Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

But I trust in You, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." My times are in Your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! Make Your face shine on Your servant; save me in Your steadfast love! Psalms 31:14-16

Have you noticed the people who want to disparage and defame the Savior seem to be mighty confused? No, they're not confused about wanting to put Him down. They're confused as to what method they should use to accomplish their task. Let me explain.

Method #1 was recently used in an intercultural communications class when a professor at Florida Atlantic University made his students write the name "Jesus" on a piece of paper. Then he said they should put the paper on the floor and stomp on the Name that is above every name. When a student refused to do so, he was told he would be suspended from the class.

At first the university defended the professor and said this was an example of "open dialogue." After Florida's governor weighed in on the matter the professor was given a leave of absence.

Method #2 was used by Principal Lydia Davenport at Heritage Elementary School in Madison, Alabama. When Easter rolled around, the teachers were not allowed to have any activity that referred to the religious nature of the holiday. Naturally, that meant there would be no reference to Jesus. But this principal went further. The teachers were told they couldn't have an Easter egg hunt or even an "academic egg hunt," but it got weirder still when the teachers were told they couldn't have anything "egg"-shaped.

Oh, the Easter Bunny was banned as well.

Do you see the problem these educators have? One brings out Jesus' Name so it can be stomped on, and another refuses to mention Jesus or anything that might remind a student about the resurrection.

All of this gets me wondering just what is it about Jesus that causes such a fury? When He walked with us, He went around doing good, healing the sick, calling people away from sin, and inviting them to follow Him as their Savior into heaven.

They crucified Him for that back then, and they're doing the same today. And I wonder why.

Why don't they just ignore Him? Why don't they just let Christians believe what they want? Why do they feel the need to attack the Son of God, who gave His life for their eternal salvation?

I suppose it's because they don't like to be reminded that they're sinners. They don't want to be told Jesus is the only way to heaven. They want to believe they're just fine the way they are.

They can believe what they want.

Me, I'm going to continue to confess my sins. I'm going to give thanks that Jesus has done everything necessary for my forgiveness, and I'm going to remember that if I am fine, it's only because the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, the world is mighty confused. May I do what I can to help unconfuse them by pointing them to the Savior, who alone can transform our lives and our eternity. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Joshua 7-9    Luke 9:37-62

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