(God says) "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite My statutes or take My covenant on your lips? For you hate discipline, and you cast My words behind you." Psalm 50:15-17

The topic for today's Daily Devotion was brought to my attention by Mr. David Lanius, friend and faithful worker at the headquarters of Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Chardon High School in Ohio is blessed to have a big man on its staff.

At six feet, two inches and 300 pounds, Chardon, Ohio's, Assistant Coach Frank Hall truly is a big man. But you should know that his physical size is the least of the qualities which make him big. If you've been following the news, you may have heard of the coach. He's the teacher who stood up in the Chardon High cafeteria when a student-gunman opened fire.

The coach may be a big man, but even a big man can be cut down when he goes up against a pistol. That is a fact of life, but that fact didn't stop Hall from standing up, calling out and walking toward the gunman, from chasing the murderer out of the school.

That day's courage makes Hall a big man.

That's the story the news programs shared about Coach Hall. What the media didn't share is that the actions of the coach on that day of death were only a reflection of the kind of big man he has always been.

You see, Coach Hall is a Christian man, a man of faith.

Those who know him say he is the kind of fellow who has always gone out of his way to help others. He is the kind of man who has adopted four children, brought them into his family and is raising them as God's children.

A few weeks ago the media said that Coach Hall had probably saved the lives of other students. They called him a "hero." I would agree. He most certainly is that. But Hall's heroism should not be limited to a few seconds in a high school lunch room. He has always been a hero of faith.

The wonderful thing is this: there are many other such heroes in our congregations.

True, these other heroes may not face a gunman intent on murder; they may not be called upon to put their lives on the line, by looking down a pistol barrel. Even so, they are heroes.

They are heroes because, in a world which often makes fun of good men, they still do what is right; their actions are decided by their faith in the Savior who gave His life, so they might be forgiven and saved.

These men, thankful for what Jesus has done, try to follow Jesus' example. These men are not only willing to die for others, they are willing to live every day of their lives for others.

That is what a man does when he really knows the Savior.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, in a world filled with trouble and terror, we pray You will raise up men, Christian men, who will try to reflect the Savior's strength and spirit of sacrifice to those around them, to those who come after them. This we pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Numbers 23-25    Mark 16

To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select "Save Link As" or "Save Target As" or "Download Linked File As"