Jesus said to her, "I am the
resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he
live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe
this?" John 11:25-26
Let me tell you a story that comes from India,
somewhere around the 1850s.
The location was the home of the British
Governor-General who had invited the important folks of the British community to
join him in celebrating the Queen's birthday.
While the adults were preoccupied with talk of matters
political, the children were free to wander the grounds and play. Every once in
a while one of the little ones would interrupt the adults with a question, an
argument which needed to be settled, or a scraped knee which had to be
comforted. That's why nobody paid much attention when a three-year-old wandered
in with a prize in his hand.
Nobody paid much attention until someone noticed the
child was holding a small, poisonous snake: a Russell's viper. The child's
father, with as calm a voice as he could muster, said, "John, put that down
right this minute."
Now John might have thought his father was just trying
to spoil his fun. He could have run away clutching his treasure. He could have
debated or negotiated his father's request. If he had pursued any of those
alternatives, in all probability, he would have died.
Instead, John did as his loving father had asked. He
set the snake down, and he lived.
It hardly needs to be said that the little boy is an
excellent example for all of humanity. Like him, we also ought to listen to our
loving Father as He speaks to us in Holy Writ, as He lays out the path for our
salvation.
When our Father commands, "Leave this sin alone," we
ought to take note. When He says, "This is My beloved Son, listen to Him," we
ought to pay attention (see Matthew 17:5). When Jesus says, "Believe on Me and
you will never die," we ought to be thankful and put all our hope of salvation
in His nail-pierced hands.
As you are reading this Daily Devotion, I give thanks
that this is what you are doing. If so, I invite you to join me in praying for
all those who think God is just trying to spoil their fun, who prefer their own
will over His, who are still clutching the deadly viper of disobedience and
disbelief.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for loving me enough to send
Your Son to be my salvation, I am most grateful. May I be given a new heart that
is in harmony with Your will. Please listen as I especially pray for those who
are close to me and who refuse to listen. May they learn to trust You and Your
good intentions before it is too late. This I ask in the Savior's Name. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries http://www.lhm.org/ all rights reserved; not to be duplicated without permission.
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.