Day by Day

[Soldier4Christ]

"The Days of Youth"

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
   

The days of youth are a great time to be alive. They are a time for growing, for developing, for learning, for planning, and for action. The vigor and enthusiasm of youth, if harnessed for a worthy cause, lend themselves to accomplishing much.

Saint Paul wrote two letters to young Pastor Timothy that contained wise words of guidance and instruction for his ministry. Paul said in effect, "Timothy, remember that the grace of God has made you who you are today -- a redeemed child of God in Jesus Christ. God has given you gifts of wisdom and leadership, and He expects you to exercise those gifts. You are trained and called to be in God's service. So Timothy, if someone belittles you because you are young, put them to shame by your mature words of faith and loving conduct in life."

Young Pastor Timothy was an inspiration for many others -- young and old alike -- as he read the Scriptures and proclaimed the Good News of forgiveness through faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. What an encouragement for each of us!

[Soldier4Christ]

"Faith for Works"

Without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6
   

Which came first -- the chicken or the egg? For ages this question has been asked, both seriously and in fun. The biblical answer is that the chicken, created by God, came first, then laid the egg.

People concerned with spiritual matters ask another question: Which comes first -- faith or works? The biblical answer is that God first plants Christian faith in our hearts. Then in that Spirit-created faith we desire to do good works in Christ's service.

It's part of our fallen nature to think that you don't get something for nothing, that everything has a price, that there's no such thing as a free lunch. Such faulty logic concludes that God's forgiveness through faith in Christ cannot be free.

Other people don't worry about forgiveness at all. "Good food, good friends, and good wine make the good life," goes the saying. So why bother about either faith or works? God makes it quite clear that life without faith in Christ is at best an empty shell.

For Christians, life without faith in Jesus, our Savior, is unthinkable. For those who think heaven is earned, Jesus takes second place behind their works. Yet the Bible is quite clear: "By grace you have been saved, through faith ... it is the gift of God -- not by works" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our works say "Thank You" to God, but they come after faith, not before.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Kindness is Next to Godliness"

When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. Titus 3:4-5
   



"Cleanliness is next to godliness" goes an old saying. It may be true, but Saint Peter states that the Christian life is filled with many different characteristics. In that list, kindness is next to godliness. Where is kindness in our lives?

We often find it easy to be kind to those who are kind to us. Waiting for others to act first with generosity and friendliness makes it easy for us to respond in kind. We need take no risks that way. Such action, lacking in initiative, is actually motivated by selfishness.

The Christian lives by a different motive. By God's grace given to us through His Word and Baptism, we receive a new heart. We live by a different set of values. We have different goals. Faith in Jesus, our Savior, works by love and many other virtues: goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness, and love. These qualities are gifts from God, but Saint Peter says that we must make every effort to add them to our lives. Lack of them makes us nearsighted, blind, ineffective, unproductive, and forgetful. Having them allows us to participate in Christ's mission.

[Soldier4Christ]

"A Vital Question for Today"

February 2, 2006

What does the Scripture say? Romans 4:3
   

Decisions, decisions, decisions! We are called on to make them every day. We make them in our business, in our free time, in our family life, and in church. Many times those decisions come back to haunt us. It is then we realize that perhaps we did not put all the data into our mind's computer, or perhaps we did not take time to make a rational decision. There ought to be some way that we could make our task much easier and far more effective.

There it is! When our Lord was confronted with questions by either His friends or His enemies, when He was asked to make a decision, there was one source on which He never failed to draw: the Holy Scriptures.

It has often been said that the Bible has more psychology within its covers than any other book. Furthermore, when we are confronted by a perplexing situation and confused as to what path to walk, there is a question each of us can ask: What does the Scripture say? Above all, the Bible teaches us the way of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, our Savior.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Precise Creation"

"Who marked off [the earth's] dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?" Job 38:5
   

If the globe on which we live were just a few miles smaller in diameter, the density of its atmospheric blanket would be greatly reduced. The air would be so thin that when there was no direct sunshine, the earth would not retain enough heat to sustain animal or human life. On the other hand, if the diameter of the earth were a bit larger, the air would become correspondingly more dense, resulting in too much heat for living forms to survive. But God, who is infinitely wise, carefully measured the earth for optimum size and weight.

Our heavenly Father, who carefully maintains the physical universe, is also concerned about us as individuals. He not only cares for our earthly existence but also provides for our eternal destiny. Through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, He provides ransom from sin, rescue from ruin, pardon for all transgressions, and the promise of a resplendent eternity when this earthy life is past. He gives us a comfortable dwelling place here on earth, and He assures us a perfect home in heaven as we put our trust in Him. In creation we see His hand; in redemption we see His heart.

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"Doubting God's Existence"

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." Psalm 14:1
   

"How can I know there is a God?" This question is often spoken in derision by atheists, rightly called fools by God. But this can also be the anguished query of a Christian attacked by doubt. This doubt is repugnant to our whole spiritual being, and we fear to dwell on it. Yet few are the Christians who have not been besieged by this doubt at some time in their lives. This doubt must be faced and can be conquered through the power of the Holy Spirit.

How shall we combat a doubt so devastating as this, a doubt that seeks to undermine the whole structure of our faith? Reason and logic, science and philosophy, our senses and our instinct can all be useful, but none of these can resolve the issue for us.

We can repulse these doubts only by going to God's Word, the Sacred Scripture, where the Holy Spirit speaks to us. He will never turn away from a single soul who seeks God in Christ Jesus. God fully reveals Himself through Christ. This Jesus entered human history at Bethlehem, born of the Virgin Mary, and became a tangible part of our history. In His life, His teachings, His miracles, above all, through His suffering and death on the cross and rising again as conqueror of our sins and death, He has revealed to us God as true God and Father.

[Soldier4Christ]

"All Arrows on Target"

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5
   

All who belong to Christ belong to each other. We have "one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all" (Ephesians 4:5-6).

God has not given each of us our own island to run. He has placed us into community: "You stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the Gospel" (Philippians 1:27). One helps another in life's struggles.

This is the way we express our oneness of mind and purpose:
(1) We walk together under God's Word. We strive to advance Christ's church in
knowledge, in love of the truth, in purity of life.
(2) We watch over one another. We cultivate love in the body of Christ, Christian
sympathy, and courtesy. We are slow to take offense, always ready for reconciliation.
(3) We contribute cheerfully to maintain the ministries of the church -- the spreading of the Gospel through all the world, the relief of the poor and needy.
(4) We maintain private and family worship, and we seek the salvation of our kindred
and acquaintances.
(5) We are just in our dealings with others, watchful in our manner of life. We refrain
from everything that may bring reproach on Christ, who gave His life for the salvation of us all.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Ears for Hearing"

Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. Matthew 13:16
   

After the apostles died, how did Christianity spread? Domestic servants spoke the Good News in homes where they worked. Shopkeepers shared it with their customers. Housewives spoke it to others across rooftops in the cool of the evening. Children did the same as they played together. That's how Christianity conquered the Roman Empire.

With our eyes we look for opportunities to present Jesus Christ. Our mouths are for confessing the Christian faith. Our ears are for hearing the Gospel and listening sympathetically to others. When we confess what we believe about Jesus Christ, someone else's ears are open to hearing the message -- the Good News of Jesus Christ.

We may make excuses. When told to speak to Pharaoh, Moses complained that he had a speech impediment. Jeremiah excused himself by saying he was too young to be a prophet. Isaiah said, "Woe to me! ... I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips" (Isaiah 6:5). Jonah took a boat to go to the opposite direction from Nineveh.

Yet touched by the Spirit of God, these men spoke the Word of God. We too can proclaim the Good News to waiting ears. The Gospel is for hearing.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Busy Hands"

Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. Proverbs 10:4
   

God gave us hands to work for Him. Our verse today says it well, "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth." Not hands for selfish gain like the man who built bigger barns, but hands for faithful stewardship of God's resources.

How easy for us to sit back and watch television, extend coffee breaks, and work halfheartedly. How prone we are to fill pews but never to do anything as a result. James questions such inactivity: "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (James 1:22). Busy hands are needed in work and to help those in need.

Because Jesus Christ's hands were pierced for us and our hands were made clean by His shed blood, we offer Him our hands for His tasks. With praying hands we seek His will and His strength. From His open hands we receive both the opportunities and the ability to be busy. At home with dishes and laundry; at work with wrench, computer, and assembly line; in our community with food basket, paintbrush, and snow shovel, we lend our busy hands to the ongoing opportunities for service.

[Soldier4Christ]

"'Failure' is Not Always Failure"

What has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel. Philippians 1:12
   

Sir Winston Churchill failed twice to achieve an elected office during the early 1920s and had little political influence through the 1930s. But he continued to develop his talents, and in 1940 he became prime minister of England. Today he is regarded as a hero.

The apostle Paul had planned to go to Rome to preach the Gospel, but he was taken there as a prisoner instead. It looked as if he had failed. But in his cell he penned some of his outstanding epistles. He made many contacts. That is why he could write to the Philippians that everything had turned out for the advancement of the Gospel.

When our carefully laid plans fizzle, let's not give up. If we discover that we have blundered, we can correct our mistakes. If we have failed because of circumstances beyond our control, let's ask God to teach us what He wants us to learn, and let's trust more fully in His grace in Christ, who has accomplished our salvation and who would use us to pass on that good news to others.

"Success is failure turned inside out, The silver tint of clouds of doubt, So stick to the fight when hardest hit; It's when things seem worst that you must not quit".

[Soldier4Christ]

"Envy"

Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:26
   

The apostle Paul in his great hymn of love (1 Corinthians 13) reminds us that Christian love does not envy. Such love does not become discontented at another's good fortune.

God has blessed each of us with material blessings. He has also blessed our neighbor. We can obtain our neighbor's possessions through purchase, barter, inheritance, or other ways that are pleasing to God. If we cannot obtain them "fair and square," we should not try to get them "by hook and by crook." God wants us to be content with the things He gives us and to be happy about our neighbor's good fortune.

We need to fight against envy. There is no reason for any of us to become envious. God has been good to us without any merit or worthiness of our own. With Jacob we must confess: "I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant" (Genesis 32:10).

Only by God's grace are we the beneficiaries of His love in Christ. He has given us the gift of salvation for time and eternity. Far from envying anyone, we thank God for His undeserved blessings on us and those we love.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Examples to Follow"

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
   

When a coach sets out to teach his team how to master a certain sport, he will usually demonstrate the different actions and plays to the players. He may point out some stars of the game and encourage the players to study their form and way of playing and try to pattern themselves after them. Often the coach will have a more experienced player show how it is done. Then, after the best possible instruction has been given, each player must get in the game and work at it. It takes example, instruction, practice, and more practice to learn the game.

In a deeper sense the Holy Spirit seeks through God's Word to coach us in the contest of life. Every believer in Christ will want to master the task of being a child of God and will welcome the aid and instruction of the Holy Spirit. Here too our "Coach" encourages us to study the greatest example of all, the life of our Lord.

Also He urges us to look closely at the lives of outstanding followers of Christ, the great men and women of faith, that we might learn from them. Finally He invites us into the fellowship of the church, where He provides examples of experienced Christians who can help us by advice and example better to play the game of life according to the rules of God.

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"Read My Mind"

We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26
   

"She can read my mind," the husband says of his wife as she provides for a need before he asks. Two people have become so understanding and intimate that they know each other's needs and wishes without naming them.

This describes our relationship to God by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit works on our behalf a relationship of total intimacy with the Father so our unspoken prayers are before the Father's throne even before we speak them, or even before we are aware of our needs. In ways that cannot be known, "with groans that words cannot express," the Spirit brings before the throne of a gracious and merciful God all our cares and concerns.

The prayers we offer, imperfect and jumbled, are presented before God in perfect order and making perfect sense. Our shortsightedness is eliminated; our self-centeredness is erased; our faith is presented full and clear. We can pray with confidence, knowing the Holy Spirit will present our prayers before God with the clarity and the respect we desire to show Him.

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"Sketch of Similarities"

"With him [Moses] I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles." Numbers 12:8
   

God chose Moses long before this leader was conscious of God's plan for him. God promised to be with him, and He doubled that promise of fitting him for his every task.

Moses was privileged to spend much time in God's presence. He ascended the Mount of God and walked right into His presence. He listened while God spoke to him "face to face, clearly," and in turn Moses pleaded the cause and needs of his people through fervent prayer, again in God's presence.

And so it is with us. God chose us to be His very own: "I have called you by name, you are Mine" (Isaiah 43:1). We too have spent many days and nights talking with God in prayer. It has not been a one-way conversation because God also spoke to us in His Word, the Bible, both at church and in the privacy of our home.

We think of Moses' position of leadership as unique, but really it wasn't much different from ours. We are called to lead our family circle or circle of friends and neighbors through the wilderness of daily challenges and momentary setbacks to the promised land of heaven's mansions. God is with us and does fit us for our task!

[Soldier4Christ]

"Caring"

"Go and do likewise." Luke 10:37
   

The story from which our text is taken, the parable of the Good Samaritan, tells us a lot about caring.

It is sometimes true that those who need our care are themselves to blame for their need. Perhaps it's hard for us to generate much care for people who have made a mess of their life.

Some of us act like the priest in Luke 10, who demonstrates that not everyone who worships God hears His call to help others. Then there is the Levite, so focused on taking his turn in leading the service in the temple that he was not motivated to take his turn in service to the man in need at the side of the road.

Enter the Samaritan. We note two things about this man, himself the victim of the prejudices of his day. First, he was ready and willing to help. Second, his credit was good. The innkeeper trusted him to pay the victim's bill.

The lesson is clear. Everyone who is in need is our neighbor. Feeling sorry for people less fortunate than we are is not enough. People bringing trouble on themselves is no reason for us to hold back our care and our assistance. God has heard our cry for mercy, though our need for it is our own doing and failure. And we are to hear and heed the cry for mercy of everyone in need.