Your Daily Devotional for December 31, 2007

 

December 31,  2007

 

 

Starting Off Right

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

 

Lamentations 3:22-23

 

 

As we enter a new year tonight, many people are making resolution. Some will promise to lose weight, others will determine to spend more time with their family, and some will resolve to read more books. But as we enter this new year, let's look at the resolutions of one of the Great Awakening's leading preachers, Jonathan Edwards.

 

These resolutions were written in his personal diary:

"Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence.
Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general.
Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.
Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.
Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.
Resolved, never to speak evil of any one, so that it shall tend to his dishonour, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.
Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month, and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better.
Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
Resolved, always to do that which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak."

 

What great resolutions! We would all do well to apply these in our own lives. Notice our verses for today, "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." The Lord's mercies are new every day! Even if we fail God in some way today, if we ask for forgiveness, He gives it to us! He wipes the slate clean, and we can start over again!

 

What a great promise! We are all sinners, but God promises His mercy to us every day! Take time today to sit down and evaluate your spiritual life. How have you grown closer to God in the last year? What good habits have you formed that help you become more like Christ?

 

Then see what you could do to improve your Christian life. In what areas have you failed God? What areas do you need to work on so that you can draw closer to God this coming year? Make a list of things you would like to accomplish in your spiritual life this year. Then take time alone with God and commit this list to Him. Ask Him to help you in the areas you need to work on, and commit to drawing closer to Him this year.

 

Daily Bible Reading

Malachi • Revelation 22

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Your Daily Devotional for December 30, 2007

 

December 30,  2007

 

 

Faithful in the New Year

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."

 

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14

 

 

One of the most tragic events during the Reagan Presidency was the Sunday morning terrorist bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, in which hundreds of Americans were killed or wounded as they slept. Many of us can still recall the terrible scenes as the dazed survivors worked to rescue their trapped brothers from beneath the rubble.

A few days after the tragedy, an extraordinary story was told of one of the injured soldiers. Marine Corps Commandant Paul X. Kelly visited some of the wounded survivors in a Frankfurt, Germany hospital. Among them was Corporal Jeffrey Lee Nashton, severely wounded in the incident. Nashton had so many tubes running in and out of his body that a witness said he looked more like a machine than a man, yet he survived.

As Kelly neared him, Nashton, struggling to move and racked with pain, motioned for a piece of paper and a pen. He wrote a brief note and passed it back to the Commandant. On the slip of paper were but two words "Semper Fi"—the Latin motto of the Marines meaning "forever faithful." With those two simple words Nashton spoke for the millions of Americans who have sacrificed body and limb and their lives for their country—those who have remained faithful.

As Christians, we should have the goal of being faithful for Christ until the end of our lives. If we are to be found faithful, there are some things we must do—our duty. First, we must fear God. Psalm 112:1 says, "Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that

delighteth greatly in his commandments." God wants us to fear Him. Fear can be described as "concern or anxiety" but in regards to fearing God, the word fear is described as "reverential awe." God wants us to be in awe of Him or respect Him. We should respect Him so much that we serve Him.

 

If we don't fear or reverence God, we will not keep His commandments, which is the next part of our duty. He commands us to love one another. (John 15:12) None of us are perfect! But God does want us to love Him and to serve Him (John 12:26). Do you love others? Are you serving Him?

 

As we end this Christmas season and look forward to 2008, remember that God wants us to be faithful to Him until the end of our lives. As people are making resolutions for the new year, commit to remain faithful to God. Ask Him for the strength to stay faithful to Him throughout the new year and until His return.

 

Daily Bible Reading

Zechariah 13-14 • Revelation 21

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Your Daily Devotional for December 29, 2007

 

December 29,  2007

 

 

Carried Any Donkeys Lately?

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

 

Galatians 1:10

 

 

An old fable that has been passed down for generations tells about an elderly man who was traveling with a boy and a donkey. As they walked through a village, the man was leading the donkey and the boy was walking behind. The townspeople said the old man was a fool for not riding, so to please them he climbed up on the animal's back. When they came to the next village, the people said the old man was cruel to let the child walk while he enjoyed the ride. So, to please them, he got off and set the boy on the animal's back and continued on his way. In the third village, people accused the child of being lazy for making the old man walk, and the suggestion was made that they both ride. So the man climbed on and they set off again. In the fourth village, the townspeople were indignant at the cruelty to the donkey because he was made to carry two people. The frustrated man was last seen carrying the donkey down the road. 

 

We may laugh, but this story makes a good point: We can't please everybody, and if we try, we end up carrying a heavy burden. When we try to do everything other people want us to do, we can easily become frustrated and confused. That is why we need to remember that the one we must please above all others is Christ.

 

Proverbs 16:7 says, "When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." When you see a sign that reads, "Interstate 99 North," you know what direction and what way you are traveling. Our lives should have a permanent sign for all to see that says, "Pleasing God." When others look at the way we live, they should know what direction we are going—we are living solely to please God.

 

Pleasing God first is much easier said than done. Pleasing God may consist of less overtime and more soulwinning. It may consist of less "self" time and more family time. Sometimes pleasing God means stepping out of your comfort zone. It may mean rearranging your priorities.

 

When you are trying to please your boss, your spouse, your children, your relatives, your pastor, your teacher, and your friends, sometimes it gets extremely overwhelming. Beckoning to the wishes of those around you does more than put you out of sorts; it derails you from your main purpose—to please God first.

 

Examine your schedule and your priorities. Is pleasing God at the top of your list? Or, have you been carrying too many donkeys lately?

 

Daily Bible Reading

Zechariah 9-12 • Revelation 20

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Your Daily Devotional for December 28, 2007

 

December 28,  2007

 

 

What Wondrous Love

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst."

 

John 19:17–18

A story was once told of a little boy whose sister needed a blood transfusion. The doctor explained that she had the same disease the boy had recovered from two years earlier. Her only chance for recovery was a transfusion from someone who had previously conquered the disease. Since the two children had the same rare blood type, the boy was the ideal donor.

"Would you give your blood to Mary?" the doctor asked. Johnny hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble. Then he smiled and said, "Sure, for my sister." Soon the two children were wheeled into the hospital room—Mary, pale and thin; Johnny, robust and healthy. Neither spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned. As the nurse inserted the needle into his arm, Johnny's smile faded. He watched the blood flow through the tube.

With the ordeal almost over, his voice, slightly shaky, broke the silence. "Doctor, when do I die?" Only then did the doctor realize why Johnny had hesitated, why his lip had trembled when he'd agreed to donate his blood. He had thought giving his blood to his sister meant giving up his life.

In that brief moment, he'd made his great decision. Johnny, fortunately, didn't have to die to save his sister. Each of us, however, has a condition more serious than Mary's, and it required Jesus to give not just His blood but His life.  

Even though we sinned and turned our backs on God, He sent His Son to pay the price that we might live with Him for all eternity. What motivated Him to give His life for a people who wanted Him to die? Love—a love that superseded all other emotions. A love so amazing, so divine.

 

Even so, we should have such love. We should strive to be like Christ by showing those around us His great love—love for others that goes beyond any feelings of hatred or hurt, any loss or pain. Even if they do not deserve such love and forgiveness, we should display it to them, for we did not deserve Christ's love.

 

Is there someone you are refusing to love? Is there someone that you cannot forgive? Christ has love for the people He created even though we have disappointed Him. Ask God to give you grace so that you may love everyone with the love of Christ. Seek His help in loving others the way He loved us so many years ago on that rugged Cross.

 

Daily Bible Reading

Zechariah 5-8 • Revelation 19

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