DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thoughts to Ponder by Pastor Larry Sydow, Prayers by
Pastor Bruce Freeman
Friday, November 1, 2024
(All Saints Day)
All Saints Day commemorates all the martyrs and all
the people of God, living and dead, who form the mystical body of Christ. This
feast day is, in effect, a feast of the church.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 23:2-3 — He makes me
lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my
soul.
Philippians 4:6 — Do not
worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I was “too old” for a nap, so
I walked down to the shallow creek that meandered through the pasture while my
sister and brothers slept. Under a willow, I sat listening to the gurgling
water and fell peacefully asleep. I woke with a start when I heard my sister
calling for me. At the ripe old age of six, I didn’t worry about the world. My
every need was supplied. I was safe and secure. In Sunday School, we had heard
the Shepherd’s Psalm, so the only thing missing was the sheep. How good it is
when we can recapture that feeling, that sense of the peace of God, which
allows us to place everything in the hands of God without worry or concern. The
stories of many of the saints of the past are stories of men and women who did
just that “in spite of dungeons, fire, and sword.” As verse two of Faith of our Fathers continues:
“The martyrs, chained in prisons dark, were still in heart and conscience
free; And blest would be their children’s fate if they, like them, should die
for thee. Faith of our fathers, holy faith, we will be true to thee till
death.” How firm is the faith you pass on to your children? Can you cast
all your cares on the Lord in prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving
and rest peacefully beside the still waters of the Lord as He restores your
soul?
PRAYER
Thank You for the
opportunity of laying all my troubles by You, dear Lord. Let me trust in You,
knowing You will lead me beside the still waters. Let others see my trust so You
can use me to pass faith on to others who might follow. In the name of my
Shepherd, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, November 2, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 31:24 — Be strong,
and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.
Mark 6:12-13 — The
disciples went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many
demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The first time I preached a
sermon, I was a nervous wreck. I had to read it word for word from the page,
and I didn’t dare look at anyone. I had helped with parts of the worship
service from time to time but never as the sole leader, so the first time I did,
I was wound up as tight as an over-wound watch! I practiced several times
before anyone arrived and still made numerous mistakes. I thought I’d come
unglued the first time I preached without notes. I left the notes at the other church
I supplied that morning). Even now, more than thirty years later, the
butterflies do their swan dives in my stomach. My mind does a quick inventory
and mutters a desperate plea: Lord, help me remember the important things
You want me to preach!” Some days are worse than others. It takes
incredible strength and courage to proclaim the awesome Word of the Lord. I
have to repeatedly remind myself that it is not about me - it is about the
Lord. Every time I lead worship in the church, at a nursing home, or even for
private communion, I understand the fear and trembling of the disciples. It was
not for their glory or success. It was for the overwhelming responsibility they
felt for delivering the Good News as messengers of the Lord! It is the risk a
young swimmer must take, letting go of the side of the pool, to trust the
instructor not to let them drown. Are you willing to trust the Lord to give you
the strength, courage, and ability to fulfill your purpose?
PRAYER
Oh, dear Lord, sometimes I
get so nervous when You ask me to share my faith with others. Strengthen me and
take away my butterflies. Let Your words be my words, and help me appreciate
that You are using me and my abilities to spread the good news. In the name of
Jesus, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, November 3, 2024
(All Saints Sunday)
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 35:28 — My tongue
shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all day long.
1 Corinthians 9:23 — Paul
wrote: I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its
blessings.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Even when times were tough,
Christmas at our house was exciting. There were Christmas programs at church
and school, candy and nuts we never had any other time of the year (even now, I
can’t imagine eating some of those treats any other time!), and gifts! We
didn’t always receive many gifts, but what we received became our treasures. I
loved receiving gifts, even the little things. After marriage and we had kids,
I loved Christmas even more, but my enjoyment shifted from receiving to giving.
Yes, the kid in me will always like receiving gifts, but I love to give and
watch others open their gifts. I believe that’s what happened to St. Paul with
the gospel. Receiving the gospel was a life-changing event in his life, but as
he matured, sharing the gospel became equally, if not even more, exciting.
Perhaps that’s why I enjoy teaching and preaching so much. I am privileged to
see those “Ah ha!” moments on the faces of people occasionally. That
makes my day! I hope and pray that everyone who hears (or reads) the good news
I share will experience the joy of sharing its blessings as much as I do!
Wouldn’t you like to make every day special for someone, too?
PRAYER
It is exciting and
wonderful, dear Lord, when someone receives the special gift of Your gospel.
Thank You for those who shared it with me and watched me open it over the
years. Please use me today so that I might share the good news with others. In
Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, November 4, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Hosea 14:4 — I will heal
their disloyalty; I will love them freely.
1 Peter 2:25 — For you
were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and
guardian of your souls.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Sometimes, I thought we were
raising escape artists instead of dumb animals. We had a cow who found a way of
crawling through every fence we put up, including barbed wire. We had pigs with
noses for the tiniest gap in the fence and talented at making the gap wider in
minutes. We even had a few gifted chickens whose escape route we could never
find! When they got out, everything else stopped until we got them in and the
hole fixed (if it could be found). We usually gave them an extra treat, hoping
it would make them want to stay. I don’t remember that it ever did. Some people
are like our escape-artist-animals when it comes to their faithfulness to their
creator. They are experts at finding holes in the fence (excuses and/or
rationalizations). It doesn’t take much for them to escape their
“response-ability” for worship, Bible study, or servanthood. Lest we point the
finger at “them” and have three more pointing back at us, aren’t we all guilty
of being sheep who go astray from the Good Shepherd when following His path is
not popular, convenient, profitable, or fun? Christ, the Good Shepherd, is
always willing to welcome us back, heal our disloyalty, and love us freely. May
we discover the treat (the joy) He has in store for those who return!
PRAYER
Sometimes, I think I must
be fooling You, O God, and thinking that You will not notice me missing from
worshiping You, studying Your scripture, or striving to serve You. Forgive me
for trying to go my own way and doing my own thing. In the name of the Good
Shepherd, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Proverbs 3:5-6 — Trust in
the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your
ways, acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Mark 13:5 — Jesus began to
say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I grew up in a pretty
trustworthy time. It took some dirty tricks to tarnish my view that I could
trust anyone. One of my aunts tried to convince me the sucker given to me by
the doctor was laced with medicine. She was willing to “get rid of it” for me. Kindergarten
was a great learning experience! One of the lessons I learned was not to trust
everybody. One of the “big kids” showed me a neat hiding place for “hide-n-go-seek.”
He lifted the lid on the school storm cellar, told me to be very quiet, closed
it, and then locked me in. If I hadn’t been so angry about being left there
during recess, I might have thanked him
for helping me “win”! Fortunately, during this time, Hati Fullner, my Sunday
School teacher, taught me that I could always trust Jesus. I can’t remember
most of the lessons, but I will never forget the picture she had me color of
Jesus with the little children. I knew that I was one of them. That was a trust
that has never let me down. I cannot always trust the news media. I cannot
always trust politicians or governments. I cannot always trust strangers. But
Jesus never leads me astray. In whom will you place your trust?
PRAYER
It is so good, dear Lord,
that You are wrapping Your loving arms around me and holding me tight. I praise
You that I can always trust in You and that You will never lead me astray. Help
me to listen to You as You guide me today. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Genesis 12:4 — So Abram
went, as the Lord had told him.
Hebrews 11:8 — By faith,
Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive
as an inheritance, and he set out, not knowing where he was going.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
“Larry, Jackie, Jerry, Garry,
and Miiiiiike!” was the usual call from “headquarters” for the adventurers to
return to base. To hear the call and obey usually meant a snack or a meal, but
it could also be a reminder that it was chore time. Either way, failure to
answer the call at the Sydow house was sure to have very negative consequences
- a missed ride to town, a forfeited dessert or even a whole meal, a scolding,
extra chores.... The list, based on personal experience, goes on! Abram wasn’t
worried about missing desserts or meals. He heard God’s Word and went. The
result was the fulfillment of amazing promises and the deepening of his faith.
God may have called others, but they didn’t listen or respond. How sad they
would be to discover what they missed. Have you been practicing your listening
skills? God is willing to start small and grow your faith if you are eager to
take even a baby step. Are you ready to begin your journey?
PRAYER
Sometimes, when You call
me to new adventures, it is so scary, Heavenly Father. Give me ears to hear Your
call, faith to answer it, and courage to follow. I know that You are always
with me and will never desert me. Thank You. In the name of Immanuel, Jesus
Christ. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, November 7, 2024
(John Christian Frederick Heyer was the first Lutheran
missionary sent out from the United States. He served tirelessly in India for
many years until his health began to fail. He returned to America, continued
evangelizing and reorganizing parishes and schools, and died in 1873.)
SCRIPTURE
Genesis 24:21 — Abraham’s
servant gazed at her in silence to learn whether or not the Lord had made his
journey successful.
Ephesians 5:10 — Try to
find out what is pleasing to the Lord.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
At first sight, the calf I
chose for a 4-H project looked pretty good. On the other hand, Dad just stood
there by the fence observing. Then he walked through the herd of young calves
and looked at each one individually. Dad ran his big hands over several of
them, then came to where I stood. “Why did you choose that one?” he asked. “I
liked the color,” I answered. Dad beckoned for me to follow, and one by one, he
showed me what he was looking for in each calf. Finally, he had me look at one
I hadn’t paid much attention to. It was solid black, with a small patch of
white on its forehead. The eyes of the calf were bright, his muscles were well-formed,
and he had lots of energy. I could tell Dad was right. That calf became my 4-H
project. “Sam” stepped on my toes numerous times, dragged me through mud,
manure, and broken fences, and taught me many lessons in humility. But he also
won a reserved champion ribbon at the county fair. Sometimes, we judge books,
cars, buildings, and other people, including possible future spouses, by their
covers. We also make our plans based on what feels right at the moment.
Abraham’s servant didn’t make that mistake when choosing a wife for Isaac. He
asked for and received guidance from the Lord and took his time to ensure it
was what the Lord wanted. Do you make decisions based on looks or urges, or do
you follow the example of Abraham’s servant - ask the Lord for guidance, then
patiently wait and observe to make sure it is God’s answer?
PRAYER
Forgive me, Heavenly
Father, for not listening and rushing to do my own thing. Help me not be so
anxious but to patiently wait and observe to see if my questions’ answers are Yours.
Grant this in the name of Your Son, Jesus, the Christ. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, November 8, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Proverbs 17:5 — Those who
mock the poor insult their Maker; those who are glad at calamity will not go
unpunished.
James 2:1 — As believers
in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
When I was in high school, a
woman we knew was killed by a drunk driver. The driver, who had been involved
in underage drinking, was a classmate whose father was a wealthy cattle feeder.
To my knowledge, he never missed a day of school, and whatever penalty he had
was relatively light, with very little publicity. The tongues of the poor
wagged for some time, convinced that if he had been one of “us,” they would
have thrown the book at him. As it was, he got off with a slap on the wrist. I
don’t know how true that is. Still, even today, executives who wiped out the
pension funds and life savings of the common laborers in their companies
continue to make huge salaries, even while serving time in special, comfortable
white-collar prisons. So it was, and so it probably will be, until the
Day when our Maker “judges the living and the dead!” There will no longer be
the opportunity to “get away with murder” because this Judge will see right
into every person’s heart and soul and judge with absolute equity. Those who
are used to showing favoritism or taking advantage of the poor will be sadly
dismayed to discover that they are receiving what they dished out as the Lord
balances the record with His love and compassion. May we all consider the needs
of the poor as if they were the needs of the Lord.
PRAYER
Please forgive me, O
Father, when I put my needs, wants, and desires above the needs of others. I apologize
for my selfish ways and not thinking of the poor and needy. Help me to be more
attentive and compassionate. In the name of Jesus, who died to save us. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, November 9, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 54:6 — With a
freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O
Lord, for it is good.
2 Corinthians 1:24 — Paul
wrote: I do not mean to imply that we lord it over your faith; rather, we are
workers with you for your joy because you stand firm in the faith.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
One of the most challenging
lessons in kindergarten, which must often be re-learned every year after that,
is that we are not the center of the universe! As much of a pain as the “big
kids” were in country school, they served as very determined “teachers” of that
principle. They were the “boss” when the teacher wasn’t looking. They made the
major decisions on the playground when the teacher was out of sight. Brothers
and sisters, and in my case, aunts and uncles, were also good at putting me in
my place. Perhaps it is a part of the “old Adam,” which is never too far from
us and draws us back to the place where we have to learn the lesson repeatedly.
From the Hebrews in the wilderness to the halls of high schools and the halls
of Congress, all of us must be reminded that God IS the true center of
the universe. We can’t bribe God with offerings. We can only use offerings to
show our thankfulness to the One who was, who is, and who always shall be, who
has seen fit to share the bounty of His creation with us. Those who have
grasped that concept live thankful lives, appreciating and sharing their many
blessings. Does your faith rest on God’s abundance or your own? How do you live
out your faith in your life?
PRAYER
I am humbled again, dear
Father, with the knowledge that You, not me, are the center of the universe. You,
not I, created it and continually sustains and grows it. Help me to remember
that all I have is a gift from You and to share those gifts with others. In the
name of Your Son. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, November 10, 2024
Martin Luther was born in
Eisleben in 1483, taught theology at Wittenberg, was responsible for the
Reformation of the Church, wrote extensively, including two Catechisms,
translated the Bible into German, and wrote numerous hymns.
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 30:15 — In
returning and rest, you shall be saved.
1 John 3:5 — You know that
God was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
There were times when I was sure
I was adopted, and my parents were being especially cruel to me. That thought
usually surfaced when I received a well-deserved punishment, but occasionally,
it popped up when I just felt like being lazy. I was invited to the
Junior-Senior Prom when I was a freshman. I partied with the non-alcoholic
crowd until about three in the morning. Mom and Dad didn’t say a word when I
went to bed. However, I was roused from my sweet dreams at four AM and expected
to help milk cows and do the other chores - before church. (Confession: I had
hoped to skip church, but... not a chance! I had a lesson to learn, and
besides, I was the organist that Sunday and my cruel parents wouldn’t
allow me to call a substitute.) After chores, church, and lunch with the rest
of my wide-awake family, asking a million questions about the prom and party, I
fell onto my bed for most of the day. When I got up, it was as if nothing had
happened. All was forgiven, and life went on. (Had I not helped with chores and
played for church.... Well, the picture would not have been very pretty!) Isn’t
it good to know that when we return to the Lord, our heavenly Parent treats us
in the same way - washing away our sins and treating us as if there were no sin
at all? For me, it was not a license to repeat my actions. It was a lesson I
learned: that there is a price to pay. Thank God, Jesus paid the ultimate price
for our sins. Isn’t it about time to return and rest in Him?
PRAYER
When I stray, call me back
into the arms of my loving Savior, O God. Thank You for washing away my wrongs
and sins. I ask that You strengthen me so I will learn from my mistakes and
that my actions might please You. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, November 11, 2024
(Veterans Day)
Martin, Bishop of
Tours, after whom Martin
Luther was named, died in 397—one of the first holy men, not martyrs, to be
publicly honored as a saint. Soren Aabye Kierkegaard, teacher,
theologian, and writer of great devotional materials (on the redemptive work of
Christ and the significance of the cross), died in 1855 at age 42.
SCRIPTURE
Jeremiah 32:27 — See, I am
the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me?
Luke 1:35-37 — The angel
said to Mary, “And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also
conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren.
For nothing will be impossible with God.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Writer’s block is a terrible
experience, especially if there is a deadline to meet. I have contracted the
“disease” too many times to count. It happens when I write sermons, prepare
lessons to teach, and write devotions. I stared at these beautiful lines of
scripture for quite some time, wondering what to write. The thought always
flashes before my eyes: “I can’t do it!” Noah looked at the pile of
dried wood and God’s plans for the ark and probably declared, “I can’t do
it!” Moses heard his instructions from the burning bush and declared, “I
can’t do it!” The people of Israel looked at the sturdy walls of Jericho
and their own puny stick weapons and probably said, “We can’t do it!” Saul’s
army looked at the giant Goliath and the little kid with a slingshot and shook
their heads, convinced, “He can’t do it!” Even Mary and Elizabeth
wondered how it could possibly be for them to have babies. God’s people often
consider their limitations and make that same pronouncement that I too often
do, “I can’t do it!” And we are probably right. We can’t! But God can!
God did, and God does what we humans cannot do. I wish I’d thought of that fact
sooner, turned to the Lord in prayer, and trusted that when “I can’t do it!”
God can. Faced with something tough - even impossible? Turn it over to One for
whom nothing is impossible!
PRAYER
Without You, O God, I
can’t do it. I pray that I might never forget that with You, nothing is
impossible. Help me to trust in You and to pray, pray, pray. When things look
insurmountable, give me the abilities, knowledge, and courage to tackle it in
the name of Jesus, who can even raise the dead. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Job 5:11 – God set on high
those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
Mark 2:10-11 — Jesus said
to the paralytic, “I say to you, stand up, take your mat, and go to your home.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
God took a nomadic shepherd,
making him the “father of many nations.” God took a tongue-tied fugitive and
made the greatest of the Lawgivers. God chose a humble virgin to be the mother
of His Son. Is it possible God looks to the lowly because they are more willing
to listen and obey? My father was one of thirteen children of an immigrant
family. His parents knew little English, and he knew even less until he was
nine or ten. His German language and accent were a liability during the war,
causing him to lose both. He barely survived the depression years. As a
share-cropping farmer, he paid for using another farmer’s land with 3/5 of the
crop each year, leaving little or nothing to support his growing family except
his confidence that the Lord would provide. He was a man of faith who planted
seeds each spring, even in bad years. He and his precious wife sacrificed their
comfort and needs to ensure their children could have the things they could not
have. They survived low farm prices, deep indebtedness, droughts, hail, dust
storms, grasshoppers, family disputes, drinking binges, grief, and the ravages
of cancer. Before his death, he could help raise money to build a hospital,
serve on the church council, pay off his debts, raise six children with whom he
took great pride, build a house, and help build a church. It was as if Jesus
had said to this humble man, “Stand up, take your mat, and come Home,”
...And my father did! May Jesus touch those things in your life that cause you
to be “paralyzed,” and may you hear Him say, “Stand up, take your mat, and come
Home.
PRAYER
Give me faith, O Lord, so
that I might face all the challenges ahead of me, knowing that You will provide
me with all my needs. After all the good and bad experiences that lie ahead,
and as I draw my last breath, let me hear Your voice calling me Home. I pray in
the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 146:5 — Happy are
those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.
1 Timothy 6:13-15 — In the
presence of God, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame
until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at
the right time - he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings
and Lord of lords.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The month before my wife and
I were married, I was invited to stay with Ann and Gill Eby in St. Paul,
Minnesota. They had three children of their own but also were house parents for
five teenagers, placed in their home by the courts for various reasons. Ann and
Gill needed a night out, and I was the solution. In the short time I stayed in
their home, I came face to face with a world I had only read about in books. It
is hard to describe the incredible faith of this couple living in a
church-owned house, receiving a very meager salary, and providing 24-hour
loving care for teenage abusers and victims of abuse, prostitutes, and drug users. Yet, they wore
their happiness on their sleeves, which was contagious. They knew their
limitations. They knew they could not solve the problems of these children who
would be allowed to return to their former lives or be sent to juvenile
detention. They were happy servants of the Lord whose role was to listen and
love the unloved. They did not just talk about their faith in God. They lived
it out every day. When I asked how they could hold on to that positive joy,
they said, “By the grace of God!” Have you been living your faith, facing your
problems, and trusting entirely in “the grace of God”?
PRAYER
I have been saved,
renewed, and strengthened by Your grace, O God. Help me to live this day in
joy, knowing that it is by Your grace alone that I can face all the problems
that might lie ahead. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, November 14, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 12:4 — Make known
his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted.
2 Corinthians 5:20 — So we
are ambassadors for Christ since God is making his appeal through us; we
entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Our country school visited a
neighboring country school for an afternoon to meet the kids and see how things
were done there. We were told we were “ambassadors” representing our school.
Therefore, we were to “behave”! I am often asked to speak to various groups -
churches, veterans, marriage and family organizations, clubs, and international
meetings. I always go as an “ambassador” for someone or some organization. I am
not just going as a “me” whenever I do. I am representing my sponsoring group and
my Lord. Whatever my topic, whatever I say, wherever I am, I am the Lord’s, and
my words and actions should reflect the One who gave me life, breath, and
brains, the One who died for my sins so that I could be reconciled (made one
with God again) and live eternally. Do all you say, and all you do reflect your
position as an ambassador of Christ?
PRAYER
I am honored that You have
chosen me to be Your ambassador, O Lord. Equip and ready me to go out and
represent You to the world today. I pray that everything I say and do will please
You and Your message of love, hope, and forgiveness. In the name of Jesus, I
pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, November 15, 2024
SCRIPTURE
1 Chronicles 16:31 — Let
the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the
nations, “The Lord is king!”
Romans 6:9 — We know that
Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has
dominion over him.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Some things are so exciting
that we can’t keep them to ourselves. When I learned to read my first Dick
and Jane book, I gathered my sister and three young brothers together on
the storm cellar door and read it to them again and again. No doubt I was more
excited about Dick, Jane, Spot, and Sally than they were. They kept wandering
away. When we heard that we would receive our oldest child at the adoption
agency the following day, we ran up a wonderfully huge phone bill spreading the
word. We borrowed a car to go shopping for the bare necessities. Sue was so
excited she got sick! (Fortunately, her late-afternoon version of “morning
sickness” only lasted briefly.) I canceled a trip to Chicago. We were up early
and made more phone calls. We could hardly wait to tell everyone the good news.
Wouldn’t it be great if everyone who goes to worship on Sunday would get that
excited about sharing the Good News - the even better news? God is
King! Christ defeated sin, death, and even the grave! Death does NOT
have the last word. Jesus does! Have we heard the Good News so much that we
have become immune to the power of its message, like those who live in the
mountains and take their beauty for granted?! Receiving a long-awaited child is
great news, but forgiveness, life, and salvation are the GREATEST news. How
many people have you called to tell them about it since you left worship last
Sunday?
PRAYER
I’m sorry that I’ve taken
the fantastic news of Your love for granted, Heavenly Father, and have
neglected to share it with others. Rid me of my apathy by stirring Your Spirit
within me and giving me a passion to proclaim it to everyone I meet. In the
name of Your Son, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, November 16, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 14:3 — They have all
gone astray. They are all alike perverse; there is no one who does good, no,
not one.
1 Corinthians 1:30 —
Christ Jesus became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and
sanctification and redemption.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
After every heavy rain, we
would have to take the tractor to check fences. The run-off would often fill
the gullies, ditches, and creeks to overflow and wash out sections of nearby
fences. We raised exceptionally smart cattle, born with a knowledge of how to
find broken fences, and they were fast! They could make it into a cornfield or
alfalfa patch faster than Superman could leap a tall building. I witnessed the
painful death of one cow who ate too much alfalfa. She was too far gone before
we could get to her. It wasn’t a pretty sight. Our problem quite often was that
our cattle were great followers. If one found the broken fence, the whole herd
would follow. Unless we got them rounded up quickly, we could lose the entire
herd. People should have more brains than cows, but sometimes I wonder. The
psalmist may have been watching sheep go astray, but more than likely, he was
reflecting on the perverse waywardness of people, straying outside the “fences”
God has given them for their protection. In the biblical story, Jesus allows
Himself to be nailed to the cross to bridge the gap between heaven and hell. He
and His goodness do what we cannot do - Jesus rescues us, redeems us (buys us
back with His blood), and makes us holy enough to be admitted to the presence
of God. Have you followed the wrong crowd through the holes the Devil has made
in the Lord’s fences? Time to come back home.
PRAYER
Thank You for Your fences,
the laws You have given us, and the boundaries that guide us, good and gracious
Father. Thank You for Your Son who went after me and brought me back to You
when I have gone outside the fence. In His name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, November 17, 2024
Elizabeth of Thuringia,
Princess of Hungary, was married for political reasons at age 14 and lived in
Wartburg, Germany. She was generous to the poor and started two hospitals.
After her husband died of the plague, Elizabeth joined the third order of St.
Francis, living a very austere life, dying in 1231 at the age of 24. She is one
of the most beloved saints of the German people, and countless hospitals have
been named for her.
SCRIPTURE
Jeremiah 10:12 — It is the
Lord who made the earth by his power, and by his understanding stretched out
the heavens.
John 1:1 — In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
One of my Sunday school
teachers sent me to the pastor for the answer to a question I thought was
simple: “Where did God come from?” “God
always was.” was his reply. That wasn’t very helpful to me then, but I wasn’t
satisfied with answers to many unanswerable questions, like: “Which came first,
the chicken or the egg?” or “Can an all-powerful God move an unmovable object?”
The problem with such questions is that no matter where we start, we try to
answer them with human knowledge and logic. Standing two inches from a tree, we
can’t describe the forest. Standing on human mind-power, it is impossible to
describe God, God’s creation, or anything else about God. The gospel writer
says all he can say and all that is needed to describe the beginning of all
things, which “Eye-Witness News” was not there to record on videotape or DVD.
The psalmist did the best he could to describe the indescribable creation. All
of our unanswerable questions lead us back to the One who, before all things
were created, was. My pastor’s answer was correct. God was there
before the chicken or the egg - God created them. God created the unmovable
object, so obviously, it is only unmovable to us - and the rest of God’s
creation. Are there any other questions?
PRAYER
I often think I am so
clever and intelligent, O God, creator of the universe; then I am humbled with
the understanding that there is so much about life and Your creation that I do
not know or can’t possibly understand. I bow in awe at the wonder of You and Your
greatness. In the name of Christ, the Word who made all things. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, November 18, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Jeremiah 30:19 — I will
make them many, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they
shall not be disdained.
Romans 8:32 — God did not
withhold his own Son but gave him up for all of us. Will he not with him also
give us everything else?
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
He was only one man with a
vision, and the whole world laughed at him for the thought of building an ark
on dry land! They were only one older man and one older woman past the age of
having children, with a promise. Their world laughed at them instead of with
them for their faith that they would be the parents of many nations. He was
only a boy with a slingshot and faith, and a paralyzed army mocked the thought
that he could do what all of them could not. She was a queen but risked death
by speaking up to the king on behalf of her people. He was only a teenager with
a message from God, and they mocked him, imprisoned him, beat him, and left him
in a cistern to die. She was only an unwedded teenager who agreed to be the
mother of God’s child, and they would have stoned her for adultery had her
fiancé not married Mary. They were common, ordinary men and women filled with
the Holy Spirit, speaking languages they had never learned. They were called
drunkards and mocked by unbelievers for their message of the resurrection. They
were a small church with a vision of doing the Lord’s work in a big way. Some
among them shook their heads at the thought that they could complete the
building expansion without going into crippling debt. Can you find yourself in
those pictures? If not, why not? Have you been unwilling to take a step of
faith to focus on what God wants rather than your limitations? Why not consider
what God may call you and/or your church to do for Him?
PRAYER
I am only an ordinary
person, dear Lord, but I know You have a mission and a purpose for me. Give me the
courage to overcome my limitations and to put my faith and life into Your
hands. Thank You for making extraordinary things happen through common things
and people. In the name of Your Son. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Ezekiel 18:32 — Turn,
then, and live.
Matthew 19:17 — Jesus said
to him, “If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Washington, D.C., is a
dangerous place to drive. Foreign diplomats drive some cars with little more
than a goat cart license and are immune to prosecution. Other vehicles are
driven by people from all 50 states with varying driving abilities. The streets
are laid out in concentric circles around the nation’s capital, many of which
are one-way. The first time I took my wife for a visit, we were searching for
an address and ended up on one of the five-lane, one-way streets - going the
wrong way! Facing five lanes of angry drivers shaking their fists, blowing
their horns, and shouting words I couldn’t understand (thankfully) got the
adrenaline flowing. At that split-second, I saw a side street and took
Ezekiel’s advice: I “turned, then, and lived!” Eternal life is like that
one-way street. Jesus gave us the road map and told us to follow Him because He
is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” When we are going the wrong way, making
the wrong choices, doing the wrong things, breaking the commandments, the Word
reminds us to turn and live - “repent” - change directions so that we can enter
into Life - not death. Which way are you going?
PRAYER
Please forgive me, dear
God, when I go the wrong way, endangering my salvation. Help me turn the right
way, following Your instructions and commandments. Thank You for Your grace,
which has the last word in my life. In the name of Jesus, the way, the truth,
and the life. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Job 42:2 — I know that you
can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Romans 11:36 — From God
and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I liked the superhero comics
- Superman, Roy Rogers, GI Joe, and Spiderman. I enjoyed watching them on TV
when we got one and when it was clear enough to watch. As an adult, I enjoyed
Mission Impossible and McGyver, probably for much the same reason: they were
almost unbeatable. They could get beaten up (except for Superman) and still
come out on top. They could defeat any enemy and thwart any bad guys, and they
fought for “truth, justice, and the American way!” As I got to know Jesus more
and more, I realized I loved Jesus for many of the same reasons. He could, and
does, do all things well. He could heal with a touch or a word. He could feed
thousands with a picnic lunch. He could defeat a legion of demons. He could
still storms and walk on troubled waters. He could bring the dead back to life.
He was human enough to get beaten and crucified, but even death could not hold
him in the tomb. Jesus was, and is, the Superhero of all times. Who were/are
your superheroes? Have you included Jesus in your list?
PRAYER
I need no other superhero
in my life, O Christ. I am in awe that You created everything through the Word,
which is You. Sometimes, it’s hard to believe You love me more than anything
else and died on the cross because of that love. Use Your powers to create a
new life in me. In Your Holy name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, November 21, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Genesis 21:22 — God is
with you in all that you do.
Romans 8:38-39 — I am
convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rules, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything
else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I was so glad Mom was with me
when we went into the “jungle” to bring the cows in from the pasture for
milking. I was glad she drove me to school on the first day of kindergarten. I
was very happy Dad was able to carry me across the “raging river” after the
rain (two feet deep and two feet wide) on the way to the neighbors. I was very
grateful to have a trained instructor with me the first time I took the
controls of an airplane! It was so good to have our friend David with us to
show us the tricks of traveling on the trains in Germany. There were many
“first times” when it was good to have someone with me who knew the way and
could be trusted to rescue me if need be. The “jungles” and “raging rivers,”
the unseen and the unknown, are all around us in this world where we travel on
our way Home again. We can be sure that we have a Friend who has promised to be
with us always. Even when we are uncertain of the Way, He will lead those who
will follow. Even when we face dangers, disappointments, and disasters, He will
be there to see that the path to our eternal Home is not blocked. We have a God
who has walked where we walk, been confronted by every evil, and even defeated
death for us. His promise is our comfort and our hope. Why not take your
worries to THE KING!?
PRAYER
There have been so many
firsts in my life, O Immanuel when I have been unsure, bewildered, or even
frightened. It is good to know that You have always been at my side. Remind me
of Your presence today, and when it is time to go Home, take me by the hand and
lead me. In Your name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, November 22, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Leviticus 26:6 — I will
grant peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and no one shall make you
afraid.
Matthew 11:29 — Jesus
Says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Grandpa still had his
workhorses the year of the blizzard when I had to stay overnight at our country
school. He used them to open up part of the road. When a neighbor got stuck,
Grandpa brought out Big Amos. Big Amos, standing on four legs, was taller than
Grandpa. He looked like the strongest horse in the barn. Grandpa rigged a hitch
to the car that was stuck and encouraged Big Amos to pull, but the car hardly
budged. So, Grandpa took Big Amos back to the barn and yoked him with Minnie
(named after Grandma). She was a smaller horse than Big Amos but hitched
together, they walked the car out of the snow drift as if it was a sled. Jesus
offers to yoke Himself to us in much the same way. Alone, we may plod through
life “getting by.” But there are so many obstacles - drifts - which threaten to
hang us up and keep us from our destination. Without the yoke Jesus offers,
life can be challenging, even to the point of making us want to give up. With
His yoke, we have a partner who “pulls a lot of weight” in many circles and one
in whom we can “pull our weight.” Got some struggles? Why not try yoking
yourself to Jesus?
PRAYER
Do You laugh or shake Your
head in sadness, dear Lord, when You watch me struggle by trying to do it
alone? Please stand with me, sharing the load which is my life. I pray that You
will use me today to make someone else’s life easier because I have shared Your
love with them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Clement, Bishop of Rome,
was considered the successor of Peter as the leader of the church at Rome.
According to tradition, he died a martyr’s death in about 100.
SCRIPTURE
Ezekiel 33:11 Turn back
from your evil ways; for why will you die?
1 Corinthians 9:24 — Paul
wrote: Do you not know that in a race, the runners all compete, but only one
receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Hattie Fulner, my first
Sunday School teacher, was killed when a train hit her car. She had probably
crossed those tracks a thousand times without seeing a single train. That day,
despite the train whistle warning, she didn’t see it either and died for not
paying attention to the warning. The hurricanes provide another example of
people who refuse to heed the warnings. Millions listened and lived. But a few
foolish souls ignored the sirens, the newscasters, the violent winds - and
died. The Lord has sent warnings through the prophets and preachers of the past
and present, pleading with people to change their sinful lives so they may
live. But, sadly, too many continue to turn their backs on the obvious Storm on
the horizon - the Day when the final gun of the final race will be silenced.
Then, there will be no more time to prepare for the judgment which will take
place. Now is the time! I’ve set a physical goal for trimming down and toning
up for a physical challenge. I’ve also set a spiritual goal for tuning up and
tuning in to be more attentive to the Voice of my Savior. How about you? Are
you ready for the race? Are you preparing to “run in such a way that you may
win...”?
PRAYER
It would appear that there
are many times I have a “hearing problem,” Heavenly Father. I’m sorry I have
not always listened to those You sent to proclaim Your message. Sometimes, it’s
hard to hear those words. Help me to open my ears and truly listen to You speak
to me. I pray this in the name of my Savior. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, November 24, 2024
Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the church year, looks back to
the Transfiguration and the Ascension. It also points ahead to the appearing in
glory of the King of kings.
SCRIPTURE
Lamentations 1:18 — The
Lord is in the right, for I have rebelled against his word.
1 Corinthians 1:18 — The
message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us
who are being saved, it is the power of God.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
One of the basement walls of our
first parsonage began to buckle. The parsonage was relatively new and was built
by members. According to reports, when they backfilled the walls after they
were finished, someone bumped one wall, breaking the seal. Instead of starting
over, they braced the wall, hoping it would cure straight and hard. It did well
for years, but then a crack appeared and began to widen. While we were there,
they tried to brace the wall and seal it again, but that didn’t last long.
Finally, they tore the wall down and started with new materials, which have
held solid for over thirty years. Sin does that to the walls of our lives. We
can try to prop them up ourselves and cover up our brokenness. We can try to
ignore it. But nothing will change until we admit we have a problem. Go to the
foundation - the foot of the cross. To some, confession, repentance, and
beginning again are foolishness. But to those who know God’s love, mercy, and
grace, it is the only way to take full advantage of the power of God to build
up and hold firm. How are your walls holding up? Need some major repair?
PRAYER
I kneel at the foot of Your
cross, dear Christ, asking You for Your forgiveness when I have not put You and
my neighbor first. Restore and renew me, making me whole and strong again.
Thank You for Your grace, which does more than cover up my sins; it makes me
new each day. In Your loving name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, November 25, 2024
Isaac Watts is considered
the “father of English hymnody.” His hymns were based on the Psalms and reflect
a strong and serene faith. He died in 1748.
SCRIPTURE
Jeremiah 31:34 — I will
forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more.
2 Peter 3:9 — The Lord is
not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you,
not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I could not believe Mom and
Dad took so long to get to the car. They had made sure that all five of us were
loaded. Then, Dad forgot his money; Mom forgot her brush. And we sat waiting
patiently, as three good brothers and one sister do (not) for them. It seemed
to take forever! Finally, they came to the car, all out of breath, and Dad
declared, “Oh! I forgot my wallet!” His wallet?! That’s what he went for in the
first place! What was he doing all that time?! Fortunately, it only took
another minute, and we were off to the Sunday School Christmas Eve program.
When we arrived home after the program, we were delighted to find out that
“Santa Claus” had been to our house while we were at church! All last year’s
offenses were forgotten, and we were treated to a glorious Christmas Eve. Isn’t
that the picture of our patient, loving God? Our Lord takes His time to wipe
the slate of our sins clean so that we can celebrate the joy of Emmanuel - “God
with us.” God is not slow. God is infinitely patient, wanting the best for all
of us - even the slow learners. God is always on time - God’s time. Thank God!
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I can’t
thank You enough that You are so patient with me. When I am impatient with
others, help me to remember that You are always patient and kind. Move me along
so that I might follow in Your ways. I pray this in the name of Emmanuel, Jesus
Christ. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 107:10, 13, 15 —
Some sat in darkness and in gloom, prisoners in misery and in irons... Then
they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their
distress.... Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful
works to humankind.
Acts 5:17-20 — The high
priest and all who were with him arrested the apostles and put them in the
public prison. But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the prison
doors, brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and tell the people
the whole message about this life.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Our prisons were usually made
from sticks, old boards, a broken mattress springs, and baling wire. They
weren’t fancy but worked as long as the prisoners followed the rules. There
were occasional jailbreaks, but generally, prisoners were pretty well-behaved.
Meal time and chore time were the signals that the prisoners were free until
the next bank robbery, cattle rustling, or murder spree. I have visited real
prisons and jails, but I still cannot imagine life behind bars - 24 hours a
day, for years and years. The prisons of the first century were dangerous,
filthy cages or holes in the floor, from which there was no hope of escape and
often little hope of survival. To be thrown in prison was to be doomed to
punishment and death. Many people live in a prison not made of steel bars or
holes in the floor. They are prisons of addiction and bad habits, of sin and
selfishness. There is little to look forward to in the prisons of our own
making. But the Lord holds the key! He offers to open those doors for all who turn
to him in distress. Nothing in all creation can prevent His love from reaching
us, except our sin and turning our backs on His offer. The excellent news is
that He makes us partners with Him in offering the key to us to help others
“break out” of their prisons. Need a key? Know somebody who does? Ask, and you
will receive!
PRAYER
Turn the key and unlock
those things that hold me prisoner, gracious Lord. Take away my sin so that I
might be free to live in You. Thank You for showing me the brightness of day
through the light of Your Son. I pray that I might shine that light of freedom
to others. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
SCRIPTURE:
Amos 2:6 — Thus says the
LORD: For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the
punishment; because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a
pair of sandals....
Luke 21:8 — Beware that you are not led astray; for many
will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go
after them.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Biff & Medic was a wild
game confirmation students, counselors, and pastors played at camp. The
“biffers” carried a powder-filled sock and attempted to “biff” a member of a
group, which then had to call for a “medic.” The medic could prescribe some
“medicine” (scripture, song, or stupid activity) for the group to perform. If
they completed the task, they were declared “healed” and could pursue the Bible
clues leading them to the treasure. The problem was that there were “fake
medics” who could pretend to be authentic and make the group go through their
“prescription,” only to tell them they did it for nothing! Life is not a game.
Real people are being killed for real causes. Real issues are debated in
Congress and on the streets. However, among them are those who claim to have
all the answers, and all others are wrong. There are “fake messiahs” out there
also, telling us they know the days and hours when the end of the world will
come, they have the perfect spiritual direction, or they know the best way to
get into heaven. Only one real Messiah, Jesus, calls us to follow Him. Our task
is to learn to listen to Him and only Him and to study His word like a road map
so that we don’t take a dangerous detour to our destruction. Who will you
follow?
PRAYER
Help me be alert, O God,
listening to those telling me of Your message. I ask that I not be led astray
by those who say things I only want to hear. Thank You for sending the Messiah,
the Christ, so I may follow Him daily. In His name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, November 28, 2024
(Thanksgiving Day)
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 64:8 — Yet, O Lord,
you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the
work of your hand.
Matthew 6:10 — Your will
be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Thanksgiving at the Sydow
house was always an event of wondrous culinary and social delights. We almost
always had a feast at our home or one of our relatives. It was family reunion
time when we got to talk to and play with all the cousins. It was a time of
sampling foods cooked by Grandma or one of my aunts - something different from
what Mom made. When fifteen aunts, uncles, and their spouses and children
crowded into my grandparents’ tiny home, we had organized chaos! But it was
fun. The aromas had us all licking our lips in anticipation. But always, before
we could eat, we paused to give thanks. It was the one time the whole family
recognized where the good things in life came from. We remembered food, family,
and possessions. Isaac Watts went further in his great hymn: “Give to our
God immortal praise! Mercy and truth are all his ways; Wonders of grace to God
belong; Repeat his mercies in your song.” With those words, Watts
proclaimed praise and thanksgiving to God in song. The second verse is even
more powerful: “He sent his Son with pow’r to save from guilt and darkness
and the grave....” This Thanksgiving, may we all remember to thank God for
our many blessings, especially what Jesus did for us.
PRAYER
Thank You, O Great Father,
for giving me all the blessings You have granted me this year. Thank You for
the gift of family, even as I remember those loved ones who have gone before
me. Most importantly, thank You for Your grace, which saves me from the power
of the grave. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, November 29, 2024
SCRIPTURE:
2 Peter 1:5-7 — For this
very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness,
and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control
with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection,
and mutual affection with love.
Matthew 21:9 — The crowds
that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of
David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the
highest heaven!”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
We were thrilled to have a
new teacher in my third-grade year. The first few days of class went well.
Then, the iron fist came down, requirements seemed to increase, and we all knew
we were in for a year of misery! I can’t even remember her name. I can only
remember my first missed recess of the year, my punishment for breaking one of
what seemed like a dozen new rules. We held our collective breaths by the end
of the year, hoping she wouldn’t come back the following school year. God had
mercy on us, and we got Mrs. Klima instead. Jesus didn’t impose new rules. He
simplified the old rules. However, the pressure was building as the Passover
approached. In anticipation of something great, the crowd went wild with the
thrill of “Hosannas.” By Thursday, the cheers turned to jeers, and His
execution was in the works. What the fickle crowd didn’t understand was that
His death would be His greatest victory over sin, death, and the Devil on our
behalf, and the signing of a new contract, a new covenant, with His
blood. “I will be with you always ... even to the end of the world!” he
declared. As we prepare to celebrate His birth, let us also celebrate His
coming again and the end of the world of darkness!
PRAYER
O come, O come, Emmanuel
and ransom captive Israel. Come also into my life, freeing me from all sin;
those when I forget You and others. Bring Your light into my world, and use me
to bring that light to others in all I do. In Your name, I pray, O Christ.
Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, November 30, 2024
St. Andrew was a
fisherman, the brother of Simon Peter, and the first apostle to follow Jesus.
He then brought his brother to Christ. A 14th-century tradition
claims he was martyred on this day by being crucified on an X-shaped cross.
SCRIPTURE
Amos 3:7 — Surely the Lord
God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants, the prophets.
Matthew 25:13 — Keep awake,
therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I have always needed my
sleep. When I was young, I could curl up anywhere to nap. As I grew older, I
didn’t think I needed a nap, but I fell asleep most afternoons, waiting for my
brothers to fall asleep before I could go out to play. I tried to stay up all
night studying before finals in college, but I never quite managed it. I
decided it was counter-productive because I almost fell asleep trying to take
the test and had difficulty concentrating. After one of those all-night
sessions, I was helping someone adjust an antenna on the roof of a tall
building when I caught myself falling asleep. I discovered that I couldn’t stay
awake if I didn’t get my proper rest. Even now, a 15 to 20-minute nap after
lunch will make me twice as productive the rest of the day. The warning Jesus
gives is for us to be prepared at any hour of any day to greet His return. I
can’t do that if I’m so tired I’d sleep through a tornado. I can’t do that if
I’m so involved and concentrating so much on TV, my work, my play, my computer,
or anything else I can’t see or hear the signs of His coming. Take time to
worship. Take time to study God’s word. Take time to meditate and listen. Take
time to serve “the least of His brothers and sisters.” Take time, yes, even
make it a priority, to nap so you’ll be fresh and wide awake when He comes in
glory!
PRAYER
