A friend sitting next to me in church one Sunday commented, “Larry, if you turn around and look at the people here this morning, it looks like they all have stomach aches, a sore tooth, are facing a prison term or are here under duress.”
Actually, I didn’t have to turn around and look. I noticed it when I walked into the sanctuary. Someone once said to me that “Of all the groups of people in the world, Christians seem to be the most unhappy. They seem to be joyless and miserable. If being a Christian is so terrible, why don’t they give up their faith and try something else?”

Some Christians are like a person with a headache: They don’t want to give up their head but it hurts to keep it. Can we expect others to want to become Christians if we appear to be miserable and hopeless? Things are bad without Christ. Why invite Him into my life if things will only get worse?

“Blessed – or happy – are the people whose God is the Lord.” To experience the fullness that the Lord has to give us requires that we surrender our lives to Him and become dependent on Him for all things. Some who profess to be people of God do not experience the blessings of God – or are not happy in their Christian faith – because they try to live the “half-life.” Half a “conversion” is like half a life boat: it won’t save you!

Happiness, or God’s best blessings, will not come to the half-hearted Christian. Caleb had the secret: “I wholly followed the Lord.” What a difference it can make. Try it!

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to “give it up” and surrender all that we are and all that we have to You and enjoy life! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 144:15 Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.

Lord Moynihan of Leeds, England, was very highly respected for his brilliance and skills as a surgeon. He became so famous that other surgeons would travel great distances to observe him perform an operation. One day, after a long and difficult procedure, he was asked if he objected to the large group that had been watching him.

Prayer: Lord, open our eyes that we may see You, our ears that we may hear You and our wills to obey You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

“You have stage three transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder,” said the urologist in a calm, yet hardly reassuring voice. Anytime, anyone is diagnosed with cancer is a day to remember. “Why me and why now God?” is the standard response for most individuals who hear these words. The initial impact of those words is difficult to accept and usually faith-threatening. How could a loving Father do such a mean, ugly thing to one of His children? When life caves in, what are we to do?

David was experiencing a difficult time in his life. And although he was uncertain about his future he was confident in the One who controlled it. In a burst of trust he said, “My times are in Your hands!”

There is something comforting in those words. A reassurance that God has a plan and purpose for each of us. We did not wander into this world by accident. God did not intend for us to drift through life like clouds in the sky. He brought each of us into this world with something to do, some place to go and some plan to fulfill. All throughout our lives we are in the hands of God.

We are often tempted to think, “If I were in control I would have done things differently.” No pain, no suffering, no temptations, no mistakes. But, thank God, we are not in control. We do not know the future nor do we know what is best for us. But we do know that whatever God is doing in our lives is in our best interest. He wants us to be conformed to His image and He is the only One who knows how to do that.

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to see Your hand shaping our lives and guiding our steps as You lead us through life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 31:15 My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me.

According to Greek legend, Achilles was the greatest warrior who ever lived. In Homer’s Iliad, he was the hero of the Trojan Wars. When he was a baby his mother wanted him to be invulnerable to injury. So, early in his life she took him to the River Styx, believing that it had miraculous powers, held him by his heels and dipped him in the water. Only his heels were not covered by the water.

He became a great warrior! Unfortunately, he was killed in battle by a poisoned arrow that pierced his heel - the only spot that was not covered by the water from the River Styx. It is from this legend that we talk of “our Achilles heel.”

Although it is only a legend it teaches us a significant fact: Our surrender to Christ must be complete. Paul advises us that we are not “to let any part of our body become a tool of wickedness to be used for sinning...instead...let your whole body be as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.”

Surrender is often difficult for some of us for fear that we will fail our Lord. Does this come from the idea that we think we are responsible for victory over sin? We are not! It is God working in us and through us that gives us victory over sin through Christ. Whatever we do not surrender to God is claimed by Satan and causes us to sin.

Prayer: Help us, Father, to remember that the battle and the victory are in Your hands. We know that if we surrender to You we will not be defeated. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 6:12-14 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. (Read more...)

While counseling an anxious young college student recently, he said, “I need your guidance. I know that you are very successful so I know that any advice you give me would be very worthwhile. Can you give me a few words that can guide me through life?”

“Yes,” I replied. “But first you must know that they come from the Bible and that I have found them most reliable.”

The first word is anything. Be willing to do any work or task that God places before you. Accept all of His assignments with confidence because He has never planned for anyone to fail.

The second word is anywhere. Be ready to follow Him wherever He leads you. The will of God won’t lead you where the grace of God can’t protect you or His power provide for your every need.

Finally, any cost. Nothing is too precious to give up for the Lord. And whatever you give up for Him will be given back to you many, many times over. And above all remember this: Give up everything for Him but do not give Him up for anything.

Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me!” To be one of His disciples means carrying a cross. Carrying a cross as He did means we are willing to submit and surrender our lives to Him and do what He asks us to do.

Prayer: Father, may we realize that being Your disciples carries with it a supreme sacrifice - carrying a cross as You did. Help us to be willing to pay the price. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Mark 8:34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

The president of a large corporation was so challenged and inspired after he read the book, Men Of God, that he called the local book store to order 375 copies for his key leaders. After explaining his request for the books, the sales associate said, “I’m sorry, but we don’t have 375 Men Of God in Chicago, why don’t you try Detroit.”

How do we recognize these so called Men Of God? Who are they and where can we find them? Paul wrote to Timothy that God gave us His inspired Word that “is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.” Because the whole Bible contains God’s specific directions to lead and guide those who would become “men of God,” it is to be read, studied and applied to one’s life everyday. It is the standard for our conduct and will provide us with the guidance and direction we need to show the world God’s love, salvation and hope. It is the only source of instruction for what God wants us to do.

In the Bible we will discover what is true, what is right, what is just and what is required of both men and women of God. In it we will find the strength to do what He wants us to do and the truth that will give us the courage and confidence we need to be His disciples and witness His love, grace, mercy and salvation to others. Through its teaching we will find light for our paths and guidance for decisions, insight for our problems and hope when we cannot see beyond our moments of despair.

If we choose to commit ourselves to become “men and women of God,” we will find everything we need to know about the journey in His Word. And when we begin, He will be with us!

Prayer: Lord, may we strive to become men and women of God through a life of surrender and service to You and those for whom You died. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Following the morning sermon, a young college student asked if the pastor could give him a few minutes of his time. Agreeing, the pastor asked the student to meet him in his study.

“Pastor,” the student began, “I did not completely understand what you meant by Christians being willing to do God’s will. What is God’s will for my life?”

Handing the student a sheet of paper with nothing on it, the pastor said, “It’s signing your name at the bottom of this blank sheet of paper and letting God fill it in as He wills.”

God has a special, specific plan for each of our lives. It is a good plan, a pleasing plan and a perfect plan that He designed for every day of our lives. One problem most of us have is that we go to Him with what we want to do and ask Him to agree with us. That is not what He wants or what He will bless.

We can only be what He wants us to be and do what He wants us to do if we go to Him with a blank sheet of paper and ask Him to “fill it in.” We must go to Him with open minds, willing hearts and uplifted hands.

Prayer: Help us, Father, to willingly give up everything for You, and not give You up for anything. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 12:1-2

An elderly man was taken for his very first plane ride. When it was over and he was safely on the ground his wife asked him, “Well, Sam, how did you like that?”

“Pretty good,” came the reply. “Only problem was that I couldn’t let all of my weight down on the seat and relax.”

Sometimes we as Christians have difficulty in laying down or letting go of the burdens we carry. While we may have many excuses, there is no real reason why we cannot let go of our fears and failures, problems and pressures and trust the Lord.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

The burdens we carry are not normally physical ones, but spiritual or emotional ones.

There are times when we fear that our sins may not have been forgiven because we believe that they are too horrible for God’s grace and mercy. But we are promised that “if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Perhaps we become fearful that we are not doing enough for God or have missed His will for our lives. Again, the verse echoes in our ears, “If you become humble…pray…seek…turn…I will forgive.” God’s willingness and ability are as good as His Word. Let go!

Prayer: Help us, heavenly Father, to take You at Your word, and to cast all of our cares on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture: Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

There was a nurse on the children’s ward who enjoyed letting the children listen to their hearts through a stethoscope.

On one occasion she put the ends of a stethoscope into the ears of a small boy and placed the disc over his heart and asked, “What do you hear?”

“It’s Jesus knocking!” he said.

One cannot help but wonder if a faithful Sunday school teacher taught him about Jesus standing at the door of our hearts and asking to be admitted into our lives. And what a staggering thought that is: the creator of the universe and all that man has or ever will discover is knocking gently, hoping earnestly that we will willingly enter into a loving relationship with Him that will last through eternity.

Often we do not hear Him “knocking” on our heart’s door. We become insensitive and indifferent to the many ways He tries to enter our lives. It is easy to go days without reading His Word. Without realizing what is happening we can fill the hours of the day without stopping to worship or praise Him. We might even forget to pray unless there is an emergency.

But it does not matter to Him. He stands there as though ours was the only heart in the world and He will stand there as long as He can, waiting for us to invite Him in.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for Your patience and persistence, Your longing to come into our hearts and control our lives. Help us to recognize Your presence and open the door to Your salvation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture: Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

A couple was selling a farm. In a meeting with their attorney, the wife was asked, “Did you sign this deed of your own free will? Did your husband in any way coerce you to sign these papers?”

“Him?” she asked. “I’d like to see him try to coerce me.”

Life is full of choices. We choose our spouses, our careers, our friends, our hobbies and where we live. But above all of those choices is choosing who we will serve with our lives. The supreme choice we all must make is whether or not we will serve God. Throughout Scripture God has challenged everyone to walk with Him and become one of His children by faith and His grace. However, He has never dragged an unwilling heart into His kingdom. He may bring unwelcome events into our lives to get our attention, but in the final analysis, we must decide for Him or against Him. Though we may have turned away from Him in the past, He is waiting for us to come to Him right now. The choice is ours!

Prayer: Lord, of all the decisions I make in life, choosing You to become my Lord and Savior is the most important. May I this day surrender my life completely to You, have an open heart and willingly dedicate all that I am and have to You. In Christ’s Name. Amen.

Scripture for Today: Joshua 24:15

Once, President Lincoln jokingly asked a friend, “How many legs would a donkey have if you called his tail a leg?”

“Five,” came the confident answer.

“No,” said Lincoln with a grin. “Only four. Calling a tail a leg won’t make it one!”

The same is true of many who call themselves Christians. Simply calling oneself a Christian changes nothing. Unless we have surrendered our hearts and lives to Jesus Christ and asked Him to save us from our sins, we have not been born again. Salvation comes only through faith in
Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “As many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the children of God.”

There are many things that we might have done, some things we look forward to doing, a few things we may get around to doing, but there is only one thing we must do – we must receive the Lord if we want to become a Christian.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, in the quiet of this moment I reach out to You in faith believing that You will save me from my sins. I understand that it is not what I call myself, or what others may call me, that matters. Right now, I want You to be my Savior and become a Christian. In Your Name. Amen.

Scripture for Today: John 1:12

His men were hungry, poorly supplied, and sick. Robert E. Lee was forced to meet U. S. Grant and ask for peace.

“Keep your horses,” said the northern general. “You’ll need them for plowing.”

“What are your terms?” asked General Lee.

“Unconditional surrender,” replied General Grant.

The Lord is merciful and tender. He’s full of kindness and love. But before you can experience His unlimited salvation, He must have your unconditional surrender.

Commit your life to the Lord. He’ll take it. Then He’ll give it back to you bigger and better than ever.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Thou art standing at the door of our hearts and homes, our schools and society, waiting to be welcomed. Come in now, pervading and permeating all our lives with Thy presence and Thy power that we may become obedient to Thee: in Thy name. Amen.