daily devo: "Live Today"
Rev. Reuben K. Youngdahl, grandfather to Eric Youngdahl and Senior Pastor of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church from 1938-1968, was widely known and respected for his pastoral leadership and his uplifting messages of God's love. These messages were published into devotional books so that people might find hope in the promises found in Jesus Christ.
One of his many books was titled, "Live Today.” Pastor Youngdahl issues the challenge for people to go ahead and live today in the faithfulness of God. In his words: “Live each day by itself. Begin and end each one in communion with God. Life’s meaning will be made clear, and its challenge will summon you to follow the way of the Lord, and claim the triumphant life He is able to give you.”
October 11
Walk in the Light of God’s Love
“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” -I John 1.7
In this giddy modern age when anxieties, worries, and doubts seem to be more prevalent than during any other generation, we need to be reminded of the wonderful fact that God is love. No matter how strong and enthroned the wrongs of the world may seem to be, we yet know that God is the ruler. Remaining in control through eternity, He will ultimately bring us victory.
God continues to love mankind, no matter how unworthy we may be. That great love of God is the same for all, from the richest executive to the lowliest mountain shepherd. Each soul has priceless worth in the sight of the Almighty. God created each of us with certain abilities and special talents. We should accept ourselves just as God has made us, recognizing our limitations and weaknesses, and then seeking His help to overcome them. If we fail to measure up to our God-given capacity, it is simply because we have not allowed God to work freely as He wants to in our lives. In Him alone can we find strength for growth and development. He alone knows what ultimately we can become.
A young man often recalled the days of his childhood. One of his favorite pastimes was to be with his aged grandfather. As they grew older they used to cut timber together, even as late as when the grandfather reached eighty years of age. He was a strong man and his big arms rippled with muscles that were knottier and harder than the oak tree he was cutting. “Grandfather, when were your best years?” the young man asked him when he stopped to catch his breath on the other end of the crosscutt saw.
“Son, they have all been good years,” the grandfather replied, “but I suspect I was a better man,” he went on, taking a firmer grip on the saw handle, “between fifteen and eighty.”
Think for a moment about the vision in the happy faith of this man. He worked hard as a woodcutter all his life, and yet his testimony was that all of life had been good to him. Surely this is a refrain echoed by countless thousands who have also found joy in living by knowing the God of love.
PRAYER THOUGHT: May we have a vision of faith, Lord, that will always keep us close to Thee and become a source of everlasting joy and peace as we accept Thy salvation.
