Day by Day

[Soldier4Christ]

"Forgiving and Forgetting"

You will again have compassion on us; You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19
   

"Forgive and forget" are nice words and sound advice, though a lot easier said than done. At times we seem to be able to muster enough love to say, "I forgive you." The forgetting, however, may be just about impossible. When a certain word is said, our memory goes into "instant recall." We want to get even by extracting as much pain as the other person has caused us.

Then we look at the other side of the coin. All of us say and do things we later regret. All of us hurt those we love the most, then assume we do not have to seek forgiveness because, after all, they should understand. We say we love the Lord Jesus, but we ignore His teaching. We say we love God, but we do not obey His Word. We pray to Him, but we shudder for fear that He will not approve of what He sees us doing.

Yet God does not give up on us. He reconciles us to Himself by washing us in the blood of His Son. He daily renews His promise to tread our sins underfoot and throw them into the depth of the sea, from where they cannot return to haunt us or accuse us. Perhaps we find it hard to forgive and forget, but God can -- and does -- for Jesus' sake!

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"The Maker's Guide"

This God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end. Psalm 48:14
   

You buy an item and bring it home. But first it needs to be assembled. You can fumble around with screwdriver and wrench, trying to get all the pieces together properly. Or you can follow the manufacturer's directions.

Isn't that the way it is with so much of life? Sensible people get directions before doing things. They follow guidelines prepared by people who already know the way. They learn from others' information and insight.

How much more important it is for us to follow the guidelines for life itself! The best directions we have come from our Maker, God Himself. Through His Word, God gives us this command: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:5); "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27). Jesus' life is an example for us to imitate. And when we fail to meet His standard, we are forgiven for Jesus' sake.

When we are faced with a particular situation, we can ask, "What did Jesus do?" We can also pray, "Lord, guide me. Show me what You want me to do. Help me make wise use of my time, money, and talent." God directs. Let us be willing to follow.

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"Live Now"

Be very careful, then, how you live -- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity. Ephesians 5:15-16
   

Sometimes people say, "I have an hour to kill." Time is not an enemy to destroy. It's a gift to treasure and use. Time is among our most precious earthly possessions. What good are money, job, or family if we have no time? The apostle encourages us to make "the most of every opportunity."

Jesus teaches us to be selective. His public career lasted not much more than 1,000 days. He did not teach and heal all the time. He slept and rested like others. Yet when His earthly life was over, He prayed to his Father, "I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do" (John 17:4). Jesus was concerned about doing His Father's will to live and die and rise again as the deliverer from sin and its eternal effects, mainly death.

Let us, like Jesus, concentrate on doing our Father's will. Let us plan our time and organize our activities to make time for God and take time for people. Let us make wise use of little moments of time that are otherwise wasted.

On Judgment Day we will be asked to give an account of our life to the Lord. May He say to each of us, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:21).

[Soldier4Christ]

"Dealing with Stress"

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
   

Everyone experiences tension or pressure. At least two-thirds of all medical visits are for stress-related illnesses. The best way to manage stress is to nourish faith in our loving God. In His love God did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all. This is proof that He really cares for us.

God is almighty. He can enable us to meet every situation. When we believe this from the depths of our being and make it a habit to turn to Him for strength and direction, we are better prepared for any crisis or degree of stress.

As we let God's principles guide us, we learn to give thanks in all circumstances and to put the best construction on what others say and do. It is better to show forgiving love and understanding about a broken window, burned toast, or a dented fender than to explode with anger.

Let us develop a strong relationship with family, friends, and neighbors. God uses them to give support. We can relieve stress by taking control of our time. We may leave a little earlier to be on time for an appointment. If we expect a long wait, we may take along some inspirational reading. Practicing our faith and using common sense help us deal with stress.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Smart Love"

This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. Philippians 1:9
   

Intelligent love, or "smart love," flows out of the knowledge of God's love for us sinners. The next step is to work earnestly at knowing the person who is loved. That's what Paul means when he says we should love with "knowledge and depth of insight."

So often we think that if we love someone we will automatically do the right thing for that person. It just isn't so. Thousands of marriages and families are in shambles because the people involved didn't get to know more deeply those whom they love.

"Smart love" grows out of an experience of the love of God in our own lives, and it then depends on truly getting to know the persons we love. Knowing when to say something and when to be quiet -- that's part of intelligent love. So is knowing when to do something and when not to do it or when to pull away entirely for a while and pray for someone you love.

We look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith and its fruits, to strengthen, enrich, and guide our love with His gift of wisdom.

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"Christian First, Athlete Second"

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:14
   

Can we, like the apostle Paul, be more proud of our God-given Christian faith than any of our accomplishments? A top professional football player once gave a beautiful testimony of his Christian faith: "I like to think of myself as a Christian, who just happens to be a football player." How easily we invert the order! We are known first by our profession, our job, or our achievements in this or that field, and, oh, yes, we happen to be Christians too.

The apostle Paul and the football player were proud of their Savior first and foremost. Their own achievements were only incidental. It was the cross of Christ, symbolizing His sacrificial death for their sins and assuring them of eternal life, that gave them cause for rejoicing. Not of themselves, but of Him did they boast.

This is a worthy goal for all of us -- to be known and seen first of all as followers of Christ, then as persons who were enabled to accomplish less important things as well. The cross of Christ is our proudest achievement, which we ourselves did not achieve! Salvation is a gift of God through Christ, who died for us on the cross. Of Him we boast.

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"The Gift of Mind and Memory"

I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all Your works. Psalm 143:5
   

Would you like to see a walking, talking miracle? Look in your mirror. What you see is a person who cannot only walk and talk but can also think and learn and remember and reason and do many other remarkable things -- all because God has given you a most amazing gift: your mind.

"It boggles your mind," we say when reading about those high-tech super computers that can process millions of bits of data, store them, and retrieve them in mere fractions of seconds. We easily overlook that our own mind out boggles any electronics that science can produce. The way our mind can recapture our past surpasses wonder, as when a snatch of music or a glimpse of a photo can carry us back to another place and time and special people. How faith-reviving when memory takes us back to times and occasions when God's presence was felt and His abiding love was impressed upon us!

When memory turns into a cruel tormentor with thoughts of guilt and remorse over past sins, how wonderful to have the Spirit remind us, "The blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

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"Faith is Not Feelings"

Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." Mark 5:36
   

Sometimes we mistake feelings for faith and a change in feelings for loss of faith. Faith is not feelings. Feelings or emotions change with every moment's experiences. Faith endures the ups and downs of life with the conviction that God is still faithful and can be trusted. It is easy to confuse faith and feelings, but feelings are more fickle than faith. Fine weather, a compliment, an encouraging bit of news -- all of these can make us feel good, but they are not what faith is made of. Faith is trust in Jesus Christ. It is a matter of conviction even when feelings about other things change.

Perhaps we are too much influenced by TV and movies and the way our entertainment culture plays with our emotions. Perhaps our retained childishness leads us to consider everything that "feels good" to be truly good. Perhaps our deceptive sinful nature tests our convictions on the basis of how we feel rather than on what God has done for us in Jesus Christ on the cross. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not "feel" good about His death while in Gethsemane, but He trusted His Father's good and gracious will and was faithful to His mission on earth. We can trust Him no matter how we feel.

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"His Witnesses"

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8
   

Have you ever asked yourself, "Why am I here?" Many people today are asking that question. The search for an answer leads many to a Pandora's box of philosophies and religions. But there is only one answer that is true: We have been placed here to praise God and to be witnesses of Jesus Christ. There is no greater calling in life than to share the love of God with people. We are not an accident of evolution; we are individuals brought into being by our triune God that we might love Him and praise Him forever.

While we are here on earth, our primary purpose, according to God's plan for our lives, is to remind people of sin and to reveal the love and forgiveness of God for all people in Jesus Christ. We bring eternal comfort into the lives of others when we proclaim that Christ died to pay for their sins so they might be with Him in paradise someday. Our life in Christ is not an aimless drift into oblivion but a fulfillment of the purpose for which Christ has called us to be His own.

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"Loyal Friend"

The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Exodus 33:11
   

How many friends have I had through the years? Really loyal friends are few. Keeping friends is difficult. How blessed is the one who has true friends!

A loyal and trusted confidant, Joshua must have been a great comfort to Moses. He could lend a sympathetic ear as Moses unburdened his heart under the pressures of his office. Joshua was a kindred soul with whom Moses could share the privileged moments of communion with God.

We should value highly God's gift of good friends. Luther numbered "good friends" among the temporal blessings a gracious Lord bestows on us. Good friends reduce our sorrows and multiply our joys by sharing both with us.

God Himself was the best friend Moses ever had. God spoke with him face to face. He chose Moses to represent Him before Israel. He supplied Moses with fitness and the courage to work at a monumental task. Above all, God loved and forgave Moses, the sinner.

God also befriends us. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends' (John 15:13). God revealed His great love to us in giving His Son, Jesus, who in love for us endured utter friendlessness on the cross so we might enjoy God's peace and friendship eternally.

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"Conformity"

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world. Romans 12:2
   

Are you a conformist or a nonconformist? Most of us are accused of conforming to the ways and ideas of the people with whom we associate. As human beings we do not like to be different. Conformity is not always bad. Nonconformity just to be different can indicate complete self-centeredness and can be obnoxious. On the other hand, conformity can at times be sinful. We dare not go along with the crowd when it is doing something wrong. We can't sin to be one of the group.

God does not want us to be foolishly different or isolated from other people, but He does expect us to refuse to conform to what is against His will. The sinful world will constantly tempt us to forget God and go along with evil. Phillips translates Romans 12:2 like this: "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould." We need courage to stand firm and say "No!" to what we know is wrong in God's sight.

Where can we get this strength? Phillips continues: "But let God remake you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed. Thus you will prove in practice that the will of God [is] good." We need to be filled with the strength of God's Spirit. Sustained by His Word and remembering His mercy in Christ, we will find the power to resist conforming to this world.

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"Time: A Gift from God"

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33
   

One of the gifts God has given us is time. Time is something that passes inevitably. We can fritter it away, muttering about how time flies, or we can see today as a day of new possibilities, using our time to give God His rightful place in our thinking, doing, and all of living. The Life we have is our allotted time. We are to use it to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness." Faith in Christ drives out anxiety about our daily needs and replaces worry with confidence that "all these things will be given" to us.

Time is the stuff life is made of. Yet we often fail to see time as a precious gift from God. It often becomes "my time" -- time that we use, abuse, fill, or waste. We suffocate it with worry or let it fly by, filled only with fantasy about what we could do.

God's Word tells us there is a time for every purpose under heaven. A Christian's purpose is to make the most of each day, seeking opportunities to serve our living God.

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"Prepared for an Adventure"

"Do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
   

Exploring the unknown can be an adventure. To be asked to lead a nation of many thousands was a great challenge for Joshua. God set a great adventure before him when He chose Joshua to lead the people of Israel from the wilderness into the land of Canaan.

At first Joshua wondered whether he could handle the job. So God encouraged this servant who would succeed Moses: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." The task was tremendous, yet God assured Joshua, as He assures us: "The LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Putting our trust in the Lord, we can go on our way unafraid. He promises strength when strength is needed. He gives courage when courage is needed. He confirms our faith in Jesus, our Savior. His power and His presence in His Word and sacraments support us as we face the unborn tomorrow of opportunity and challenge. We don't know what God may require of us in our future. But whatever He requires, we will be able to perform because He will be with us always.

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"Unspeakable Love!"

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." Jeremiah 31:3
   

God is the absolute center of all that exists. All nature and all created things revolve around Him. He is also the center of all His people, who form a wide circle around Him. His purpose is to draw them to Himself, their center, in eternal life.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love" means that God loved us and planned our salvation even before the world was created, when we were but thoughts in the creative mind of God. Amazing condescension! Unspeakable love!

"I have drawn you with loving-kindness" tells us that His love was first expressed in the kindness of our creation and continued care. But it is most beautifully expressed in the kindness of our salvation. What loving-kindness this is: "God so loved the world that He gave is one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Wonderful love, indeed!

Looking beyond His cross to His throne, Jesus promised: "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself" (John 12:32). He drew us through Baptism and by His Word. He continues to draw us through the preaching and teaching of His pure Gospel message. At the last He will draw to Himself in heaven and give us a crown of life.

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"This is My Father's World"

"Your heavenly Father knows that you need them." Matthew 6:32
   

What a different world this world becomes when we remember that this is our Father's world! No blind force, no blind fate, but our Father's love still guides and shapes the destiny of all His children in things both great and small.

He who guides the flight of the sparrow and traces its final fall has promised to guide us safely through all dangers in life and to bring us safely to heaven.

What a wonderful thought with which to open each new day and with which to go to sleep at night! Through Christ, the God of the trackless universe has become my Father, and the unspeakably marvelous world in which I live, whose air I breathe and whose life I share, is forever bright with promise -- His promise!

He has promised to uphold, sustain, and guide not only the celestial spheres of the firmament but also the single sparrow in its solitary flight -- and me His precious child, redeemed by Jesus Christ, His Son. The world in which I shall go to sleep tonight and to which, He wills, I shall awake tomorrow is still my Father's world -- His world to govern, guide, and keep for me and for all His trusting children. In Him my faith abides!