Your Daily Devotional for November 11, 2006

 

November 11, 2006

 

 

Giving Thanks: For Those Who Have Given Their All

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

 

2 Timothy 2:15

 

It was late October when an officer commanding a platoon of American soldiers received a call from headquarters. Over the radio, this captain learned his unit was being ordered to recapture a small French city from the Nazis. He also learned that for weeks, French resistance fighters had risked their lives to gather information about the German fortifications in that city, and they had smuggled this information out to the Allies.

The French Underground’s efforts had provided the Americans with something worth its weight in gold: a detailed map of the city. It wasn’t just a map with the names of major streets and landmarks; it showed specific details of the enemy’s defensive positions. Indeed, the map even identified shops and buildings where German soldiers bunked or where a machine-gun nest or a sniper had been stationed. Block by block, the Frenchmen gave an accounting of the German units and the gun emplacements they manned. For a captain who was already concerned about mounting casualty lists, receiving such information was an answer to prayer. Although the outcome of the war wouldn’t depend on this one skirmish, to him it meant that he wouldn’t have to write as many letters to his men’s parents or wives telling them their loved one had been cut down in battle.

Before the soldiers moved out to take their objective, the captain gave each man a chance to study the map. And wanting to make sure his men read it carefully, he hurriedly gave them a test covering the major landmarks and enemy strongholds. Just before his platoon moved out, the officer graded the test, and with minor exceptions every man earned a perfect score. As a direct result of having that map to follow, the men captured the city with little loss of American lives.

Today we honor those who have fought for our country. Many men have given their lives to give us freedom. Yet, sometimes we take our freedom for granted. These men did not take for granted the price that had been paid to provide them with that map. They studied it for they knew of its worth and value to help them through their mission.

 

Just as those soldiers depended on that map to guide them through the battle, we need to depend on God’s Word to guide us through life. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” The Bible is our source for answers. It is our light—it guides us when we do not know where to go or what to do. We should read it each day to gain spiritual direction from it.

 

While many have sacrificed for our freedom, there are many who also gave their lives for God’s Word. Not everyone throughout history has been able to freely read God’s Word. You may have several copies of the Bible in your home collecting dust, but there were men and women who paid a price so we can freely read God’s Word. Don’t take it lightly that men and women have died to get us the Gospel. Read it! Study it! Apply it to your everyday life!

 

Is the Word of God precious to you today? As you reflect upon the many people who have died for our freedoms, don’t take their sacrifice lightly.

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1