Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Diego Palacios from the Mexican city of Monterrey had a wonderful Christmas vacation.

Diego had that wonderful type of Christmas vacation a ten-year-old boy hopes will never end. At least that’s what most little boys hope.

But Diego Palacios is not just a young man of hope. Diego is a young man of action.

Diego Palacios decided to do everything in his power to make sure his Christmas would keep on going.

To that end, the Monday after Christmas, Diego snuck into the kitchen, got a bottle of industrial glue, slathered it on his right hand and glued himself to his bedpost.

That’s the way Diego’s mother found him when she woke up: watching the television with his hand glued to the bed.

As a responsible adult, parent, and grandparent, I am forced to say, “Diego did a very, very bad thing.” As a guy who loved his Christmas vacations as much as Diego, I can’t help but smile, just a little bit.

When I first heard Diego’s story, I thought, what a wonderful Daily Devotion theme. After all, Diego is like most of humanity. We don’t want what is best for us or what is right for us; we cling to that which we shouldn’t.

We sin.

Because we are glued to our wrongdoing the Lord sent His Son into this world to free us from the bondage of our transgression. By the blood of Jesus Christ we are forgiven of our sins and released from the destiny that once awaited us.

As Luther said, by the Holy Spirit’s power we are called by the Gospel, enlightened by God’s gifts, and sanctified to be God’s saved and changed people of faith. Like Paul said, we are enabled to “hold fast to that which is good.”

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for releasing me from the bondage of sin. By Your grace may I be empowered to cling to You and the life You wish to give. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

PS – The paramedics were called and set Diego free so he was able to go to school and not miss a minute of class time.

Pastor Ken Klaus

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