imported_rachel
08-24-2006, 12:05 PM
When my mom was forty-three years old, she developed skin cancer and
died within four months of the first diagnosis. As a young man in my
twenties, I remember forty-three seeming much older than it does
now. As I approached the age of forty-three, I also developed a case
of the same skin cancer which took my mom's life. Fortunately, the
detection and treatment of skin cancer has greatly improved and I am
fine - praise God! But this combination of events caused me to
seriously ponder: "What if this day was my last? Would I have any
regrets?"
John the Baptist discovered the uncertainty of each moment of life as
he sat in prison.
I guess they call me "John the Baptist" because I preached a message of
repentance and baptized with water while pointing the way to Jesus
(John 1:31-33). "The Baptist" isn't such a bad name. I could have
been called "John the Wearer of Camel Hair" or "John the Eater of
Locusts."
King Herod must have been mad at me for exposing his sin of marrying
his brother's wife (Matthew 14:3-4). I sure wish I was back in the
desert preaching; but God must have a plan for me here in prison. I
think Herod actually likes me. He often listens to me talk and seems
genuinely interested (Mark 6:20). It's pretty loud in the palace
tonight. They must be having quite a party.
Matthew 14:6-10
"On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and
pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her
whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, 'Give me here on
a platter the head of John the Baptist.' The king was distressed, but
because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request
be granted and had John beheaded in the prison."
Wow, that was fast! No time to say good-bye or write letters to my
friends - no time to even gather my thoughts - just, "lean over and put
your neck on the block." I sure wish I would have.....
No one knows when they will breathe their last; we may have sixty years
or sixty minutes, but either way it will seem to pass in an
instant. The time to place our saving faith in Jesus is NOW! The time
to restore relationships and encourage others with the gospel is
NOW! The time to enjoy our family is NOW! And the time to praise God
for His blessings and grace (more than anything else in life!) is
absolutely NOW!!
Each of us enter this day with things we wish we could change;
decisions and words which have not been honoring to God. But each of
us also enter this day with the ability to begin, right this very
moment, to live a life which glorifies God in all we do. Let's begin
today to live a life fully committed to faithfully following
Christ. Let's live toward an end which will leave no regrets.
Have a Great Day!
Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
************************************************** ***
Archive of previous devotions : http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm
Subscribe/Unsubscribe by email to devotions@gdwm.org
Subscribe via web: http://www.gdwm.org/subscribe.htm
died within four months of the first diagnosis. As a young man in my
twenties, I remember forty-three seeming much older than it does
now. As I approached the age of forty-three, I also developed a case
of the same skin cancer which took my mom's life. Fortunately, the
detection and treatment of skin cancer has greatly improved and I am
fine - praise God! But this combination of events caused me to
seriously ponder: "What if this day was my last? Would I have any
regrets?"
John the Baptist discovered the uncertainty of each moment of life as
he sat in prison.
I guess they call me "John the Baptist" because I preached a message of
repentance and baptized with water while pointing the way to Jesus
(John 1:31-33). "The Baptist" isn't such a bad name. I could have
been called "John the Wearer of Camel Hair" or "John the Eater of
Locusts."
King Herod must have been mad at me for exposing his sin of marrying
his brother's wife (Matthew 14:3-4). I sure wish I was back in the
desert preaching; but God must have a plan for me here in prison. I
think Herod actually likes me. He often listens to me talk and seems
genuinely interested (Mark 6:20). It's pretty loud in the palace
tonight. They must be having quite a party.
Matthew 14:6-10
"On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and
pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her
whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, 'Give me here on
a platter the head of John the Baptist.' The king was distressed, but
because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request
be granted and had John beheaded in the prison."
Wow, that was fast! No time to say good-bye or write letters to my
friends - no time to even gather my thoughts - just, "lean over and put
your neck on the block." I sure wish I would have.....
No one knows when they will breathe their last; we may have sixty years
or sixty minutes, but either way it will seem to pass in an
instant. The time to place our saving faith in Jesus is NOW! The time
to restore relationships and encourage others with the gospel is
NOW! The time to enjoy our family is NOW! And the time to praise God
for His blessings and grace (more than anything else in life!) is
absolutely NOW!!
Each of us enter this day with things we wish we could change;
decisions and words which have not been honoring to God. But each of
us also enter this day with the ability to begin, right this very
moment, to live a life which glorifies God in all we do. Let's begin
today to live a life fully committed to faithfully following
Christ. Let's live toward an end which will leave no regrets.
Have a Great Day!
Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
************************************************** ***
Archive of previous devotions : http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm
Subscribe/Unsubscribe by email to devotions@gdwm.org
Subscribe via web: http://www.gdwm.org/subscribe.htm