Guidelines For Living Devotional

When an engine blew on the Airbus that United Airlines captain Ed Palacio was flying, the instrument panel lit up like a Christmas tree.  "Ed," I later asked as we were talking about the incident, "What did you think about when this happened?'  His reply: "I didn't have time to think.  I instinctively did what I had been trained to do."  His passengers were glad that Ed hadn't been sleeping in class when they covered those procedures.  He was so well trained and disciplined; his reactions were instinctive and habitual.

"It is a sad fact but it is true," writes John Nagle, "when people today hear of God being referred to as 'father' it often creates more mental barriers than open hearts.  Unfortunately for more and more in our culture, the term 'Father' causes individuals to think of someone who was absent, abusive, addicted, or all of the above."

Should Christians identify themselves by wearing gold crosses, or putting a fish on the bumper of their car?  Are there some identifying marks by which you can be quite sure who is and who isn't?  There are four marks of an authentic true Christian, which indicate quite clearly that you have become a follower of Jesus Christ.  Those marks are commitment, conversion, confession and change. 

Jesus laid it on the line with His followers.  Unlike a lot of religious leaders today who temper their messages, thinking of their retirement benefits and the fact that their popularity with people who contribute to the church is very important, He never sugar-coated the Gospel. 

Is it possible that an individual could go to church, put some money in the collection plate occasionally, even belong to a church, and yet be lost spiritually? 

After his conversion Paul spent almost ten years of his life in obscurity--an absolute waste of time, so thought some.  Think of what an exciting story Paul could have told.  After all, how many people could top Paul's roadside encounter with Jesus Christ?  Paul was blinded by a brilliant light.  He literally heard the voice of Jesus Christ.  It was for real, not something conjured up by indigestion in the night.  Then, after he was led to Damascus his sight was restored supernaturally.   An old disciple, Ananias, prayed for Paul, gently placing his hands on this man who had been the #1 enemy of the church.

 "Dear Dr. Sala," writes a friend of Guidelines, "Every time I try to befriend someone of the opposite sex, they interpret my friendship as a romantic gesture.  This really bothers me, and it is not my intention.  Can't we just be friends?"

Truth is always stranger than fiction.  Take, for example, the strange friendship of two young men who should have been bitter enemies.  Instead, they became the closest of friends.  One was raised in the palace of a king and knew the luxuries which are associated with that social status.  The other was an uneducated youth who rose from obscurity and threatened to usurp the throne.  Their names:  David and Jonathan. 

Psychologist Rollo May believes that most people make 500 to 2500 acquaintances every year--people you work with, individuals whom you meet at church or school, acquaintances with whom you share an elevator every work day, or who live in the same apartment complex as you.  The checker at the grocery store, the gas station attendant, your mailman or doctor.  You nod or wave politely when you meet these folks, but by no stretch of the imagination could most acquaintances be considered real friends, the kind that would stand with you no matter what happens.  But of that large number he believes that, on an average, only seven are real friends.[i]

[i]As quoted by Jerry and Mary White, Friends & Friendship, (Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1982), p. 33.

In his book Quality Friendship, Gary Inrig tells about two friends who enlisted in the military, were sent overseas together, and fought alongside each other.  During an enemy attack, one of the men was critically wounded and was unable to crawl back to the safety of the foxhole.  The friend lay dying in a kind of no-man's land created by the crossfire of the two opposing sides.