Follow in His Steps

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Todd D. Nystrom

1 Peter 2:21-24 – For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ²² He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ²³ When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Taking a break and enjoying the view after hiking the snow covered trail up to Emerald Lake. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

If you have ever hiked on snow, you know that it is easier to follow in the footsteps of someone who has gone ahead of you, rather than blazing the trail yourself. But, just because someone has traveled the path before you, does not mean the hike will be easy, you still need to do the work in order to get to the end of the journey and enjoy the scenic view.

Our walk as Christians is a lot like this. As we read in today’s passage from 1 Peter, we do have someone who has gone ahead of us, in whose footsteps we follow. We have someone who lived the perfect life that we are unable to live and who died the terrible death we so much deserve for our sinful ways. That someone is Christ, who took our sins to the cross and shed his blood so “that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”

Even though the trail has been blazed for us, we still have work we are called to do. And, while our works can never earn the salvation already bought for us by Christ’s blood shed on the cross, being a Christian does not mean we can just sit idly by. As we read in Christ’s own words from Luke 9:23-24, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

The Christian walk is not always an easy one, especially when you consider in whose steps we follow. But the rewards at the end of the journey will far exceed even the most scenic and spectacular views we find at the end of the trails we travel in this life.

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Hear, My Son, Your Father’s Instruction

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Todd D. Nystrom

Happy Birthday Dad! Seventy years young today!

Proverbs 1:7-9 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. ⁸ Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, ⁹ for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

Grouse hunting with my dad and son (many years ago) in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, near the town of Ralph.

Being raised learning to love the outdoors was a true blessing and something I have carried with me throughout the years. Hunting and fishing with dad are some of my fondest memories from childhood. But the greatest blessing of all was having parents who brought me up in the knowledge and fear of the Lord!

Fathers, the single most important thing you can do for your children is to raise them knowing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Read to them from the Bible. Teach them to bring everything to God in prayer. Set the example by being the spiritual leader of your family as God intended. Do not shirk that responsibility. Listen to Paul’s advice from Ephesians 6:4, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

And children, as the fifth commandment, in Exodus 20:12, says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” This commandment, unlike the others actually carries with it a specific promise for being obedient. Not that we deserve a reward for obedience, nor are the other commandments are any less important; but, this is the only one that makes such a promise, making it noteworthy. Even Paul highlights this distinction in Ephesians 6:1-3, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), ³ “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

Thank you for all you have done for me throughout my life Dad! May God bless and keep you today and always!

Love,
Todd

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Rising Very Early

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Todd D. Nystrom

Mark 1:35 – And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he [Jesus] departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

Early morning, “blue hour” photograph, waiting for the sun to rise over the lake. Caesar Creek State Park, Waynesville, Ohio.

If you are into outdoor photography or have read any books or articles on the subject, you have probably encountered the term “golden hour,” and possibly “blue hour.” Simply stated, the golden hour refers to the warm, glowing quality of light in the hours just after sunrise and just before sunset which make for much better photography than the harsher light of mid-day. The “blue hour,” while perhaps not quite as well known a term, refers to the periods just before sunrise and just after sunset, where the cooler blue tones tend to be more dominant, which are also better times for photography than mid-day.

I enjoy photographing sunrises and sunsets for a couple of reasons. First, there is simply the sheer beauty of it all. From pale pastels of pink, violet, and blue, to bold reds, yellows, and oranges and just about everything in between, the colors change continuously over the course of a single sunrise or sunset, transforming even an ordinary landscape into a spectacular sight; God’s majesty and artistry are so clearly on display. The second reason is the peace and quiet I find at these times of day, but particularly at sunrise. Except for the avid fishermen or hunters, depending on the time of year, there are not too many people up and out before the sun. Even the most dedicated hikers usually don’t hit the trail until at least a little while after sunrise. And, of course, the picnickers rarely show up until near lunchtime.

I do not often have the opportunity to get out early in the morning to do sunrise photography, it is only a hobby after all, but I still enjoy this time of day and find it to be the best time for me to go to the Lord in prayer and spend some quality time in his word. It is a time of solitude, before all the busyness and business of life come blasting in, a time when the house is quiet and my thoughts are still uncluttered by the cares and concerns of the day.

As this single verse from the Gospel of Mark tells us, Jesus also took time away early in the morning to go to his Father in prayer. I don’t think there is much speculation involved in saying that he probably chose this time of day intentionally, and for many of the same reasons, the peace and quiet, the lack of interruptions, and a clear mind after a good night’s sleep. Christ in his humanity, and despite his divinity and perfection, still needed to get away, he still needed time alone to converse with his Father. So we, in our fallen and sinful state, surely need these times far more than Christ did!

Early mornings may not be best for everyone, whether due to inclination or situation; however, I would urge you to follow the example of our Lord and Savior, himself, and find a time and place that you can get away and go to our Heavenly Father in prayer, to study your Bible and reflect on what he is telling you through his word. Whether it is a few minutes or an hour alone with the Lord each day, taking time away from the noise and clutter of everyday life will benefit your walk with Christ more than you can imagine.

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He Has Delivered Us from the Domain of Darkness

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Todd D. Nystrom

Colossians 1:11-14 – May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. ¹³ He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

A lone tree silhouetted against the darkness of a stormy sky along Skyline Drive near Big Meadows. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

This leafless tree silhouetted against the gloomy skies screams “darkness” to me. Yesterday’s photo from Yosemite was post processed to create a black and white image from a color image, but today’s photo is actually an untouched color image. That is just how dark and gloomy it was on this particular early spring day in Shenandoah National Park.

We are in the midst of a joyous season as we anticipate the coming of Christmas. For many it is a time filled with excitement as preparations are made to celebrate with family and friends. We rush about from store to store buying gifts and stocking our pantries with food for our holiday meals. But, despite all the festivities, it is often a time of great darkness for those around us who struggle with loneliness or depression. Even as Christians we deal with times of darkness in our lives, times that we are under attack from the Prince of Darkness himself, or times that we are simply battling with the day-to-day realities of life in a fallen and sinful world.

If you are suffering right now, or know someone who is, take the time to bring those troubles to God in prayer and seek answers through his word. Today’s passage from Paul’s letter to the Colossians offers great words of prayer and encouragement, and also reminds us that God has already “delivered us from the domain of darkness” through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is our only true hope and joy.

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