Day by Day

[Soldier4Christ]

 "Christmas Stolen"

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2:19-20

It's midway between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

In the countdown to Christmas, if you're like many of us, your life has now kicked into overdrive with things to do and places to be. This is why I'd like to take a moment and tell you about the Moore family of Madison, Wisconsin.

The night before Thanksgiving, Lillian Moore sent a cooler filled with food to her financially strapped daughter, Cindy. With no room in the family's very small fridge, the food was left in a cooler on the front porch.

On Thanksgiving, Cindy went to collect the turkey, potatoes, and salad. Not only wasn't the food there, the cooler had disappeared as well. The thief could not have known he also took an heirloom bowl that had belonged to Cindy's great-grandmother.

Now Cindy did have a Thanksgiving. She took some money designated to pay bills and bought a small Thanksgiving meal for her family. Still, I was saddened to hear their story.

The news media headlines read: 'Thanksgiving Stolen!"

Now, you know and I know no thief can steal Thanksgiving - a turkey, yes, some stuffing, sure, but stealing Thanksgiving? Impossible. Thanksgiving doesn't sit in a cooler on our front porch; Thanksgiving is something that lives in the hearts of those who have seen the love of the Lord.

That story can be applied to Christmas. There are those who say commercialism, or tough economic times, or even the Grinch, is stealing Christmas.

We need to remember, Christmas can't be stolen. True, a thief may rip off our Christmas tree and might even steal our decorations. He might gain access to our home and then steal the presents from under the tree. A shaken economy may shorten the purse strings used to purchase presents.

But Christmas can't be stolen. Like Mary, we can treasure these things in our hearts. Like the shepherds, we can glorify and praise God for all we have heard and seen.

[Soldier4Christ]

 "Born According To Plan"

For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. Ephesians 1:4

God holds our lives in His hands. I never quite understood this until I learned what God did for my friend Mary. I met her at a Christian homeless shelter. She had suffered horrible tragedies, more than most of us could imagine. Maliciously abused as a child, as a teenager she turned to drugs and alcohol. As an adult, she spent years in poverty and harmful relationships. Finally, she lost everything. It was then she went to the shelter so she wouldn't have to live in her car.

Soon after she arrived there, Mary heard the Good News about Jesus as her Savior. She immediately enrolled in the yearlong Bible study program. In time, she shared her own story. One day, it dawned on me that nearly every one of the women in the class had gone to church and read the Bible as children. They knew about Jesus and often prayed to Him when things went wrong. God worked behind the scenes to move them here and there. Eventually, due to one circumstance or another, He guided them to the shelter and renewed their trust in Him.

Fortunately, God's plan for most of us doesn't include what Mary suffered. Instead, many of us are blessed with Christian parents who love us dearly and tell us about Jesus from the time we're born. They take us to church and share God's remarkable salvation with us. Through the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, we trust and believe in Jesus as our Savior.

God knew His plan for you before He created the world. Today's Scripture passage makes it clear you are not an accident. God knows your life map before you were born. One vital stop on the highway of your life is the day you become His through faith in His Son Jesus as your Savior.

[Soldier4Christ]

 "Among Us"

...He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. 1 Timothy 3:16

Premieres and Presidents, Kings and important rulers have bodyguards to keep them separate and safe from their people.

That's a fact of life.

Still, I remember reading a story about a 16th-century Belgian monarch who was the exception to that rule. He had the custom of disappearing from his palace, donning a disguise and going out to visit with his people.

Every time he did that, the people at the palace begged him to stop putting his life at risk by indulging in such a strange and dangerous activity.

The king's reply to his friends is memorable. He said, "I cannot rule my people unless I know how they live." I think I would have liked that guy. I know that more people in power ought to do that kind of thing... they ought to find out how their people live.

Really, wouldn't you have a better workplace if your boss knew the things you are going through?

Might not governments be more understanding if the leaders understood the problems and plight of their people?

Yes, things might change, IF that happened.

Still, I am thankful that the most important Person in my life, in all of our lives, did decide to "walk among us." Jesus did not walk among us as an Outsider or as an uninvolved Observer. Christmas reminds us that Jesus really, actually became One of us. The Savior's birth tells us that Jesus has come to live, die, and rise, not just to understand us... but to save us.

In this He is wonderfully unique. A Savior manifested in the flesh... St. Paul said, He should be 'proclaimed among the nations.'

I say, such a loving Lord ought to be proclaimed in our hearts.

Which is what worship is all about, isn't it?

[Soldier4Christ]

 "Too Busy"

I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2: 20

It was a fair number of years ago, on a Massachusetts lake, a brother and sister fell through the ice.

A stranger heard their shouts and came running. He jumped into the large hole of open water to save them. When he got up to them, the 9-year-old boy said, "Never mind me, save Annette." Annette was his 11-year-old sister.

The man grabbed the sister, got her out of the water and on to the shore. By the time he returned to the freezing water, the boy was gone.

I'd like you to think about the boy and what he said. "Never mind me, save Annette."

In that cold water, as he was freezing, perhaps dying, those words weren't an intellectual decision. They were not birthed by a careful weighing of the pros and cons.

"Never mind me, save Annette."

That's not a normal thing for anybody to say. The sensible thing to do is to make sure you're all right. When you're safe you can start thinking about saving someone else.

I think that boy acted the way he did because he couldn't do anything else. Somewhere, somehow, somebody had touched him with the idea of sacrificial love. It may have been parents or a pastor or a sermon or a Sunday School teacher. I don't know what touched him, but somebody did. That's why, in a desperate moment, it was natural for him to say, 'Never mind me, save Annette.'

You know, when I look at Jesus in His Bethlehem manger, I am confronted by the fact His entire life was spent saying, "Never mind Me, save humanity." Because Jesus did that, we, like St. Paul, live by faith in the Son of God Who loved us and gave Himself for us.

As a Baby, as a Friend, as a Sacrifice, Jesus gave Himself for our salvation. Why such a noble act? Two reasons: He loves us, and that's who He is.

[Soldier4Christ]

 "No Second Chance"

For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (emphasis added)

Losers. Nobody likes to be a loser.

Now, at least according to an article carried by ABC News, many schools are doing what they can to make sure none of their students feel that way.

And just how does a school do that?

Simple. The school and the teachers don't give students any Fs. Instead of giving a student the totally terminal F, for failing, the young folks are awarded an H, which means the work is on hold and the student is given another chance to correct things. (For the record, if the second chance doesn't work, the child can still get an F.)

Some people like the idea; others do not. Alan Kazdin, professor of child psychiatry at Yale, believes children are perceptive enough, and they will eventually realize they aren't doing well in school whether teachers give them Fs or not. He maintains hiding their true level of achievement (the teachers) will only confuse them (the students) further.

Although I'm not sure who is right and who is wrong here, I do know Jesus was given no second chances to do His work.

From start to finish, He had to get things right and He had to do it the first time. If we were to be saved, the Lord had to ace every test He was given. That means Jesus wasn't allowed to commit any little sins and He certainly couldn't fall into any little temptations. There were no second chances.

Jesus had to live perfect, die perfect, rise perfect.

Thankfully, Jesus did exactly that, and His cry of victory on the cross -- "It is finished" -- means we have been made into winners. Because of Jesus, on Judgment Day, believers will rejoice they have been given a passing grade that will take them into heaven.

Indeed, knowing that, maybe we ought to begin rejoicing now.

[Soldier4Christ]

 "Something's Missing"

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 1 Timothy 1:15

Do you have a favorite non-Christian Christmas song? For my wife, Pam, that song would be "White Christmas." She gets downright misty when she hears Bing warble about how "treetops glisten" and "children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow."

England's "Lapland New Forest" does not evoke the same sort of memories.

Promoted as a place "where dreams really do come true," many people have felt the place was a rip off and their $37 admission charge wasted.

What's the problem? Here's just a sampling: visitors waited more than four hours to see the New Forest's version of Santa and then were charged an extra $15 if parents wanted to take a picture of their little one, who was not allowed to sit on Santa's lap. Other difficulties include a poorly painted nativity scene -- only approachable across a muddy field; and the "magical tunnel of light" was merely a walkway leading through a few trees with some Christmas decorations.

Ivan Hancock, of Dorset County Council's trading standards department, said: "I've never known anything spark so many complaints in my 20 years of working with three different authorities. We have had 1,300 people contact us."

Christmas can be disappointing, can't it?

This is especially so, if you are looking for it in the wrong places.

But the real Christmas can't be stolen by a Grinch, and it can't be corrupted by Lapland New Forest.

That's because the real Christmas -- the Christmas featuring the Son of God and not Santa -- is found in a Bethlehem manger. There, in the person of a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, the real hopes and dreams of humankind find their focus come together.

Only when we see Jesus in the manger, on the cross, and freed from His open tomb, can we be given the Savior who was born to save us from our sins.

And nobody who has that Christmas -- certainly nobody I've ever met -- can say they've been ripped off by the Christ. How could they? Their Christmas comes by grace.

[Soldier4Christ]

 "Boom! Boom! Boom!"

But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. John 20:31

In August, I was driving to speak at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lansing, Michigan.

That was when I heard a boom, boom, boom! No, that boom, boom, boom wasn't the car; at least it wasn't my car.

It was the stereo of a car passing me. The sound I was hearing was the bass of his vehicle's sound system turned up, I suppose, to the max.

Did I mention I was traveling at 65 miles per hour? Did I tell you the windows on my car were closed? Did I tell you it was so loud Pam and I couldn't carry on our conversation? Even with all those factors, his music was overpowering.

In short, that car's stereo was loud!

Now, this devotion could take that illustration and go a great many directions -- directions that many of you might guess.

Instead, I'd like to apply it to Christmas. This year, like every year, I've noticed the world making a great deal of noise about the true purpose of the holiday. Boom! Boom! Boom! "Buy this! Do that! Drink this! Eat that!" Their celebrating is loud; it is distracting, and for them it is nothing more than a vacation day, a change from the ordinary.

But for Christians, the holy-day remembrance of the Savior's coming to offer Himself as a trade to win our salvation is concentrated on hearing the Gospel story of Luke, and it centers on seeing the Savior.

Yes, the world may make a lot of noise, and their holiday may be deafening and distracting. Even so, I prefer to see Him who has come to be my Ransom and Redemption.

I prefer to listen to the story of Jesus who was born so I, and all who believe, would never die.

[Soldier4Christ]

 "Confession"

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent: for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17

Disappointment and betrayal.

Those are heavy-duty words. They are made more so by the fact they were used in an ad run by General Motors Corporation. Please understand General Motors wasn't talking about how they had been disappointed and betrayed. No, this amazing General Motors ad said the company had occasionally disappointed and betrayed the American consumer with lackluster design and poor quality control.

Now, I don't know whether the confession is justified. I love my Buick. Still, that's not the point. The point is what General Motors said.

In the religious world, we call that a "confession." And you can take it from me or just about any pastor that hearing a good confession is just about as rare as observing a unicorn.

No, today it's more common to hear someone say, "I'm okay. You're okay. Everybody is pretty much okay."

In recent years, I've been amazed at the number of Christian pastors and priests who are telling their people that Jesus is a God of love (which He is), that Jesus will accept them (which He will) just the way they are, and without any changes being made in their old sinful selves.

This just isn't right.

Matthew tells us, "From that time Jesus began to preach, . . . 'repent.'" Jesus preached repentance, and He kept on preaching repentance. Yes, He loves humanity, and He wants all of humanity in the Kingdom of heaven. To save us is why Jesus was born, and it's why He suffered, died, and rose.

But it is a big mistake to think when we follow Jesus we can remain the same.

We can't. We are given a repentant heart, which says, "Lord, be merciful to me a sinner."

And then, because the Lord is merciful and loving, we can be comforted by the knowledge that Jesus forgives and keeps and protects and saves us.

[Soldier4Christ]

 "Temptations "

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.

In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour



Life is full of choices. Everyday, we decide dozens of different things - what to wear, what to eat, what to say, what to do. For Christians, it's important that we consider our faith in all these decisions and seek to put Jesus first, no matter what the situation.

It's all too easy to become complacent in our day-to-day affairs and forget that we contend with hostile spiritual forces. The evil one is real and "prowls around," in the words of St. Peter, "like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." Considering that we have an adversary who would gladly rip us to shreds, it only makes sense to put our faith and trust in the One who can guard and keep us from the jaws of the enemy. Through his perfect life, death, and resurrection, Jesus defeated the power of sin, death, and the devil on our behalf.

Now, the devil's play for our souls may not always be as dramatic as a lion tearing apart some unfortunate animal limb from limb. In fact, it's in the smaller battles -- those involving words or thoughts or things unseen -- where the enemy overpowers many an unwary victim.

However, we can be certain the Lord is with us each and every time we are tempted. He is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect us. We can depend on Him in every instance to give us what we need to make godly choices. Just as Jesus Himself invoked the Word of God and defeated Satan's wily temptations by reciting Scripture, so too should we turn to God's Word when faced with temptation.

[Soldier4Christ]

 "Together"

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2: 14 (NIV)

An elder of a church in Iowa shared this story with me.

His young daughter was concentrating so hard on her grade-school homework that he got curious and asked her what she was doing. Without looking up, she said, "I'm writing a report on the condition of the world and how to bring peace."

Impressed, he respectfully asked, "Isn't that a pretty big job for a young lady, like you?"

"Nope," she answered, "I don't have to do it all myself. I'm working with two other people."
Christmas is just around the corner, and the greeting cards arriving in the mail talk about "peace on earth and good will toward men".

I wish peace could be brought about by Christmas cards or three Christian students who are working on the project.

Sadly, that's not the case, is it?

Wars, hatred, and injustice abound. Peace, nationally and personally, are illusive. What's the problem? Maybe it's because there aren't three working together.

Obviously, God works for peace. So the people of the world might be redeemed He sent His Son to save us. So, God is one Person working for peace. SOME people in this world, having seen the Savior's sacrifice, are also working for peace. That's one-and-a-half.

The problem is the devil, along with many people who are filled with hatred, jealousy, anger, and prejudice; they're on the side of war and conflict.

This is why, in part, true "PEACE" in this sinful world, will always be confined to the hearts, minds, and souls of those folks who have seen and believe on the Savior.

We shouldn't be surprised. That's what the angels of Bethlehem said would happen: "...on earth peace to men on whom His (God's) favor rests."

[Soldier4Christ]

 "On Time"

December 21, 2008

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke and exhort with complete patience and teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2

Christmas is just a few days away. You might rightly expect this devotion to speak about that subject.

Instead, on this first day of winter, I'd like to speak about Christopher Columbus, who, 516 years ago stumbled upon the western hemisphere.

I really want to share a bit of Columbus trivia.

Did you know that, in 1493, Columbus dropped a bottle over the side of his ship? Did you know... that bottle had a message addressed to Isabella, the Queen of Spain? Did you know that, unbelievably, that message was delivered to Isabella?

That's right. It was delivered to Isabella the II. Three hundred fifty-nine years after that bottle was entrusted to the care of wind and wave it was found by the captain of an American ship.

Sadly, the lady for whom the message was intended had died long before.

Late Christmas cards are sad. Presents which come after Christmas are sad. A message delivered too late is equally sad.

This is why we need to do our best to make sure that the story of the Savior's birth, suffering, death, and resurrection gets delivered on time.

The need is great; the time is flying by. Indeed, by the time you have finished reading this devotion, more than 215 people will have died. Two hundred fifteen of our brothers and sisters for whom Jesus sacrificed Himself will never again have the chance to look into Bethlehem's manger, stand before the Jerusalem cross, or gaze into the borrowed, and empty tomb.

[Soldier4Christ]

 "No Ho Ho Ho?"

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

PARENT ALERT: If your children are Santa aficionados, you may want to read this devotion before deciding if you wish to share it with them!

I ask you, "If you can't trust Santa, who can you trust?"

This year, it appears that children are trusting the bearded fellow. They are sharing things on their lists and letters, which weren't there a year ago.

Sure, there are still requests for an Elmo Live or a Nintendo Wii. The old regulars like Star Wars and Barbie stuff haven't been banished from the litanies of the things children want either. But this year, department store Santas have been asked to come up with a "new job for Daddy" or "money so Mom can buy back the family home."

Timothy Connaghan, a veteran Santa-player of 40 years and teacher at a school that trains other "jolly, old elves," said, children "usually ask Santa to fix things. They know he is someone who can grant wishes."

Now, with a name like Klaus, I like Santa as much as the next person. Still, that last comment, the one about granting wishes, bothered me. I wondered how Nicholas, the fourth-century bishop of the Turkish city of Myra, might have reacted if he were to hear his namesake say that.

Although Nicholas, at least according to tradition, used his family fortune in helping the poor and needy, I don't think he would be so very pleased.

That's because Nicholas, through the inspired Word, had looked into Jesus' manger; stood before Calvary's cross, and seen the empty grave cloths of Easter Sunday. Like James, Nicholas knew every good gift and every perfect gift comes from the Father.

This is why, I believe, Nicholas would say, "In troubling and difficult times only Jesus can answer the deepest needs of your heart. Be turned to the Savior, not Santa."

Having said that, it is right for us to come to our heavenly Father who hears the prayers of those who acknowledge His Son as Savior.

[Soldier4Christ]

 "Something Extra"


And the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy. . . ." Luke 2:10a

Look for "a little something extra" on your paycheck.

In normal years, " a little something extra" in your paycheck usually meant a bit of appreciation from your employer. Sadly, Christmas bonuses are in short supply and pink slips are not.

This is why I was really amazed to hear what the family-owned Peer Bearing Company of Waukegan, Illinois, did. All 230 employees received a bonus of $10,000 or more. Some workers were given more than $35,000.

Amazing! Fantastic! Wonderful!

No doubt many of our Daily Devotion readers are thinking of running off a copy of this meditation and placing it in a place where their bosses might take a gander at it. (If that's your plan, good luck. Keep me posted if it works for you.)

On the other hand, I would like to point out this year each of us are receiving a very undeserved bonus. The Christmas angel told the shepherds about that bonus when he said, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy." Then, he went on to say this "good news" was "for all people."

"For all people" means you. No matter if this year has been profitable or not, filled with successes or not, you are still the proud possessor of Jesus, the Good News of great joy.

Jesus, the rescuer from our sins; the Redeemer of our souls has been born. Because the Christ has come, current events cannot permanently hurt us; difficult times cannot destroy us.

We have been granted forgiveness, been promised a loving Lord who will hear us, and who assured us we are more than conquerors.

Because of Jesus, God's Son, our Savior, we have something -- someone wonderful to celebrate. Indeed, that's what the Old Testament prophet Isaiah said Jesus was - "wonderful." That's our Jesus -- wonderfully good news.

[Soldier4Christ]

 "Santa - A Tough Job"

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

The job posting might read something like this: "Wanted: someone who is child-friendly, a good-organizer, reliable, and has acting skills. Must not have a police record."

The kicker in the job description would be these additions: "Beard preferable, chubbiness an advantage. Seasonal work, one month a year."

In truth, that job description has gone up all over Germany. That's because, this year, Germany has seen a return to traditional family festivities. As a result, there is a great demand for men who fill the above listing.

The reason for the return, according to those people who try to make sense of why people do what they do, is simple. People are trying to protect their children from the evils of this real world.

At least, that's the way Reuters has interpreted it.

Although I qualify for the job of a department store Santa and have a driver's license, which says I have the right name for the position, I don't think I'll apply. That's because I couldn't handle the stress. Nobody -- not even Santa -- can keep our children away from the world's evils.

The best we can hope for is to be brought through those evils and, although Santa can deliver toys with the best of them, he's not up to the job of saving.

Indeed, I know only one person who can protect us for the downside of our days: the Lord Jesus Christ. The sinless Son of God has defeated the devil and death and offers forgiveness, hope, and heaven to all who believe. No, Jesus doesn't always make the evils go away, but He most certainly makes sure those evils won't have the last and final word.

We are, because of Jesus, more than conquerors.

[Soldier4Christ]

 "My True Love Gave To Me"

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

By tomorrow, the Christmas carols will no longer be playing on the radio.

I, for one, will be sorry to see them go -- with the possible exception of one song I have never learned to appreciate: "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

Yes, I've heard of the religious background behind the many verses, but the tune seems to go on and on and on and on. I get tired of hearing about five partridges leaping, sixteen lords a-milking, five swans a-fishing, and all the other things which my true love is supposed to have given to me.

Thankfully, Pam is more practical in her gift giving.

I can honestly say, however, she has not become so practical as to give me a tooth cleaning at the dentist. That's right: "a tooth cleaning." Earlier this month, Newsweek said some people were putting these in the stockings of their true loves. The article said people were giving their true loves the "gift of health." Other healthy-type gift suggestions were a paid doctor's visit, organic fruits and vegetables, yoga classes, and a bathroom scale.

In truth, I am thankful that my 'true love' hasn't given me any of those things.

Still, that doesn't mean I'm against all gifts of health. For example, John 3:16 says: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

So that I might be spiritually healthy and whole, forgiven and free, God sent His Son. Here, the baby of Bethlehem, the Christ of the cross, the Savior of the empty tomb, dedicated His entire life so I might be able to live forever.

From His first breath until His victory cry upon the cross, Jesus did all that was necessary to cure me of sin's disease.

That's why I think a rewrite of that song might be in order. How about this: "On every day of Christmas, my true Love gave to me: His own life to set my soul free."

The song wouldn't have many verses, but when it's sung that way, it doesn't need them. The first verse says it all.