whether the cold blasts of winter are blowing or the warm winds of summer are wafting down. The Lord is with us, and nothing, not shadows, or hard realities can frighten us. That's a real cause for celebration on this Groundhog Day, and always.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Close To God"

For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives. Hebrews 12:6

When I was growing up, it wasn't politically incorrect for parents to spank their children for major infractions of household rules.

Although it wasn’t often that I was disciplined this way, it did happen.

Usually, a wooden spoon from the kitchen utensil drawer was the instrument for delivering what I felt was cruel and inhumane punishment.

It is only now, as an adult, that I have come to the realization that I always did the wrong thing during those sessions. My normal reaction was to get as far away as possible from the stinging spoon. What I should have done was gotten closer. Shortening up the distance wouldn’t have allowed her to take a full swing. In baseball lingo, she would have had to choke up her hold on the bat.

Now the purpose of that little piece of information is not to give advice to children on how to avoid punishment or to their parents on how to give it.

What I do want people to understand is that God, like a parent, does discipline us. It is a normal, human reaction for us to get angry, or afraid, and try to move as far away from Him as possible.

But I think it would be better if we would move closer to Him. That is what He wants, you know. When you get closer to the heavenly Father, the chastising doesn't hurt as much. It's something to think about, isn't it? Well, if you find some value to the idea, won't you use it, or share it with someone else who is hurting? Encourage them to move closer to God, because when they do, it doesn't hurt so badly.

[Soldier4Christ]

"We Are All One"

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

In the United States, Christianity has gotten a bad rap.

In movies and on TV, Christian men are shown as being narrow-minded fanatics; Christian women are either pushy or doormats to be stepped on. That doesn’t even begin to address the subject of how clergy are shown in the media. Those who wear the collar are perverts or prudes, insensitive, inconsiderate, or ignorant.

When it comes to matters political, newscasters can hardly contain their sneer when they say the words, “Evangelical Christian.” If you watch television long enough you will conclude that Christianity is responsible for every social ill, human evil, and personal problem.

Maybe that’s why the Reuters news article last week was so interesting to me. It appears a royal decree has been issued in Saudi Arabia that now allows the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to lay down new regulations when it comes to women staying in hotels.

Of course, you know in Saudi Arabia women are not allowed to drive a car, and they are not permitted to appear in public unescorted. That’s why this is such a major break with tradition. The religious police have now been instructed to allow women to register in a hotel all on their own.

All they have to do is show some personal identification with a photograph that hotel managers must register with local police.

That’s progress?

As I look through the Savior’s story, I see He had a different perspective. As the verse for today says, “in Jesus there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, neither male nor female. We are all one in Christ.”

When those words were first written, they shook society. It was unthinkable that we should all be equals before God. Even so, that is what Jesus showed in His ministry. He was not adverse to speaking to a Samaritan woman, or sitting down for dinner with a sinner. He was willing to touch a leper and listen to a centurion.

Unthinkable? Not to Jesus. As God’s Son, our Savior came into this world to seek and save the lost—all the lost. Jesus came to give His life as a ransom for every human being.

[Soldier4Christ]

"A Contrite Heart"

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17

When we came into this world, the Lord gave us a conscience to show us right from wrong.

Most of us have heard about the fellow who wrote a letter to the IRS saying something like, “I have cheated on my taxes and have not been able to sleep. I am including some cash with this letter. If I am still unable to sleep I will send in the rest.”

That fellow had a conscience, but not much of one.

He stands in contrast to the fellow, a guilt-stricken American, who wrote to an outback village in Australia. He said, “I removed this back in 1983 when I was younger and dumber. It was the wrong thing to do, I’m sorry, and I’m going to send it back.”

Along with the letter was a boomerang that had been stolen from the Frank Aston Underground Museum.

The museum is closed now, but the people in the town are grateful for the return of the aboriginal throwing device.

They’re glad their boomerang has come back.

By listening to his conscience, this fellow has set an example for the entire human race, and especially the Christian community. All too often, like Adam and Eve, we try to pass the blame for our sins onto someone else and, like David, we try to cover up our crimes by committing other sins.

As our text for today’s devotion says, the Lord wants a broken and contrite heart from His people.

God has sent His Son into this world to seek and save the lost, to rescue sinners from their myriad transgressions. We dare not let our false pride minimize His sacrifice and make purposeless the reason for which He was born, lived, died, and rose.

Rather than covering up, far better for us to say to the Lord, “I’ve done the wrong thing and I’m sorry. Lord be merciful to me a sinner.”

To such sinners the Lord says, I am merciful, go and sin no more.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Let Us Hear"

They brought to Him a man who was deaf . . .And taking him aside from the crowd privately, He put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, He sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened. Mark 7:33-35

One minute of commercial time on this year’s Super Bowl sold for 4.2 million dollars.

Yes, you heard that right—4.2 million dollars. When a company makes that big an investment, its commercial had better be watched. Apparently, there was one ad from Pepsi, which has managed to be seen.

Indeed, it has to be seen, because it can’t be heard. Pepsi has put out a commercial with 60 seconds of silence. In case you missed it, the commercial began with two men driving to their friend’s house to watch the game. Unfortunately, neither of the men have their friend’s exact address. Using American Sign Language, the two argue until one of them has an idea and lays on the car horn.

One after another, houses light up, and dogs start barking. Only one house stays unmoved by the incessant honking of the horn: the house of their friend—a friend, who, like them, is deaf.

It’s a great commercial, and made more interesting by the fact the Christian man who came up with the idea did so while attending worship at a congregation where services are conducted entirely in sign language.

If anyone thinks Pepsi is to be applauded for their commercial, I encourage them to look at the story of the Savior when He was asked to heal a deaf man. All too often people skip over the compassionate and caring way the Savior dealt with the man. First, to avoid embarrassment, Jesus took the man to a private place. Next, our Lord showed the man He understood his plight when He looked to heaven and sighed. Only after Jesus had put the man at ease did He say the single word, which restored the man’s hearing.
“Ephphatha, be opened.”

In a similar way the Lord comes to each of us and says to our hard hearts, “Ephphatha, be opened.” Truly, may the Holy Spirit keep opening our hearts to the wonderful work the Savior has done to save us. With His perfect life, His innocent suffering and death, and His glorious resurrection, He has restored us to the Father’s family; He has given all who believe eternal life.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Not Too Slow"

The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. 2 Peter 3:9-10a

Computer people who send a lot of emails love to joke about “snail mail”.

We who are used to near-instant delivery of our messages scoff at written letters that move at the pace of a snail. It’s supposed to be a joke.

Apparently it’s not a joke in Poland.

On January 3rd, Michal Szybalski received a priority letter mailed on December 20th. He calculated it took 294 hours for the letter to cover less than seven miles.

Michal also calculated a dedicated snail could have covered the distance faster.

Some people feel the same way about God. The Old Testament counts thousands of years between the time God made His promise to send a Savior and the night of His birth in Bethlehem. Numerous generations lived and died waiting for Him to keep His word.

Today, there are many people who have become impatient with the Lord. In the Christian community, there are those who are trying to calculate what-will-always-be-the-unknown-hour of Jesus’ return. Thousands of years since Jesus’ birth and His promised second coming have allowed an unbelieving world to deny God’s presence as they say: “All things are continuing as they have since the creation” (2 Peter 3:4).

If any of you have been wondering why God seems to be so slow, or if He is going to return at all, I encourage you to look to our text for today. By inspiration Peter reminds us that the Lord isn’t slow in keeping His promises. What God is—is patient toward us.

He wants as many people as possible to be called to repentance and salvation by the Holy Spirit. He wants the salvation story of the Savior to touch as many lost and sinful souls as possible.

But don’t think—not for a minute—that Jesus isn’t coming. He will show, and the world needs to be ready to welcome its Savior, Redeemer, and long-but-not-eternally suffering Friend.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Lead Me, Lord"

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

For more than 2,000 years, navigators from all nations have known how to determine both the direction and position north or south of the Equator by using the North Star, or Polaris. In ancient times, navigators measured the angle of Polaris at their home port, then sailed north or south to bring the star back to the angle of home port, then turned left or right to sail down the latitude to home, keeping the angle constant all the way.

However, scientists know the North Star is not completely reliable as a guiding light. Over tens of thousands of years, changes in the Earth's axis of rotation will cause it to point to other regions of the sky, tracing out a circle. Other stars along this circle were the pole star in the past and will be again in the future.

The light of truth that comes from proclaiming faith in Jesus is a constant, always-reliable source of navigation and guidance for our lives. The light and hope of Jesus is that He takes away the guilt and pain of our sins so that we can be free of our past. God has a plan of hope for our future that will honor Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

"A Humanitarian"

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:3-5

Every time one of those lottery jackpots reaches $200 million, I start to play “What if?” I wonder, “What if I won? How would I spend the money?” The first $80 million is easy. It’s right about then that my wife Pam pops my bubble and reminds me, “Hon, I think if you’re going to win the lottery, first you have to buy a ticket.” I always forget that part.

Many of us spend considerable time dreaming about "what if?" Many of these "what ifs" have to deal with money and what we could do if we had it. “What if we had an unknown, but very rich relative die and leave us a fortune?” “What if an unknown stranger came up to us on the street, gave us a paper bag filled with 100-dollar bills and said, ‘Here this is for you.’”

Most of the time being rich is just wishful thinking. This is why I was shocked to hear about Dr. Manuel Padaroyal. He is the Columbian scientist who developed the first vaccine against malaria, an illness that strikes 300 million people a year and kills 3 million.

Dr. Padaroyal says is he giving the vaccine to the world for free!

There are two ways of evaluating the good doctor. Some think he has lost his marbles, others believe he is an earthly savior. I think it's the latter. He is an earthly reflection of the Christ who gave Himself so we might be forgiven and eternally rich.

Dr. Padaroyal is also an example for all of us. As Christians, in the name of the Savior, we have the ability to cook a meal for someone who just got out of the hospital. We can spend an afternoon babysitting the children of a worn-out mother. There are a million ways we can help others, and you don't have to be a millionaire to do it. All you need to be is a Christian who cares.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Someone Else"

For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Each of my children has gone through a stage where they loved to tell jokes. Some of their jokes were good, and some of them, well, I'm still trying to figure out the punch line.

One that stuck with me came from my daughter who approached me while I was frying eggs for breakfast. "Dad", she said "how can you eat an egg without cracking the shell?" I thought and then gave up. She replied, "Have someone else crack it for you." That one gave me a smile, but then again, maybe you had to hear it from my daughter to understand.

At any rate, Christians know that is exactly what Jesus did for us. So that we could live forever, Jesus cracked open the shackles of sin; He cracked open the slavery of Satan and He cracked the death grip of the grave. He did all the work, so we could have all the benefits. Jesus’ life's work is a wonderful gift that is absolutely, totally free. Saint Paul said it better than I can: “For our sake He made Him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

The only problem is that people aren't used to that kind of generosity. Life has taught us that there's no such thing as a free lunch. We know that when a deal seems to be too good to be true, it is. There is always a gimmick and a catch. If you feel that way, guess again. We have a Lord who has done the work, all the work, so we might have all the benefits.