Your Daily Devotional for November 30, 2006

 

November 30, 2006

 

 

Giving Thanks: During Christmas Time

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

 

Luke 2:8-11

 

 

We have taken time this month to think on things for which we could give thanks, but now we are at the end of our month of thanksgiving. Even with the Christmas season coming near, we can be thankful during this hectic time of shopping, decorating, and fellowshipping with family.

 

If we are going to be thankful through the Christmas season, we need to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Although Christmas has taken on a new look as a time of commercialism, we must remember the true meaning of Christmas.

 

Christmas is a time to celebrate the “first Christmas”—when Christ was born of a virgin in a stable in Bethlehem. There was no commotion or grand entrance for His birth. He came as a servant and lived His life serving others.

 

A young girl named Susie grew up moving from one New England orphanage to another. She was often rejected by the children and workers alike. Around one of the orphanages was a large wall. The rule for the children was to stay inside the wall and not communicate with anyone outside the wall.

 

One day a staff worker watched Susie as she climbed a tree near the wall and tied a note to a branch that hung over the wall. Once Susie climbed down, the worker retrieved the note to see what message had been sent by Susie. The note said, “From Susie, to whoever reads this, I love you.”

 

In reality, our sin had placed a wall around us, keeping us enslaved in sin. But near that wall God placed a tree, and on that tree He hung His son with a message, “From God, to whoever passes by, I love you.” God provided His love for all when He died on Calvary for the sins of the world.

 

Even in the busiest of seasons, we must take time to give thanks to God for His gift of salvation. We must take time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Think of all that Christ left in Heaven to come to earth to die for our sins. Think of the great sacrifice Christ made to come to earth. Yet, He did it willingly because He loved us.

 

As we enter this Christmas season, take time to give thanks to God for sending His Son. Then, commit to Him to serve Him from a heart of love this Christmas season.

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Your Daily Devotional for November 28, 2006

 

November 28, 2006

 

 

Giving Thanks: For Family

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

Ephesians 6:1-4

 

A family is defined as “a group of persons who form a household under one head, including parents, children, and servants.” While not all families are alike, our families should be characterized by love—love that creates a close bond with the others members in the family.

 

During World War II and the holocaust, the lives of millions of people were taken. Solomon Rosenberg and his family were a few of the people murdered. Solomon Rosenberg, his wife, their two sons, and his mother and father were arrested and placed in a Nazi concentration camp. It was a labor camp and the rules were simple, "As long as you can do your work, you are permitted to live. When you become too weak to do your work, then you are exterminated."

Every evening Rosenberg came back into the barracks after his hours of labor and searched for the faces of his family. When he found them they would huddle together, embrace one another, and thank God for another day of life.

One day Rosenberg came back and didn’t see those familiar faces. He finally found his oldest son Joshua in a corner, huddled, weeping, and praying. He said, "Josh, tell me it’s not true." Joshua turned and said, "It is true, poppa. Today, David was not strong enough to do his work. So they came for him." "But where is your mother?" asked Mr. Rosenberg. "Oh poppa," he said, "When they came for David, he was afraid and he cried. Momma said, `There is nothing to be afraid of, David,’ and she took his hand and went with him."

 

This family bonded together during a time of adversity. They loved one another and continued to grow in their love one for another. How can you have a pleasant family life? How are some people so happy to go home after work, while others work overtime just so they don’t have to go home?

 

It is because of love. When love is present in your family, you will become more patient and kind towards one another. No one likes constant conflict in the home. Yet, this seems like commonplace in many families.

 

Do you love those in your family? Many times we say we love our families, but when was the last time you did something nice for them? Maybe it was fixing a meal, cleaning your home, or even just spending time with a family member. Even though you may see your family every day, you still need to take time to show them that you love them.

 

What is something special you could do this week for a member of your family? Make it a point today to ask God to help you cultivate love in your family. Ask Him to help you become kind and patient with others. Also, thank Him for the family He has given you. Don’t take your family for granted! Not everyone has a family! Thank God for them today.

 

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Your Daily Devotional for November 27, 2006

 

November 27, 2006

 

 

Giving Thanks: For His Unconditional Love

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”

 

1 Peter 3:8-9

 

Many people recognize the court case Roe v. Wade which took place in 1973, legalizing abortion in America. Jane Roe, actually named Norma McCorvey, fought for a woman’s right to choose whether she wanted to continue her pregnancy or abort her baby.

Earlier that year Flip Benham, the national director of Operation Rescue, relocated Operation Rescue’s national headquarters next to the abortion clinic where McCorvey worked. That same week Benham spoke to McCorvey, apologizing for an earlier encounter when he had told McCorvey that she was responsible for millions of abortions. Benham continued to show love towards her along with other Operation Rescue workers, and their unconditional love eventually broke through. The love and acceptance shown by others led McCorvey to begin attending church and eventually change her position on abortion.

Just as Mr. Benham showed unconditional love towards Miss McCorvey, we can show others the love of Christ. We must be careful in everything we do, not to hurt the testimony of Christ.

A Christ-like love is one that shows love to everyone, even our enemies. As Christ was on the Cross, He said, “Father, forgive them.” He asked His Heavenly Father to forgive those who had crucified Him!

Christ also showed His unconditional love to us when He died on Calvary. Christ didn’t have to die, and we didn’t deserve His free gift of salvation. Yet, because He loved us, He willingly came and died. He could have rejected us because we have sinned against Him, but He loves us unconditionally.

Friend, aren’t you glad that Christ showed us unconditional love when He died for us on Calvary? Aren’t you glad He extends His free gift to anyone who will accept it? I’m thankful that He didn’t reserve His gift of salvation for only certain people.

Have you thanked Christ today for saving you personally? Also, have you been showing Christ’s unconditional love to others? Take time today to thank Christ for dying for you on Calvary and ask Him to help you show His love through your life.

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Your Daily Devotional for November 26, 2006

 

November 26, 2006

 

 

Giving Thanks: For Friendship

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

 

Proverbs 27:17

 

American representative Jesse Owens seemed sure to win the long jump at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. The year before he had jumped 26 feet, 8 1/4 inches—a record that would stand for twenty five years. As he walked to the long-jump pit, however, Owens saw a tall, blue-eyed, blond German taking practice jumps in the 26-foot range.

Owens felt nervous. He was acutely aware of the Nazis' desire to prove "Aryan superiority," especially over blacks. At this point, the tall German introduced himself as Luz Long. "You should be able to qualify with your eyes closed!" he said to Owens, referring to his two jumps. For the next few moments the black son of a sharecropper and the white model of Nazi manhood chatted.

Then Long made a suggestion. Since the qualifying distance was only 23 feet, 5 1/2 inches, why not make a mark several inches before the takeoff board and jump from there, just to play it safe? Owens did and qualified easily. In the finals Owens set an Olympic record and earned the second of four gold medals. The first person to congratulate him was Luz Long—in full view of Adolf Hitler.

Owens never again saw Long, who was killed in World War II. "You could melt down all the medals and cups I have," Owens later wrote, "and they wouldn't be a platting on the 24-carat friendship I felt for Luz Long."

A friend is a great thing to have—people who share in your victory, give comfort in your defeat, spend time with you, help cheer you up when you are down, and share in your pain.

Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” The last part of that verse tells us that there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother—Jesus Christ. Christ wants to be there for us even more than our own family! I know my family would do anything to help me, but I also know that any time I have a problem, Christ is always there to help me! What a great promise! 

 

You have a friend that loves you more than anyone on this earth could love you. Christ loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you. What love! Would you send one of your children to die for someone else? Would you sacrifice one of your close family members for a sinner? Yet God sacrificed His Son so that we may live with Him for eternity.

 

Have you ever thanked your friends for being a friend to you? Have you thanked them for being there when you need them? Take time to give someone a call or write a note of thanks today. Also thank God for being the best friend you could ever have. Jesus Christ didn’t have to die, yet He loved us enough to suffer for us! Thank Him for it!

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Your Daily Devotional for November 25, 2006

 

November 25, 2006

 

 

Giving Thanks: For His Mercy

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.”

Psalm 118:1-4

 

According to a traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when he saw an old man, weary from age and journey, coming toward him. Abraham rushed out, greeted him, and then invited him into his tent. There he washed the old man’s feet and gave him food and drink.

The old man immediately began eating without saying any prayer or blessing. So Abraham asked him, “Don’t you worship God?” The old traveler replied, “I worship fire only and reverence no other god.” When he heard this, Abraham became incensed, grabbed the old man by the shoulders, and threw him out of his tent into the cold night air.

When the old man had departed, God called to his friend Abraham and asked where the stranger was. Abraham replied, “I forced him out because he did not worship you.” God answered, “I have suffered him these eighty years although he dishonors me. Could you not endure him one night?”

God’s mercy is an amazing thing. Without His mercy, we would have been condemned and punished the first time we ever sinned! God’s mercy could be defined as God not giving us what we deserve. We deserve death. Because we have sinned, we deserve to be punished by being thrown into the lake of fire for all eternity. Yet His mercy is shown to us by providing a payment for our sins.

I am sure that we would all agree that we have sinned. We have all done wrong at some time during our lives. And as punishment for that sin, we deserve Hell. But Christ provided a way for us to be forgiven from those sins. He provided the payment for all of mankind’s sins when He died on Calvary.

He not only showed mercy to us by paying for our sins on Calvary, but He also shows mercy to us each day. Each time we sin, God shows us His mercy by giving us an opportunity to repent and ask Him for forgiveness.

Aren’t you thankful for God’s mercy? Aren’t you thankful that God showed His mercy to us by sending His Son to pay for our sins? Aren’t you thankful that God gives us an opportunity to seek His forgiveness each time we sin? Thank God today for His unfailing mercy!

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Your Daily Devotional for November 24, 2006

 

November 24, 2006

 

 

Giving Thanks: For The Bible

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

 John 5:39

 

 

In the year A.D. 303, the Roman emperor Diocletian issued a decree which he hoped would extinguish the spreading flames of Christianity. One of his primary objectives was the seizure and destruction of the Scriptures. Later that year, officials enforced the decree in North Africa.

 

One of the targets was Felix, Bishop of Tibjuca, a village near Carthage. The mayor of the town ordered Felix to hand over his Scriptures. Though some judges were willing to accept scraps of parchment, Felix refused to surrender the Word of God at the insistence of mere men.

 

Resolutely, he resisted compromise. Roman authorities finally shipped Felix to Italy where he paid for his stubbornness with his life. On August 30, as the record puts it, "with pious obstinacy," he laid down his life rather than surrender his Scripture.  

 

This man was only one of many men and women who have helped to preserve the Bible throughout the years by standing up for their faith. Even though they knew they faced certain death, many stood up for Christ and would not recant or turn their backs on Him. Many secretly printed and distributed thousands of Bibles during this time in history.

 

Throughout history, people have tried many different ways to destroy God’s Word. By banning it, burning it, torturing those who owned it, some wanted to make sure that the Bible became obsolete. But God had a different plan.

 

Through people like Wycliffe, Gutenberg, and many others, God has made a way for His Word to be passed down from generation to generation. This is called preservation. God could have just given us His Word and then left it up to us to preserve it, but He provided a way for us in the twenty-first century to have it! We can read it and learn from it just as the Christians of the first century church did!

 

We can show a thankful spirit to God by reading His Word daily. Do you thank God regularly for His Word? I am glad that God provided us with His Holy Word. Thank Him for preserving it through the generations. Thank Him for the people who were willing to be used of God to help preserve His Word. Don’t take for granted the fact that we have the Scriptures today!

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Your Daily Devotional for November 23, 2006

 

November 23, 2006

 

 

Giving Thanks: On Thanksgiving Day

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

 Psalm 100

 

Today is Thanksgiving—an anticipated day when families join together to carve the turkey, eat delicious food, and enjoy each others’ fellowship. Most importantly, today is a day when we can give thanks to God.

 

Our passage today reminds us to “be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” No matter what circumstances we are going through, we can always find a way to give thanks. 

 

When we give thanks it reflects an inner heart attitude.  Our passage says to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” Joy is something that comes from the Spirit of God—from the inside out.  One hymn writer states, “When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost, count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”

 

Sometimes we can get caught up in thinking on the negative, instead of on our blessings. When we take the time to count our blessings, it really will surprise us what the Lord has done!

 

Giving thanks also represents an acknowledgment of the sovereignty of God. Verse three in our passage says, “Know ye that the LORD he is God.” Sometimes we may wonder why a certain trial has entered our lives, but God’s Word says to give thanks in everything. God understands what we are going through.  He knows our situations and how we are feeling. When we give thanks it represents the fact that we acknowledge God’s goodness and His sovereignty in our lives.

 

Lastly, Giving thanks releases worship to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Verse four says, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” When I have a heart that is right and I understand the sovereignty of God—that all the circumstances that I’m experiencing are under His control—then I can truly enter His gates with thanksgiving and say He is a good God.

 

A story is told of Matthew Henry who was once robbed as he rode horseback to preach the Gospel.  The robbers took his money, and at first Matthew Henry was startled and shocked, but that night he wrote in his journal these words.

 

“I must be thankful today. First, I’m thankful because I was never robbed before. Second, I’m thankful because they took my wallet and not my life. Third, I’m thankful because they took everything I had, and it wasn’t much. Fourth, I’m thankful because I was robbed, not the one robbing.” 

 

What are some things you should thank God for today? There is always something for which we can be thankful! Remember on this Thanksgiving day that the Lord is good, and thank Him for His goodness towards you!

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Your Daily Devotional for November 22, 2006

 

November 22, 2006

 

 

Giving Thanks: For Forgiveness

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

 

Matthew 18:21-22

 

 

A little boy who was visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit his target. As he came back to his grandma's backyard, he spied her pet duck. On an impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck fell dead.

 

The boy panicked. Desperately he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch that day, his grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn't you, Johnny?" And she whispered to him, "Remember the duck!” So Johnny did the dishes.

 

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it anymore. He confessed to his grandma that he'd killed the duck. "I know, Johnny," she said, giving him a hug. "I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave of you. “

 

This is how our Christian life sometimes is. We will sin against God and then try to hide it by not confessing it to Him. We live as a slave to sin and to the devil the whole time. But God already knows our sins and paid for them when He died on the Cross.

 

As His children, He wants us to come to Him and confess our sins. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God loves us and because He loves us, He forgives us, but we must first come to Him and ask for forgiveness.

 

Because He loves us and forgives us, we should forgive others. There will be times when others will hurt us or wrong us. When that happens, instead of becoming angry or upset, we should strive to be like Christ by forgiving them!

 

We all deserve eternal punishment for sinning against God, yet Christ died for us and paid for all our sins! What a great gift!

 

Do you sometimes become bitter and angry with others when they wrong you? We so often sin against God, yet He offers love and forgiveness to us. We need to show the love of Christ to those who have wronged us and forgive them. Who do you need to forgive today? Take time today to thank God for forgiving your sins!

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Your Daily Devotional for November 21, 2006

 

November 21, 2006

 

 

Giving Thanks: That Christ Did Not Quit

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

 

2 Timothy 2:3-4

 

John Wesley was a famous preacher in the 1800s. He faced many oppositions in his day, yet he never gave up.

This page from his diary shows just how persistent he was in preaching about Christ.

 

Sunday, A.M., May 5     Preached in St. Anne's. Was asked not to come back anymore.

Sunday, P.M., May 5     Preached in St. John's. Deacons said "Get out and stay out."

Sunday, A.M., May 12   Preached in St. Jude's. Can't go back there, either.

Sunday, A.M., May 19   Preached in St. Somebody Else's. Deacons called special meeting and said I couldn't return.

Sunday, P.M., May 19   Preached on street. Kicked off street.

Sunday, A.M., May 26   Preached in meadow. Chased out of meadow as bull was turned loose

during service.

Sunday, A.M., June 2     Preached out at the edge of town. Kicked off the highway.

Sunday, P.M., June 2     Afternoon, preached in a pasture. Ten thousand people came out to hear me.

John Wesley didn’t give up, and he didn’t regret it. Even though he faced rejection and opposition, John Wesley pressed on for Christ and ended up impacting thousands of people with the Gospel!

Sometimes God may ask us to do something that we don’t think we can do. We may not think we are capable of accomplishing His will for us, but we must not forget that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Christ was tempted and put to the test just as we are, yet without sin. God the Father asked Christ to go to earth and die for our sins, and He did. Because He had God’s power, He knew that He could accomplish the task.

Christ also chose to persevere when things got tough. He knew that He was going to be beaten and killed, yet He chose to go on for our sake. You might be thinking, “He’s God! He couldn’t turn back! He knew that He had to go on!” Yes, He was God, but remember that He was also one hundred percent man. He knew all that was to happen, but His flesh cried out for Him to refuse, to resist! But aren’t you thankful that He didn’t!

Take time today to thank Him for continuing up Calvary’s hill. Thank Him for continuing even when things were difficult. Do you realize that Christ took our place on the Cross? He took all of our sins upon Himself and paid for them with His blood. Thank Him today for paying the ultimate sacrifice for you.

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