Daily Devotionals

Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life

Devotional: January 11th

Ah, I love election years. Everything you never really wanted to know about anyone and were just not interested enough to find out.

The case in question right now? President Bush and his military service with the National Guard. Did he or didn't he report to Montgomery, Alabama? The man who will probably oppose him in this year's presidential election is thrice decorated John Kerry, a veteran of the Vietnam War. His service record is impressive and his dedication to his country unimpeachable. But did President Bush fulfill his service?

The proof that is being offered are the pay records for George W. Bush for the National Guard during the period in question. That's right, pay records. Why not? Military groups do not authorize National Guard payments unless time has been served. Therefore, if Bush got paid he did the time. But did he do the time where he was supposed to do the time?

Long, long ago, in a land far, far away lived a man who was asked to serve His people by the supreme Commander-in-Chief. His pay? "He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:3-5

Jesus received the payment in the flesh for the service He agreed to supply for His Father, God. We are the ones who reap the direct benefit. What Jesus suffered He suffered for us. Let that impress itself on us. He suffered for us.