The Greatest Gift

James 1:17a,  "Every good and perfect gift is from above...."

   What is the greatest gift you have ever received?  Think back through all of the past Christmases, birthdays, and anniversaries.  Was it a bicycle?  A pony?  A doll?  Your own cell phone or ipad or computer?  Parents, was it your first born child?

   Think back to your spiritual birthday.  Could your greatest gift be the salvation given by your Heavenly Father and purchased by Jesus Christ?

   What made you desire the gift of salvation?  Did you grow up in a home or a church where you realized how much Jesus loves you and your heart responded to that love by saying "yes" to Jesus?  Did you realize that you, as we all are, were a helpless sinner with a hopeless future without Christ?  Did you meet Christians who so glowed with the joy of their salvation that you wanted what they had?  Were you searching for peace and purpose in life and discovered that you could only find them in Jesus?  Were you in a crisis situation and cried out for help?

   However you came to know Christ, what difference does it make now that you have Him in your life?  Are you daily aware of this gift?  Is it changing your life bit by bit?  Have you ever had a gift you laid on a shelf or tucked away in a drawer and never used?  Unfortunately, some people treat their salvation that way.  Have you ever received a gift that was so unfamiliar you couldn't use it unless you read the instructions?  Fortunately, there is an instruction manual in how to use the gift of salvation, and it is, of course, the Bible.  Have you ever had a gift--perhaps a teddy bear when when you were little--that you so cherished you took it wherever you went and slept with it at night?

   On television ads the ad men often say,  "Wait.  There's more."  In the Christian life there is more.  Along with the gift of salvation is the gift of God's Holy Spirit.  With this gift comes power, insight, wisdom, comfort, peace, joy, love, etc.--so much more.  It is all ours to use and enjoy.

   When you have received a wonderful gift, it is natural to want others to have that gift as well, especially those people you love the most.  Pray that God will use you to point others to Christ and to salvation.

Father, I do pray that You will use each one who reads this devotional to point others to You.  Amen. 

God's Words

Colossians 3:16a,  "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...."

    It is interesting how God gives us a word from Him when we need it most.  And often it is something we had learned and stored up in our memory banks so that we are able to retrieve it and lean upon it when the occasion arises.  I so well remember that, when my mother died suddenly and unexpectedly, I had taught a lesson on death and heaven in Sunday School only a month before.  The words from that lesson echoed in my ears and gave me comfort.
    The Bible is, of course, the primary source of God words for us, but He often uses words from other people as well.  Little did I realize just how timely some words I read from Oswald Chambers would be for me this week, when I was suddenly and unexpectedly very sick.  These words are also timeless and fit us in all our circumstances.  Chambers wrote,  "It does not matter what my circumstances are, I can be as sure of abiding in Jesus in them as in a prayer meeting.  I have not to change and arrange my circumstances myself.  With Our Lord the inner abiding was unsullied; He was at home with God wherever His body was placed.  He never chose His own circumstances, but was meek towards His Father's dispensations for Him."  And, THERE IS NO CONDITION OF LIFE IN WHICH WE CANNOT ABIDE IN JESUS."
    It is also interesting that God gives us plenty of opportunities to practice what we are learning.  Not only did I need to abide in Jesus when I didn't feel well this week, but I had a different opportunity to practice abiding this morning.  Just as I had almost finished typing this devotional, my computer erased what I had written to add updates, and I had to retype it.  God wants us to practice what He teaches us so we can grow from godly thinking to godly living.

Father, thank You for all Your words for us.  May we store them in our minds for direction, take them into our hearts for comfort, and practice them in our lives daily.  Amen.

In Remembrance

"Do this in remembrance of me."  Luke 22:19b

   As we grow older, we often begin to shift our focus.  When children, grandchildren, and perhaps even great grandchildren, come along, we are impressed with the continuity from one generation to another.  We see the tendencies common to all human beings and the experiences that are repeated in families of every generation.  We can also see great differences in the cultural and moral atmospheres as they change down through the ages.

     Many of us have a desire to positively influence the people whose lives we touch, inspiring them to live well.  We would like to leave a legacy for those coming behind us.  The words of the song title "May Those Who Come Behind Us Find Us Faithful" always cause my heart to stir with passion and determination.

   There have been many people who have left legacies that challenge and inspire us to live well.  Some are historical figures.  Certainly this includes people in the Bible, and, above all, Jesus Himself.  And others may be relatively obscure people we have known personally and, perhaps, intimately.  My mother, father, and husband were such people for me.  Think about some of those people in your life.  As I walk through my life, I want to live in such a way as to honor their memories.  I want to think if they can see me from heaven that they are pleased with the choices I am making and the things I am doing.  And I want to leave the kind of example and legacy for the children of successive generations that those who came before me have left for me.

Father, may those who come behind me find me faithful to You and Your Word.  May I influence them to leave a legacy of loving and serving You to their children and grandchildren.  Amen.

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

Jesus told us, “I am the Way and the Truth, and the Life."  John 14:6

        As someone has said so well, "Without the Way, there is no going.  Without the Truth, there is no knowing, and without the Life, there is no living."  Let's amplify that statement for a minute.

        Without Jesus, the Way, and without His daily guidance, every way we go will lead to an ultimate dead end.  Only through Jesus Christ can people find the way to heaven.  He said, "No one comes to the Father except through me."

        John 14:16-17a, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth."  John 16:13a, "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth."  It is when we accept Christ that the Holy Spirit comes to live within us, and it is God's Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth.  In God's Word, we find there is an ultimate body of truth that has always been true and always will be true.  It is the Holy Spirit who gives us insight so we can understand and apply this truth from God.  Then we will not be like the people in Judges 17:6, which tells us, "In those days Israel had no king, so people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes."   People who do not have

God's Holy Spirit have a philosophy similar to that in Judges today. 

Have you heard such statements as, "If you think it's right, it is right," and "If it feels good, do it"?

        Without Jesus, who is the Life, there is no real living.  It is true that life without Jesus can have many pleasantries, but they are shallow and fleeting.  Only in Him who is Life do we find abundant life in this world and eternal life in this world and the next.  Life in Jesus Christ is a quality of life much different from, and infinitely better than, any other kind of living.  And, it is life in Christ that enables us to live forever in heaven.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being the Way to go, the Truth to know, and abundant and eternal life for us.  Amen.

We Will Remember

Psalm 77:11-12, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.  I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds."

      Memorial Day, the last Monday in May, is a time when respect is paid to the more than one million men and women who have given their lives for our country.  It reminds us that America is the home of the free because of what the brave have done.

      May is also the month of Decoration Day when the graves of loved ones all over the country are adorned with flowers and other signs of remembrance.  This is a time for remembering not only our service men and women but other loved ones who have died as well.

      In one of the catalogs I have received, there is a plaque that says, “When a loved one becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure."  In many instances that is true, but in other situations the memory might be a burden because we have regrets concerning our relationship with that person.  Perhaps we were not as attentive as we wish we had been.  We may have spoken hurtful words in anger.  We could have been estranged from that person and never have sought a reconciliation.  If we have regrets concerning someone because of things we did, or failed to do, the memory of that relationship may be a burden rather than a blessing.

      We can never go back and change the past, of course, but we can apply what we have learned in the present so we do not repeat our past mistakes.  The lesson in this case is to live in such a way that we will have no regrets when anyone in our lives passes on.  It may cost us time, energy, forgiveness, and forbearance, but our memories will be sweet.  We will have the peace and satisfaction of knowing that we did the best we could in the relationships we had.

      In one sense, everyday should be a memorial day, a day in which we remember all that God, our Creator, and Christ, our Savior, have done for us.  We are free from the power and punishment of sin because of the cross.  And if we have regrets from the past, and we have missed our chance to ask certain people to forgive us, we can always find God's forgiveness.  He will cleanse our lives and wipe the slate clean, giving us a fresh, new start.  That is a promise we should never forget!

Father, may I live in such a way that I will have no regrets about any relationship in my life.  May I find forgiveness in You for all my failures and shortcomings.  Thank You for Your promise that, if we confess, You will forgive us and give us a brand new beginning.  Amen.

Packing for the Journey

Revelation 20:11a, "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it." 

Revelation 21:1a, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth." 

Revelation 21:22, “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple."

        One night I dreamed I was about to take a trip to investigate a crime.  I needed to leave quickly and to travel as lightly as possible.  I decided to take only the barest of essentials--two pairs of underwear and a toothbrush.

        I woke up wondering what essentials I should pack for the journey we all must take into eternity.  "Wait a minute," you might say.  "You know you can't take anything with you."  I know we can't take any material possessions, but there are certain intangibles that we might want to carry along.  The most essential one is our faith in Jesus Christ, because that will determine our destination. I want to take memories of people I have loved so much on earth, people who have preceded me to heaven, so I can anticipate our reunion when I arrive. 

I want to take my knowledge of Scripture so I will recognize and appreciate such people as Peter, Paul, and most of all, Jesus, when I see them.  I want my questions to go along so I can say, “Aha--so that's why that happened!" when I have new understanding and insight. 

I want to fill my suitcase with worship and praise and awe for the time I see Eternal, Almighty God high and lifted up on His throne in heaven.

And I want to take lots and lots of gratitude for God's goodness and mercy and loving kindness and for Jesus' death on the cross for me.  I want to take love and thankfulness to pour out in abundance to my Savior and my Heavenly Father.

        I want to travel lightly, so I keep emptying my suitcase of all the anger, bitterness, selfishness, hatred and all the other sinful attitudes I pick up during my sojourn on earth.  And I might need to leave quickly, so I want to stay packed up and ready to go at any time.

Father, please keep emptying the suitcase in my life of all unworthy and undesirable attitudes and sinful actions.  Instead, fill it with awe and gratitude and praise for You and for my Savior and with love and care for the people in my path.  May I be ready at all times to begin my journey into eternity.  Amen.   

Lessons from My Dogs

Ephesians 4:32,  "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

I John 3:11,  "This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another."

       I have learned some important life lessons from my dogs.  Dogs are good examples of unconditional love.  They are always ready to show their love freely, lavishly.  They are quick to cuddle, to respond to our affection, and to listen to anything we want to tell them.  They gaze at us with adoration reflected in their liquid eyes.

       Dogs are intensely loyal.  They prefer their masters above all others.  They are exceedingly protective of those they love.

       Dogs are so forgiving.  They aren't inclined to pout, and they rarely hold grudges.

       Dogs' desires are simple.  They are appreciative of the smallest blessings of life--their dinner, a bowl of fresh water, a patch of sunshine to warm their bodies, a soft bed, a tummy rub, a word of approval.

       Like people, dogs are not perfect.  Like people, there are some who go bad, who turn rogue.  But many dogs make the world a happier place for others by their presence, their love, and their companionship.  These dogs set some good example that people might do well to emulate.

Father, may I love others unconditionally, and may I express that love freely and lavishly.  May I be loyal to You, preferring You above anyone and anything else.  May I also be loyal to my family members and friends.  May I forgive readily and not pout nor hold grudges.  May I be appreciative of the simple blessings of life and content with them.  May I make the world a happier place for others.  Amen.