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 Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:09 am
Hall of Fame for the “Lasts”
Ever thought being last would have a place in history? Betcha didn’t know . . .
• The twentieth president of the United States, James Garfield, was the last president born in a log cabin. The year was 1831, and the place was Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
• Many people assume the Baby Ruth candy bar was named after the great ball player Babe Ruth. It was actually named after a little girl lovingly nicknamed Baby Ruth. Her last name? Cleveland. (Her dad was President Grover Cleveland. She was his oldest daughter and was born in 1891.
• There are 773,692 words in the King James Bible. The very last word is “Amen.” The last sentence preceding it? “The grace of our lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:21).
• Ever wonder what Tarzan’s last name was? John Clayton, Jr., Lord Greystoke, was the childhood name of Tarzan.
• Amelia Earhart’s last contact with the Coast Guard was on July 3, 1937.
• The last words of Julius Caesar were, “Et tu, Brute?”
• The last United States president to weigh more than 300 pounds was President William Taft who tipped the scales at 332 pounds.
• The last episode of “The Brady Bunch” was titled “The Hair-Brained Scheme” was televised on March 8, 1974.
• Maybe you’ve assumed Dorothy — of The Wizard of Oz — didn’t have a last name. She did. Dorothy Gale.
• The last of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics — known as the former U.S.S.R. — happened in 1992 when it broke up into 15 independent countries.
• The last letters added to the English alphabet? J and V.
• The last face carved on Mount Rushmore was Theodore Roosevelt’s.
• The last time Tug of War was an official game in the Olympics: 1920. Great Britain won the gold. Holland won the silver, and Belgium took home the bronze.
• Alice of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland didn’t have a last name. But the book was written in honor of Lewis Carroll’s friend Alice Liddell.
• Telosphobia: The fear of being last.
As you can see, sometimes our last words, last names, last moments can become historic. Have you ever thought of what your last words, last attitude, last characteristic to be remembered by will be?
Know It!
God wants to help you develop a good reputation and a holy lifestyle. His desire is that you be remembered by His reflection. Wouldn’t it be great if the last mental picture your friends and family have of you is one that glorifies Jesus Christ?
Read It!
Proverbs 5:21; Proverbs 22:1-2; 1 Timothy 3:7; 1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Peter 2:17.
Pray It!
Jesus, I don’t really think about my time on earth running out, but I know it will someday. Help me to invest myself into being all You want me to be each day of my life. Teach me how to pour all I have into people, tasks and my relationship with You.
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 11:35 am
Getting Through
Jamie rushed home from volleyball practice, tossed her books on the kitchen counter and flipped on the computer. Hope Ashley is on the computer , she thought. I need to talk to my cousin right now.
She logged on and began chatting with Ashley.
jamie17: Hey, Ash! Coming home for spring break?
20ash: No can do, Cuz. I’m gonna be sufferin’ in the Bahamas.
Jamie17: No way!
20ash: Yep. Our Campus Bible group is doing an evangelistic outreach in Freeport.
Jamie17: Totally cool. Can’t wait till I’m in college.
20ash: So what are your plans, Cuz?
Jamie17: I’m hangin’ at home during spring break, but I’m thinking about doing something special this summer.
20ash: Yeah? Spill it!
Jamie17: Well, that’s just it . . . I don’t know. I’ve been praying about my summer and telling God I want to use it for Him, but I don’t have any direction yet.
20ash: How are you praying?
Jamie17: Whaddya mean?
20ash: One thing I’m learning in Bible class is that God wants us to pray specifically. So think about your prayers. Are you praying in general terms, or are you being specific when you talk with Him?
Jamie17: I dunno. I’ve just been praying that I’ll have a great summer and do stuff for Him.
20ash: Okay, Cuz. We gotta break this down. What would you really like to do this summer? Any specific ideas for ministry?
Jamie17: Yeah, I’d love to go on a missions trip.
20ash: And are you aware of some mission trips?
Jamie17: Yeah, my friend Katie’s church is going to Philadelphia. And I heard about another one to Mexico from our Christian radio station. But the one I’m really interested in is with Brio magazine.
20ash: And why that one?
Jamie17: Well, it’s just for 2 weeks. So it’s not like I’d be giving up my whole summer. I’d have a chance to serve, but I could still come back and work until school starts. The other reason I’m interested in this one is because it’s not just a work thing. We’d be doing a little of everything — drama, orphanages, painting, Compassion International Projects, hauling brick, evangelism.
20ash: Sounds great!
Jamie17: But that’s not all! There’s like 500 who go, and every night we’d have a giant youth rally. They bring some of the top Christian artists with them, and you get challenging messages, small group devotions; kinda like camp and missions and a giant youth conference all rolled into one!
20ash: So have you prayed about it?
Jamie17: Nah. I didn’t think it was right to pray for just one thing.
20ash: Hey, Cuz, I encourage you to pray specifically for that trip. Ask God to redirect your desires if it’s not His will. Place the responsibility in His lap.
Jamie17: You really think it could work out?
20ash: Absolutely! But when you pray . . . pray specifically.
Know It!
God desires to answer your prayers. But He wants to help His children move away from generalized prayers to specifics.
Read It!
Proverbs 3:6; Matthew 20:29-34.
Pray It!
Jesus, sometimes it’s hard for me to believe that You really want to answer my prayers. Deepen my faith and teach me how to pray more specifically.
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 11:42 am
Getting Through With Specifics
Jesus and His disciples were leaving the city of Jericho, and a large crowd was on their heels. They had seen the miracles He had performed, many had heard Him preach and several were simply curious. But hundreds were in the crowd moving down the dusty road toward Jerusalem.
You know how it is in a crowd — especially an anxious and excited crowd! Someone’s always stepping on someone else’s foot, a few children are always crying, some are always angry because the crowd isn’t moving faster. This crowd wasn’t much different — except for the fact that Jesus of Nazareth was in the lead. And amidst the shuffling of hundreds of feet, the laughter, the three-way conversations and the sound of parents calling their children closer to their sides, Jesus heard something else. He has the incredible ability to hear everything at once. Yes, He heard every baby cry, every Mom who said, “Where’s Johnny?” and every mumbled word in the crowd. But He also heard two distinct cries from the side of the road.
These two men weren’t part of the crowd. But they desperately needed the touch of the crowd’s Leader, so they took their chance. It seemed impossible the Leader would hear them above the roar of those following, but they dared to call His name anyway.
“Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
The crowd immediately shushed them. “Leave Him alone. Be quiet! Jesus has important things to do. He’s on a mission.”
But the two men shouted even louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Jesus must have admired their persistence, because He stopped. He knew the two men were blind, but He still asked the obvious question, “What do you want me to do for you?” (If that seems like a silly question, flip back to the devotions found on February 15-22.)
If we’ll put this scene under a microscope and take an even closer look, we’ll find some spiritual principles for our own lives.
#1: These two men sought after Jesus. He loves it when His children actively seek Him. Do you casually shoot prayers toward heaven, or are you actively seeking Christ?
#2: Jesus stopped for them. He’ll stop for you, too, when you seek Him with an honest and expectant heart. Isn’t it comforting to know that amidst the crowds of people who are calling for the attention of Jesus, that He still hears your cry? And He’ll always stop . . . just for you!
Know It!
Jesus Christ is crazy about you! Though His agenda is always full — you’re right at the top of the list!
Read It!
Matthew 20:29-34; Ephesians 1:19-23; Ephesians 3:20-21.
Pray It!
Wow, Jesus! I can’t thank You enough for caring about me the way You do. I’m so glad to know that You’ll always stop for me. Thanks that I’m that special to You!
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:01 pm
What Jesus Wants You To Ask Him
Jesus asked the two blind men a specific question, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they responded in a specific manner. “We want our sight.” When Jesus asks you a question, He desires for you to respond in a specific manner as well.
But Jesus doesn’t want to be the only One asking questions. There are also some things He wants you to asking Him!
#1: He wants you to ask Him for His help in revolving your life around Him. (The Scriptures at the bottom of the page will back up these questions.) He doesn’t simply want to reside in your heart. He wants total residence in your entire life. He wants to guide and direct each one of your steps.
#2: He wants you to ask for a hunger and thirst for the things of God. It’s not enough to simply know Him; He wants to develop a hunger within you to know Him better. He also wants you to grow in your desire to be with His people.
#3: He wants you to ask Him to help you keep up with the basics in developing a growing relationship with Him. Without continuing in a consistent prayer life and in daily Bible reading, your relationship with Christ will slowly fade.
#4: He wants you to ask Him to deepen your trust in His Word. He wants you to know — beyond doubt — that He never breaks His promises.
Know It!
You can wholeheartedly trust the Creator of the universe. He’s never broken His Word, and He never will. One of His greatest desires is to strengthen your faith and help you draw ever closer to Him.
Read It!
Psalm 42:1; Psalm 51:12; Philippians 2:13; Proverbs 3:6; Isaiah 43:2; Luke 1:27; John 3:16; Hebrews 13:5.
Pray It!
Dear Jesus, I’ve never thought that You wanted me to be asking specific questions. Help me to ask the right questions and to wait for Your answers. Now that I know what You want me to ask, help me to ask on a consistent basis.
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Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:32 am
April 14th
Hang In
[Elijah] sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers." And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat." 1 Kings 19:4-5
Elijah the great prophet of old was depressed and discouraged. He was hunted by wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, and the people of Israel rejected his message. Then God strengthened Elijah, and he went on proclaiming the powerful Word of our mighty God.
"I have had enough!" Ever felt that way? Ready to give up and give in? At the end of a busy week, you may feel like giving up. Perhaps you had a tough week. This weekend, God offers you His strength and comfort in His Word and Sacrament. Don't hang it up. Hang in.
Jesus did not give up. Like Elijah, He was rejected by many of His own people. Isaiah says, "He was despised and rejected by men" (Isaish 53:3). Jesus did not back down or back off. He was persistent. He went to the cross for us. He defeated for us the evil of the devil and the sickness of sin. He is our Suffering Savior and our substitute. He died and rose again that we might have abundant life in Him.
Our heavenly Father, strengthen our faith by Your Word and Sacrament so that we hang in. Amen.
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Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:45 pm
The Truth About Names
Ever wonder if some of your favorite celebrities and athletes were actually born with the names they have? Some really weren’t. For instance, Kareem Abdul- Jabbar was born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr. Andre the Giant’s real name is Andre Roussinoff. Hulk Hogan’s real name is Terry Bodello. And Jason Alexander who played George Costanza on TV’s “Seinfeld” was born Jay Scott Greenspan.
If you enjoy watching reruns of “I Love Lucy,” you might enjoy knowing Lucille Ball’s real name was Dianne Belmont. Nicholas Cage was born Nicholas Coppola, Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian, Tom Cruise was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, Jodie Foster was born Alicia Christian Foster, Whoopie Goldberg was born Caryn Johnson and political talk host Larry King was born Larry Zeigler.
You’ve probably heard of Harry Houdini. But you probably haven’t heard of his original name, Ehrich Weiss. And you’ve no doubt heard of Elton John but probably haven’t heard of what he started out with: Reginald Kenneth Dwight.
Wolfman Jack probably gets more attention than his original Robert Smith. Madonna is much easier to remember than Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone, and Marilyn Monroe is easier to recall than Norma Jean Mortenson Baker.
Rudolph Valentino shortened his name from Rudolpho Alphonzo Raffaelo Pierre Filibut Guglielmo di Valentina D’Antonguolla. (What were his parents thinking?!?) And Pauline Esther “Popo” Friedman Phillips shortened her name to Abigail Van Buren (“Dear Abby”).
Have you ever wanted to change your name? Maybe you’ve wished you had a different name or have created a nickname for yourself. On the other hand, perhaps you’re trying to live down a nickname someone else has given you.
Guess what! No matter what your name is, and no matter how it’s been changed or how you’d like to change it, it’s important to God. He knows your name, and He calls you by name. When He wants your attention, He doesn’t say, “You! The one who failed the history quiz!” He calls you by your name.
We all love to hear our name when it’s used in a positive way. And God loves to speak your name enveloped in love, dignity and pride. It’s amazing, isn’t it . . . to know that the Creator of the universe knows and speaks your name!
Know It!
God never makes fun of your name. He never laughs at it, never mocks it and never spreads untrue things about it. He wants to protect your name and add His very character to it. He desires to bring dignity and an all-encompassing love to your name.
Read It!
Isaiah 40:26; Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 45:3-4.
Pray It!
Jesus, I love the fact that You know my name, You speak my name and You like my name. Thank You. Help me to respond immediately when I hear You call me by name.
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Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 4:06 pm
April 15
Death and Taxes
Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Mark 12:17
You hear it often. Two things you cannot escape—death and taxes. In the United States, today is the deadline for paying our taxes. We complain, but part of our duty as citizens is to give to our nation.
Taxation has been around for generations. Jesus paid His taxes to the Roman government. He also said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Everything we have is a gift from our loving heavenly Father—including the blessings of good government. Think of them: police and fire protection, roads to drive on, schools to educate our children, and many more. Taxes are the means by which God brings these gifts to us.
The Father’s greatest gift of all is our eternal salvation purchased for us by Jesus on Calvary’s cross. This gift He gives freely, generously, and graciously, without any payment from us, that we may live in Him. It is our joy to respond to this great gift, the Good News of the Gospel, by giving thanks in joy.
Heavenly Father, “My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine. Now hear me while I pray; Take all my guilt away; O let me from this day Be wholly Thine!” (LSB 702:1). Amen.
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Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:40 pm
April 16th
Your Name Is Written in Heaven
You have come . . . to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. Hebrews 12:22–23 NIV
Perhaps you have heard the story of Mehran Karimi Nasseri. Exiled from his native Iran, he got on a plane and fled to Paris without a passport or proper immigration papers. The French authorities refused to allow him entry into France. He was a man without a country. No one wanted him.
Perhaps you feel unappreciated, unwanted, or unloved. Take heart. Hear the Word of the Lord: “You have come . . . to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven” (NIV).
In our church we sing these words after a Baptism: “Now into Your heart we pour Prayers that from our hearts proceeded. Our petitions heav’nward soar; May our hearts’ desires be heeded! Write the name we now have given; Write it in the book of heaven!” (LSB 592:5). At our Baptism, our names were written in God’s Book of Life. You are wanted, you are appreciated, and you are loved. The blood of Jesus was shed on the cross to wash away our sins. Jesus loves us so much that He climbed Calvary’s cross. Take heart. The love of Jesus overflows and floods us with His grace and peace.
Heavenly Father, we praise and thank You that You love us so much that You have written our names in heaven; through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:35 pm
The History Behind Historical Names
Many historical names have a history behind them. For instance, did you know that Johnny Appleseed’s real name was John Chapman? Sitting Bull’s real name was Tatnaka Iyotake. (Sitting Bull is a lot easier to pronounce, isn’t it!) Former U.S. President Gerald Ford was actually born Leslie Lynch King, Jr., but he took the name of his adoptive parents.
Nancy Reagan was born Anne Frances Robbins, and Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little. Tashuna-Uitco later changed his name to Crazy Horse, and Harry Longbaugh changed his name to Sundance Kids.
You probably know the published name of the man who created Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll. But you probably don’t know his real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgeson. You may have read George Orwell’s Animal Farm in class, but ask your teacher if she’s familiar with his real name, Eric Arthur Blair.
Have you ever wonder if your name had a history behind it? Have you ever asked your parents why you were given the name you carry? No matter what your name is, and regardless of its meaning, God wants to give you a holy history behind your name.
A basketball purchased at Wal-Mart holds no special significance. But if Michael Jordan picked it up, dribbled it a few times and spun it on his finger, it would suddenly mean something. A tennis racquet found at a garage sale wouldn’t mean much. But if Venus or Serena Williams purchased it, it would hold incredible value.
You may think your name is nothing special. But when the King of Kings speaks it, He transforms it from ordinary status to an extraordinary level! When Jesus calls you by name, He speaks it with the same authority that placed the stars in the sky, raised the dead and rotates the earth. Your name definitely means something to Him! When He hung on the Cross to pay for the sins of the world, your name was on His mind! In the midst of horrendous torture and suffering, His heart was hugging your name, your identity, your reputation.
Know It!
He loves your name with His life. He wants to help you protect it. And He wants to help you develop a pure reputation around it.
Read It!
Genesis 12:2; 2 Samuel 7:9; Psalm 147:4; Proverbs 3:4; Proverbs 18:10; Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 7:1
Pray It!
Jesus, thank You for loving my name. I confess, there are times when I allow my name to embarrass You. Will You forgive me? I want my name to bring honor to You. And I want You to help me develop a good reputation with my name. I love You, Jesus!
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:23 am
April 17
The Pearl of Great Price
The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:45–46
A good friend of mine and a faithful member of our church gave up playing golf. He felt he was too old to walk the course and swing the clubs. He gave me his antique putter, which I had admired for many years. The putter had been in his family for decades. It was one of his prized possessions. He gave it to me as a gift of love, and it is now one of my prized possessions.
Do you have a treasured possession? Is it a family heirloom, an antique, a classic car, or a career? What is your pearl of great price?
Every Christian has the greatest treasure. It is not an antique. It is not something to stare at and admire. It is the gift of the Gospel. “To us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18 ). Jesus led a perfect life for us. He kept the Law perfectly in our place. Innocent of all sin, He died in our place, bearing our load of guilt. We do not suffer the death our sins deserved. The gift of eternal life is ours through faith in Jesus. Through faith in Him, He has given us the gift of eternal salvation. This Gospel is our pearl of great price.
Heavenly Father, may we always treasure the Gospel, our pearl of great price. Amen.
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:25 pm
Heaven-Bound 101
“Hey, Chelsea! You goin’ to Explosion tonight?” Luke asked as he tossed his backpack behind his broad shoulders.
“Sure want to. But I’ve got tons of chemistry homework. I’m hoping I can finish it in the library before I head home.”
“Exactly where I’m headed,” Luke said as he waved to some of his friends across the hall. “Pretty good crowd last night, huh?”
“I couldn’t believe it! The church was packed.”
“Pastor Steve was right when he said God wanted us to saturate this youth revival with prayer. We’ve prayed, we’ve fasted, we’ve invited kids till we’re blue in the
face — “
“And God’s blessing our efforts,” Chelsea finished.
“I really liked what Pastor Steve talked about last night. You know — heaven and stuff.”
“Yeah, me too, Luke. He made it sound like we could know for sure if we’ll end up there.”
“I’ve been a Christian for almost three years, but I always have these nagging doubts as to whether I’ll really make it to heaven.”
Chelsea smiled. “I know exactly what you mean.”
“You, too?”
“Yep. My grandparents are Christians. My parents are Christians. And I became a Christian in the fourth grade. I’ll never forget asking Jesus to forgive my sins and make me a new creature in Him. But still — “
“You doubt where you’ll spend eternity,” Luke finished.
“Exactly.”
“Sometimes I wish I were Pastor Steve. He seems so confident — spiritually.”
Chelsea agreed. “I wanna be that confident, Luke.”
“Yeah, me too. That’s why I’m going back tonight. I want to make sure I get it, you know?”
“Yeah, I know exactly what you’re talking about. So help me with this chemistry homework. I wanna go, too!”
Know It!
When it comes to where you’ll spend eternity, you don’t have to hope. Neither do you have to guess. Or beg. Or wonder. You can know for sure if you’ll spend eternity in heaven with Jesus. And since we don’t know how much time we have on earth, it’s comforting to know we can be absolutely sure we’re ready to meet Christ!
Read It!
John 1:12; John 3:16; Romans 10:9; Revelation 3:20.
Pray It!
Dear Jesus, I want to know beyond doubt that I’m ready to meet You and that I’ll get to live with You forever in heaven. Help me to find the proof I need from Your Word, through Your voice and in Your Holy Spirit.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 11:42 am
Big Ouch
“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
Did you ever stop to think how hard the metal is in a chin-up bar? I have and let me tell you why. When I was in fourth grade, I had a problem, a serious problem. And his name was Owen. I know, but there are actually kids in the world named Owen. Anyway, he loved to make my life miserable. Owen was in 6th grade and he was my official bully.
One day as Owen was chasing me across the playground AGAIN, I thought maybe this time I could actually outrun him. I ran as hard as I could possibly go. I looked back to see if he was still following me. When I turned back around, I found out that they make chin-up bars of really hard metal. The sound of my forehead hitting the bar made a giant thud. This was followed closely by the splat of me hitting the ground. Needless to say, I survived. Although every time I turn on a microwave oven, I bark like a dog and hear someone singing Jingle Bells. Other than that, I’m fine.
You know what I really needed? I needed a savior. A savior is someone who comes to your rescue. The Lord your God is your rescuer. Not just from hell, but from the pitfalls of life. And there are a lot of pitfalls in life. Much of today, I spent watching video of the tragedy at Virginia Tech. My heart is broken for the families of those who were killed. My greatest prayer is that they know the Lord so that He can delight in them, quiet them with His love and rejoice over them with singing. It feels so good to know God is rejoicing over you. All it takes is faith. Faith to believe that He is doing exactly what He said He would do. And just for future reference, that promise is more firm than a chin-up bar.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:06 pm
April 18th
The Value of Small Things
[The kingdom of God] is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth. Mark 4:31
Have you noticed how Jesus often talked about the value and power of little things? A sparrow falling from the sky. A lost coin. A mustard seed. Jesus always recognized the importance of little things.
In 1967, Edmond Knowles started saving pennies in a five-gallon can. In the spring of 2005, he cashed in his 1,308,459 pennies, worth $13,084.59. Data indicate that over $10 billion in coins sit idle in American homes. We don’t recognize the power and value of little things.
Jesus understood how little things could create great things. The mustard seed is tiny, but when planted and nourished, it grows into a large tree. The Christian Church began with a small group of believers, but they went out with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. By the Holy Spirit working through Word and Sacraments, the Church grew.
On this planet teeming with people, you may feel you are of little value, just a speck in this world. Take heart: You are so important that Jesus shed His blood for you on Calvary’s cross. God has redeemed you by His Son, for you are precious in His sight.
Heavenly Father, help us recognize the value of the thing that seems littlest, but is truly great: Your Gospel. Amen.
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 3:41 pm
Heaven-Bound 102
“Hey, Chelsea! Glad you made it!”
“Hi, Luke. Thanks for helping me with my chemistry homework. Am I late?”
“Nope. They’re almost ready to draw names and give away prizes. Can you believe it — we’ve got more than 400 crammed into this youth room!”
“Hey, I’ll catch you later, Luke. I invited some girls from history class, and I just saw them come in. I’m gonna get them registered for prizes.”
“Hi, Chelsea!”
“Are we in the right place?”
“Hi, Hannah. Yeah, Tawni. This is it. I’m really glad you guys came. “
“Looks fun.”
“Let’s get you registered. We’re giving away some pretty cool prizes each evening.”
“Okay, then what?” Hannah asked.
“Our youth pastor, Steve, is talking about heaven tonight — and how you can know if you’re ready to meet Jesus,” Chelsea said.
“Well, I’m a Christian,” Tawni said. “I mean, my parents had me baptized when I was a baby.”
“Christianity’s really more than just being baptized,” Chelsea said.
“Hey, let’s quit gabbing and get inside so I can win a prize,” Hannah said.
Chelsea laughed. “I hope you win a prize, too, Hannah,” she said. “But the message about how to get to heaven is really more important than winning a prize. In fact, you could say . . . heaven is the ultimate prize!”
“But only Christians go to heaven, right?” Hannah asked.
“That’s right,” Chelsea agreed.
“I don’t even know if I’m a Christian. Does that mean I won’t go to heaven? I try to be a good person.”
“I know you do, Hannah. But it’s more than being a good person.”
“It’s about being baptized,” Tawni added.
“Well, actually, Tawni . . . it’s not about just being baptized, either. You see, Christianity is all about having a personal, growing relationship with Jesus Christ.”
“I don’t think I have that,” Tawni said. “I know about God, because my family goes to church every Christmas and Easter. But I don’t really have a relationship with Him.”
“What do you mean a relationship,” Hannah said. “Like we can actually know God?”
“Exactly,” Chelsea confirmed. “We can know God as our best Friend, our Savior, our Sustainer, our everything!”
“But how do you know if you know God?” Tawni asked.
“Well . . . how do you know if you know me?” Chelsea said. “Or Hannah?”
“That’s simple,” Tawni said. “I talk with you guys. We do stuff together.”
“It works that way with God, too. You can actually talk with Him, and He’ll talk back to you. You can have real fellowship together. He’ll go everywhere with you. He’s promised never to leave us.”
“Hey, Chels, I want that,” Hannah said. “If you’re telling me I can actually talk with and personally know the One who made this entire world, I want that.”
“Me, too,” Tawni added. “I want a personal relationship with Jesus.”
“Cool! I can pray with you guys right now. I’ll say a prayer, and you can repeat it after me. We’re gonna ask God to forgive your sins and commit your lives to Him, okay?”
“I’m in,” Hannah said.
“Let’s do it,” Tawni added.
Know It!
Jesus wants you to invite your friends to youth group, church and Bible studies. He can use you to lead your non-Christian friends into a personal relationship with Him.
Read It!
2 Corinthians 4:5; Colossians 1:28; 2 Timothy 1:8; 1 John 1:1; 1 John 4:14.
Pray It!
Jesus, I want to make sure my friends are ready to meet You. Give me specific opportunities this week to share my faith.
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:35 pm
April 19th
You Are the Light of the World
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14
Our precious grandchildren enjoy going downtown to Comerica Park. There we cheer on our beloved Detroit Tigers. Around the fourth inning, the younger ones start to get bored. They beg us to take them to the pavilion in the stadium, where they love to ride the merry-go-round. The merry-go-round does exactly that. It travels round and round, but it but goes nowhere.
Does your life seem like an endless merry-go-round, going round and around in circles, but getting nowhere? You race around, taking the kids to soccer games or dance lessons. You run to doctor appointments, the bank, and the mall.
Yet our lives do have a purpose. Jesus says, “You are the light of the world.” You and I light up the world as we serve others in the church, in the community, and in our family. Our words, actions, and attitude light up our world whenever the Gospel shines through us. The love of Jesus, who is the light of the world, shines like a bright beacon. He lightens our darkness with His forgiveness and love. The guarantee of His love—His blood shed on Calvary’s cross—never expires. You and I have been saved to serve in faith and love.
Heavenly Father, in this world of darkness, we thank You that in Christ we shine like the stars of heaven. Amen.
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