daily devo: "GOING GOd’S WAY"
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, "Going God’s Way.” 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.”
July 3
There Is Only One You
“Being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.” -James 1.25
If in your garden you pick an armful of flowers, the kind with definite fragrance, wherever you go you will have that perfume about you. You will not be able to keep the fragrance a secret, for everyone will know you have been in contact with something sweet-scented.
If we live in the spirit of Christ and pray and meditate with Him, wherever we go people cannot but see the difference in our lives. Our every word and action will tell them some great power is ours.
Think what it would mean to the world if everyone who calls himself a Christian were a positive influence for good. How much happier life would be for everyone! We need not do great things to be helpful to God, but everyone should serve according to his ability.
Every evening a certain Christian visited the section of his city where the destitute sought temporary shelter. Every evening he provided at least one man with a bed for the night and breakfast.
One of his friends thought it a useless practice and said, “What good does it do in the face of acres of want and misery? It is only a drop in the bucket.”
“You may be right,” the Christian answered, “I am just attending to my little drop.”
This was the prayer of a little boy in chapel at camp one evening, “Lord, that hill over yonder wouldn’t be nearly as beautiful if there were only one pine tree growing there. But with so many pine trees growing straight and tall, it is a magnificent sight. Lord, help my life to be like a beautiful pine tree, always pointing upward, growing toward Thee. Help me to start other lives growing straight up to Thee, too, so that our world will be like that beautiful hill.”
As you live each day, remember that although you are only one, there still is only one you. Do your very best with what God has given you.
TODAY’S THOUGHT: Though you may be crippled in body or spirit, make it evident to the world that you are here to fight and not to run up the white flag.
