The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him” (Psalm 18:30).

The word “buckler” may not be a familiar word to you. It is actually a very beautiful word which gives the idea of a soldier holding a shield that will protect his heart and other vital organs. In a precious way, King David speaks of the Lord being his own personal shield and the protector of his life. This precious truth became very clear one night to Luke who was a highway patrolman on a very busy interstate. He pulled a car over for speeding and fortunately radioed in his location. As he was approaching the car, the driver suddenly jumped out and fired his weapon once, hitting Luke in his chest. The criminal driver jumped back in his car and sped away. Luke fell backwards but was saved because he was wearing his bulletproof vest. Though bruised, he survived because the vest was his shield. Later in the emergency room, his commanding officer checked in on him just to be sure that he was all right and to let him know that the shooter was apprehended about fifteen minutes after the incident. Luke was able to turn the conversation around to his thankfulness not only for his bulletproof vest but that the Lord was his “buckler” and how his commander could know the Lord as well. It was an intense illustration.

For today: Your circumstances may not be as dramatic as Luke’s, but you can rejoice today that the Lord is your shield!

“Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puts the bottle to him, and makes him drunken also” (Habakkuk 2:15).

As a young pastor just entering the ministry, I had to come to the personal conviction as to who I would perform the marriage ceremony for and who I would not. I had the privilege of being the minister of a very beautiful church that was highly desirable for weddings. One of the things that became a very settled conviction to me was the area of alcohol. My wife and I witnessed firsthand the way alcohol ruined marriages, destroyed homes and families, hurt children, and caused people to do things they never would do when sober. As a police chaplain and a pastor, I have been an eyewitness to the devastation that alcohol brings. So, to be honest with you, early in my ministry I came to hate alcohol and the potential problems that it brings into homes and families. I came to the conviction that I would not marry anyone who is going to have alcohol at their wedding. I told pulpit committees and congregations that were considering me as a pastoral candidate of my conviction. I can tell you that I have never had anyone angry with me over a funeral, but I have had several families furious with me over weddings! I don’t know where you stand on the subject of alcohol. Personally, I hate alcohol. I hate the potential effects of alcohol that will come into a person’s life and home. I think it is better to hate it and view anyone serving it to another as a woeful situation.

For today: May you and I have the grace and wisdom to avoid anything that will be potentially harmful to ourselves or another.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him. He that loveth Me not, keepeth not My sayings: and the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me” (John 14:23-24).

Lanielle was becoming more and more defiant as a teenager. To be very honest, she was making life generally miserable in her home. Simple little requests were made very big issues by Lanielle. She rebelled against nearly everything. Knowing what the family was going through, Aunt Linda invited her beloved Lanielle out to lunch on a Saturday afternoon. To everyone’s amazement, Lanielle accepted the invitation. The Holy Spirit was really working that day at the restaurant. After a great and lengthy conversation, Aunt Linda simply said, “Honey, you claim to be a Christian. That’s great! But the Lord Jesus clearly taught us that if we love Him, we will keep His words. If we don’t keep His words, it is a clear indication that we don’t love Him at all. By your actions you are making a very loud statement about your love for Christ. I am telling you these things because I love you.” Lanielle did not change overnight. In fact, a few months after this she came to put her trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation. The conversation with her aunt that day was the changing point in her life. Though many folks claim to know the Lord Jesus, the proof will be in the way they live. If they really know Him, they will keep His words. If they don’t keep His words, there is a big question mark over the genuineness of their claims to be a Christian.

For today: May the proof of my love for Christ be demonstrated in the way that I obey him!

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

Bill and Mary sat in their family room with their beloved pastor. It’d been nearly two weeks since the death of their precious son. They missed him terribly. At times it felt like they could not go on another moment. Bill spoke softly and with great emotion when he said to his pastor, “Probably one of the hardest things for me is when people tell me that they know how I feel. Pastor, you won’t believe this, but two days ago I had a man tell me, ‘Bill, I know just how you feel. My daughter has the flu and has been down for a couple of days. I know what it’s like to have a sick child. I know just how you feel.’’ Bill paused for a few moments and continued speaking to his pastor, “For a moment I wanted to punch him in the nose! My son experienced multiple surgeries and years of not feeling well. And then this guy comes along and tells me that he knows how I feel because his daughter has the flu. It was hard for me to take.” The wise pastor sympathized with them and said that he was so sorry that this happened. Taking his New Testament out of his pocket, the gentle pastor read the verse we have selected today. He reminded Bill and Mary that “there is someone who really does know how you folks feel. The Lord Jesus completely understands, and He holds you as His very own children.” How about you? What are you going through right now, and how does it help you to understand that the Lord Jesus knows how you feel?

For today: I am so glad that the Lord Jesus completely understands and He helps His own children.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Dr. Jack loved the Lord and deeply respected Him. It was such a great joy and delight to the surgeon that he knew the Lord Jesus as his personal Savior. His relationship with the Lord became even dearer one day as a great spiritual truth impacted his life. It started out to be a routine day as he walked down the hospital corridor. Several people walked ahead of him. One of the ladies held the hand of a young child. As they approached the waiting area, the child read aloud the words on the door ahead of him, “Absolutely no admittance. Authorized Surgical Personnel Only.” Jack stepped on past them, swiped his card in the slot, walked through the automatic doors that opened for him, and heard the voice of the surgical receptionist say, “Good Morning, Dr. Cramer.” At that very moment he visualized it. He had earned the privilege of coming boldly to a place in the hospital that was off limits to others. However, it was different with the Lord. He could come before the Lord not because he had earned it, but as a matter of grace it was given to him! He didn’t deserve the privilege, nor could He earn it. Isn’t it wonderful to belong to the Lord and to enjoy the special privilege of coming before His throne with boldness?

For today: If you know the Lord as your Savior, you can come to Him boldly. He is waiting to greet you.