Strength for Today

My grandma called Memorial Day "Decoration Day." Some still do. We decorate the graves of those who died for their country as well as our loved ones. I shall do so this Memorial Day. There are many wonderful Memorials the world over. Normandy. Pearl Harbor. Victory Square in St. Petersburg. But the world's greatest memorials are in Scripture. God said that His name was to be a memorial to all generations (Exo. 3:15). The Passover is perhaps the greatest memorial in the Old Testament (Exo. 12). An altar of 12 stones was set up at the Jordan River as a memorial for Israel (Josh. 4:7). Jesus said that the action of the woman who anointed His feet would be a memorial the entire world (Matt. 26:13). Never underestimate the power of a random act of kindness! The dying thief cried, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom" (Luke 23:39-43). And the Lord did: "Today you will be with me in Paradise." But the world's greatest Memorial is the Lord's Supper. At the Last Supper Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:14-10). Christians the world over remember the "ultimate sacrifice" made by Jesus on the cross for our sins. Remember Him this Sunday!

When I was a boy growing up in Iowa, the town where we lived (Goldfield) had an unusual feature that is still there to this day. We boys would race down Main street on our bikes and head down the hill to what was called The Flow. It was a pipe coming up out of the earth from which cold water constantly flowed. There was nothing like taking a drink of ice cold water from an underground stream on a hot summer day. Someone has said, "There are no days when God's fountain does not flow." God is rich in mercy, grace, and love. His reservoir of goodness never runs dry. David said, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." I think of that everytime I visit the faithful Flow in Goldfield. I also think of what Jesus said: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who belives in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37, 38). You, too, can become a Faithful Flow!

"Just as a planet rushing through space is only a comet on its way to destruction until it is caught by some central sun and begins to revolve around that sun as its center and life; so my life is an aimless comet burning itself out in its own self-will, till it finds the pull and attraction of Christ's love, halts its deadly way, and forever revolves around Him, its central sun and life."
~ E. Stanley Jones (1884 - 1973).

For the last two days I have observed a beautiful little red bird, a Summer Tanager, flying into the windows of my office at Peace on Earth Ministries. We are located in a stand of black oak timber and our shining windows must seem like an intrusion to the birds that are located in our "mini-forest." My secretary taped large manila envelopes to the windows so our little feathered friend won't harm himself fatally by his repeated "attacks" on his reflection in the glass. Jesus said not one sparrow falls apart from the Father's will (Matt. 10:29). His eye is on the sparrow . . . and the Summer Tanager. God cares for him. So should I. God cares for you even more. "Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows" (Matt. 10:30). Even when we make repeated mistakes, like flying into windows time after time. Sometimes we are so "bird-brained." We do silly things. But remember, His eye is on the Summer Tanager so I know that He cares for you!

"Life is a hard fight, a struggle, a wrestling with the principle of evil, hand to hand, foot to foot. Every inch of the way is disputed. The night is given us to take breath and to pray, to drink deep at the fountain of power. The day, to use the strength that has been given us, to go forth to work with it till the evening." ~ Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) Words true and sure from "the lady with the lamp." Don't give up. Keep on fighting sin. Never give an inch. Use the night to replenish your power. Get up and keep going 'til the sun goes down. Life is not for quitters. The fight will make you strong. God will make you strong.

"He is like a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers" (Psal1:3). The person who is blessed is likened unto a tree. "Tree" is now your biblical nickname. A tree is stable. God has planted it (you) in an environment that is conducive to growth and productivity. You are "in Christ." You are part of the "assembly" (church). A tree has deep roots, has the capacaity to withstand storms, and yields its fruit "in season." Its leaves will not wither (because of the water source). We must abide in Christ in order to be fruitful (John 15). Spiritual prosperity will be the result (see Psalm 37:3-5). Be "like a tree" and grow strong in the Lord, producing shade or fruit for others!

Yesterday was the last day of pre-school for our 5-year-old grandson Jack. I imagine he is one happy boy today. Do you remember how excited you were on the last day of school? I sure do. It meant that summer was just around the corner and there would be plenty of time for me to play baseball. No more school, no more homework, no more trips to the principal's office! Some day will be our last day of schooling on earth. Adoniram Judson said, "When Christ calls me home I shall go with the gladness of a boy bounding away from school." Can't you just see that? Heaven will be ten thousand times ten thousand times better than the best summer you ever had! As the apostle Paul said, "To depart, and to be with Christ . . . is far better" (Phil. 1:23).

When I was a little boy, my oldest sister called me "stupid" one day. I trudged into my father's study and asked him, "Is that good or bad?" I didn't know what stupid was. But the Bible tells us what stupid is. "Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid" (Proverbs 12:1). So, according to God's Word, are you stupid? Do you resent being corrected - especially when you read the Bible or hear it being taught or preached? Do the teachings of Jesus on certain subjects rankle you? What about the apostles' doctrine or even some proverbs? We either love instruction or hate correction. Which "class" are you in today?

One of my favorite passages about the future is Philippians 1:21-23. The great apostle Paul declared, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain." In death, the believer gains the ultimate beyond - Heaven. Yet Paul wrote, "For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better." Notice those wonderful words: to depart and be with Christ. The Greek word for "depart" was used for a ship "to untie its moorings, wigh anchor, and sail away" (The Life to Come, Kenny Boles). That is precisely what happened when my father weighed anchor and set sail for new horizons. [From my forthcoming book Beyond the Stars: A Home in Heaven.]

Light was God's first gift to mankind. "Let there be light." Literally, "light be." Instantly, light was. Light is free to all, useful to all, welcomed by all. Light comes from God's Word. "Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path" (Psa. 119:105). Every airport runway is illuminated so the pilot can see to land the aircraft safely. Ships at sea depend upon the lighthouse on the shore to guide them safely to harbor. God's Word provides light, divine direction, for our path. Without this light, we will stumble and stagger in the darkness. "The unfolding of Thy words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple" (Psa. 119:130 NASB). Thank God for the gift of spiritual light!