PEOPLE ARE ALL DIFFERENT!

(Taken from my newest devotional, EVERY DAY WITH JESUS, coming this summer)

        God loves all people, but it’s not always easy for us to love each other. Differing opinions, personalities and even appearances may make us think less of others. We must learn to look past our pride to see the value of all God’s people.

        I was in the WalMart store on a Friday afternoon. Being the end of the week and the end of the month, this normally busy store was packed. Checkout lines were long, carts hard to find, children were fussing and tempers were getting short. Knowing checkout would take awhile, I took my place in line and spent my time watching the people around me. 

        They were all different, those in front of me, on the side, and those behind. Whether old or young, tall or short, heavy or thin, well dressed or sloppy, pretty or plain, no one looked the same. All were different. No two were alike.

        It occurred to me that God loves all these people, myself included. No matter who they are or where, God loves all people of the world, all seven billion of us! How can He do it? Jesus said, “God even knows the number of hairs of your head.” (Matthew 10:30 PBV) 

        But how? How can He hear our prayers, help us with our needs, or put up with those who ignore Him? Jesus assures us, “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but shall have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Amazing!

        I have no idea how God can love all these people. I couldn’t do it, but He can. How can we not praise Him for His great mercy? Next time you’re waiting in line, look at the people around you. God loves them, too, with an everlasting love.

Lord, help us love people with Your love. 

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

BEING A DETERMINED PERSON

        A television news report on the problems refugees face told of a family hoping to return to their war-town country. The ten year-old daughter was featured who showed a determination rarely seen in one so young. She said, “When we go back, I’m going to visit my neighbors, and I’m going to play with my friends. My father says we don’t have a house there any more, but I told him, we will find one and fix it up to live in.”

        Some might think the girl is living a fantasy, and perhaps she is. But she had a goal, to return to her country and make a home there again. There is a place for determination and tenacity. When our faith is rooted in Jesus Christ and His love for us, we can do amazing things.
        Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi were widows living in Moab, Ruth's country. When Naomi decided  to go back to Judea, she told her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab and find new husbands. Orpah, Naomi’s other daughter-in-law, stayed behind, but Ruth refused to leave Naomi. She said, “Don’t ask me to leave you. Where you go, I will go, and I will live with you and your people.” (Ruth 1:16 PBV)
        Naomi was also a determined woman. Back home in Bethlehem, she told Ruth to find a relative named Boaz and glean grain in his field so they’d have food. Ruth did that and God blessed Ruth and Naomi when Ruth become Boaz’ wife. Their descendants include King David and Jesus of Nazareth. When we trust in our Lord, even the most difficult situations can become a blessing.

Thank You, God, for giving hope to Your people.
Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

RESURRECTION CHANGES EVERYTHING!

      An agnostic and a Christian were debating the central Christian belief that Jesus actually arose from the dead. As their debate drew to a close, the agnostic gave a lengthy summary of reasons he believed proved his case. He ended, “So, you can see Jesus could not have come back to life after being dead more than two days.”

      Rather than presenting a lengthy refutation, the Christian simply asked, “What if you are wrong? What if Jesus really did come back to life? What then?” The agnostic hesitated and said, “Well, I guess that changes everything!” How true! The resurrection does change everything! It proves Jesus is who He said He was.

      To some doubters in Corinth, Paul wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins…and we are of all people are to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, so by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.” (1 Corinthians 15:17-2

       The resurrection changes everything. After contradicting both Jewish leaders and Pilate, Jesus had signed his own death warrant on the cross. But His resurrection changed everything.

        If you’ve ever wondered about the resurrection, consider how Jesus’ returning to life has changed humanity, history, and even yourself. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Lord, help us know that Your resurrection is true.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

KEEP YOUR HEAD UP!

        When friends visited us this winter, we took them to watch parachute jumping at nearby Eloy, AZ.  We were not able to see the normal dozens of jumpers light up the sky due to heavy cloud cover and FAA regs that prohibit them parachuting through clouds. A few sky jumpers did open their chutes below the clouds, so it was still fun and colorful to see. But most sky jumpers came there wanting to jump out at 13,000 feet, and then freely fall 8,000 or more feet before opening their chutes and landing in front of spectators. 

        After lunch at the Bent Prop Cafe, we decided to check out Sky Venture Arizona, a building nearby which has a huge vertical wind tunnel in which people can experience simulated skydiving. It’s a place for the young and strong to don their colorful suits and go into the wind tunnel to practice, while the older and wiser folks (us) watch to see how it is done. 

        Two to four people move into the 120 mph wind tunnel, flying up and down, left and right, flipping over or even “sitting on air” as they learned their moves. They were practicing movements needed to control their body during a freefall before the parachute is opened. First and foremost they were taught always to keep their heads up and backs arched, relying on hand or leg movements to propel themselves this way and that. Turning a hand or head, or lifting a leg or an arm would send them in a new direction. 

        As I watched, it occurred to me our everyday lives are often the same. We are easily buffeted by social currents and may live at the mercy of unfortunate events. Minor choices that can result in major changes. Poor choices, accidents, or the actions of others can alter our life in significant, even permanent ways. We must learn to recognize which decisions are helpful and which are not, as well as how to react to them. 

        Jesus helps us see what is most important in life. He wants us to look to Him for direction as we live our lives. He said, “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (Matthew 5:16) We need to heed God’s Word which will help us go the right direction, as well as have the right faith in our hearts. Above all, give thanks that Jesus is ready, willing and able to forgive us the evil we do and the good we fail to do. 

Keeping our heads up and looking to Jesus will show us the right path.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

WHAT ARE FRIENDS?

        Friends are wonderful gifts from God. What would we do without them? Our word, “friend” probably comes from “freond”, an ancient Indo-European word meaning “to love.” 

        Two weeks ago we visited friends we’d known for a decade who had moved to Tucson, and later that day we had lunch with other friends we’ve known like family for three decades. Last weekend we were visited by a couple I’ve known four decades. It’s truly wonderful to have friends who care for you!

         We all make many casual friends in life, but only a few become a true and close friend, one who will be with you when you need them no matter what comes, in times of joy or sadness. A true friend will talk with you but also listen. True friendship is marked by willingness to go to great lengths to help and support others when they are needed.

        1 Samuel 18-23 contains the story of David and Jonathan who were caring and loyal friends to each other, at times even going against family to help each other. When Jonathan was killed in battle, David wept over his death, for “he loved Jonathan as he loved his own soul.” (1 Samuel 20:17)

        Jesus loved His disciples the same way, and He was willing to give His life for them, even those who reject Him. Jesus loves all of us enough to forgive us and die in our place, so we can truly say, “What a friend we have in Jesus!” 

Help us, Jesus, to love others as You have loved us.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

POWER OF PRAYER

        It’s good that we pray for each other, no matter what the circumstances. This especially true when it involves teaching our children. 

        Last week Carol and I attended the Wednesday chapel service for Grandparents Day at Christ Lutheran School, Phoenix, where two of our grandchildren attend and our son and his wife are teachers. Chuck was leading the service with over 600 children and adults, something he does most Wednesdays. During the prayers, he included a petition for God’s protection on those in the northeast who were experiencing a second huge snowstorm that week. 

        How wonderful that children in sunny Arizona would pray for people in a Boston snowstorm! I am not sure Bostonians would pray for Arizonans during a drought or deadly dust storm, but I could be wrong. Jesus wants Christians to pray for each other in all things. 

        The apostle Paul tells us, “Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophesies, but test everything. Hold fast what is good, abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-22)

        Prayer is not merely an exercise in faith or “spiritual psychology,” as some call it. Prayer is calling on God’s great power through  petitions, adorations, confessions or thanksgivings, no matter when  they are offered or by whom. It is invoking the blessings of God through Jesus who has given us life now and salvation for eternal life. What power and privilege God has given us prayer!

Lord God, accept our humble prayers to You.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

BILLY GRAHAM'S CASKET

(Taken from Rev. Tasler's next Daily Devotional, Every Day With Jesus, 

due to be published later this year.)

      When Dr. Billy Graham died recently, he was buried in a casket made by three convicts. Inmates Liggett and Bowman were given life sentences for murder, and Krolowitz was serving thirty years for armed robbery.

        The Louisiana State Penitentiary where they were serving their time is nicknamed “Angola” since it was built on a slave plantation to which thousands of people were forcibly taken from Angola in Africa during the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries.
        Some years ago, newly appointed Warden Burl Cain watched as a casket holding the remains of a deceased prisoner broke apart during burial. He immediately instituted a program in the prison wood shop that good caskets be made for all inmates who died while there.
        When Billy Graham could not make his scheduled visit to Angola in 2005 due to poor health, son Franklin Graham and his sister Ruth came with the message of salvation in Jesus Christ. Hearing the Gospel, dozens of prisoners, and also Warden Cain, received Jesus as their Savior.
        Billy Graham then asked that his own casket be made there. And so it was that a handmade plywood casket made by convicts containing the body of one of the world’s great evangelists, lay in state in the U.S. Capital and later was buried in North Carolina at a service attended by over two thousand people.
        It was a fitting tribute to what the Gospel can do for sinners, because our Lord Jesus died on a cross between two convicts. And before He died, Jesus told one of them the precious news, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Lord, thank You for forgiving us our sins and allowing us into heaven.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com