The Daily Scroll - What must I Do?

 I spoke with a young man once who was a faithful Christian, a church goer, and yet he was worried that when he died he wouldn’t be allowed Into heaven. When I asked why he felt that way, he told me because of his past. He felt the guilt and shame of his past. How many of us, if we dwelled on the past, wouldn’t feel the same way. It gets down to this, do we believe the Bible, the word of God or not? The Apostle Paul wrote the following.

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”(Romans 10:9-10, 13)

There it is. Shed the guilt because you have been made “not guilty” by God Himself. You’re free! Rejoice!

The Daily Scroll - The Fear Blocker

Dwayne was a man who struggled with thoughts of fear. “What if this happens? What if someone does this?” One day his worries came home to roost when he fell and injured himself. While in the hospital he had fearful thoughts. Why me? How can I work and pay my bills? Who will take care of my family? Worries flooded his mind until he turned to the Lord Jesus. He asked the Lord to help him and immediately the peace of God flooded his soul as the Lord brought back to his memory His promise from the scriptures.

 “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. - power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8-38-39)

Dwayne discovered that the love of God toward us, and His word as recorded in the Bible, washes our spirit, soul, and body with His peace as we turn to Him as our fear blocker.

The Daily Scroll - I’m Free?

 Imagine being arrested for reckless driving, standing before the judge and hearing the words, “You’re free! Your mind races to comprehend what is happening because you know that you are guilty, no question. So you sheepishly ask the judge why. And he explains, “Well, you see, there are so many guilty people, people that I care about, that I’ve decided to charge their crimes to my son. I’ll accept payment of their crimes, including yours, by my son. I know he’s not guilty of anything but since the law is right and must be satisfied, he has agreed to take your and everyone’s punishment. So I have decided that if you will accept him and what he’s done to take your place, then I will accept you as right and free from guilt just as he is. Therefore you are free.

The Bible teaches us, “God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:20-21)

The Daily Scroll - Friends of God

 In the church around the world, some of the most important and touching songs and hymns express how we are friends of God and what a friend of ours He is. When we think about it, it’s an incredible thought that we, unimportant, average people, could possibly have friendship with Almighty God! 

Some might say, “Who do you think you are?” Our answer has to be, I am whom the word of God says I am, and why I am whom I am.” The Apostle Paul explains it this way.

“For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” (Romans 5:10-11)

The Daily Scroll - The Secret’s Out

We read in the news about the secret dealings that leaders, in all walks of life, corporate, private, and yes even political are involved in. Example: Ever ask yourself how a politician, a servant of the people in the U.S for example, gets elected with a entry level salary and benefits, yet after a few years becomes a millionaire with luxury homes, planes, cars, and all the trappings of wealth? Could it be secret dealings in a secret side of life? How about a man, upstanding in the community, maybe even a pastor, who is arrested for child prostitution? Even though the news details situations like this often, we still believe that our secret life is our secret. Most get away with it, until that is, judgement day. On that day the consequences of eternal damnation will prove the secrets are not worth it. 

So friends, keep short accounts with God. Repent and keep your conscience clear before Him. The secrets will come out so live right. He is quick to forgive. And if you fail, as we all do, don’t try and keep the secret from God because you can’t. 

The Bible says, “You have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23)”

“And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.” (Romans 2:16)

The Daily Scroll - Run Before the Gale

 Storms of life come and go. Such is life, right? Right. But there are times when a storm arrives that is so surprising and powerfully devastating that it’s difficult to come out of it unscathed. And many don’t. Normally, a skilled sailor at sea would sail into the wind, and fight the storm, but then there are times when sailing into the wind would destroy and sink the ship. 

The Apostle Paul was in such a situation as described in the Bible, (Acts 27:15). So the captain did what he had to do. He had his crew turn the ship away from the storm, stop fighting it, and allow the storm to take them away. Hanging on for dear life, they eventually had to throw overboard their cargo, their belongings, and even their ships gear. They did this to stay afloat. They “ran before the gale,” it passed, and they all survived. Bad storm but every man survived.

You may be trying to survive a gale of life right now, and destruction may seem imminent, but don’t succumb. Listen, in the last year I have broken the same leg twice, had two operations, months of rehab, and finally, just recently, a total knee replacement. After the first operation last year, I found myself on my back in the hospital looking up at the ceiling, looking up to God asking,  “what is happening to me?” For my life’s journey had suddenly stopped.

Father God was so gracious and instructed me not to fight it, not to worry about my job or my business, but relax and go with it. My wife and my daughter took care of me, our home, and our business. My company took care of my insurance and disability, and my family and friends gave me their love and support. 

As I sit here in the rehab center recovering from my total knee replacement, I feel at peace, floating safely on the raft of God. It’s only a matter of time before I’ll be back home with complete healing, working, gardening and serving my Lord in the next phase of my journey. With my family beside me we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. And you are too!

You may also be in a similar situation. Stop fighting, and let Father God protect you as you ride it out safely. There will be time later to recover, rebuild, and continue your journey. I believe and declare that God is not through with you! You will make it! As my missionary brother Roy Olsen always reminded us, “The best is yet to come!”