Your Daily Devotional for November 15, 2006

 

November 15, 2006

 

 

Giving Thanks: For Others’ Sacrifices

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

 

Romans 12:1

 

One winter, when the Roman emperor Licinius was persecuting the Christians, his “Thundering Legion” was stationed at Sebaste. Because forty men in that company had declared themselves believers, they were sentenced to spend the night without clothing on a frozen pool. A large fire was kindled in a house nearby, and food and a warm bath were prepared for any who would renounce their faith.

As daylight faded, forty warriors continued to resist in spite of the bitter cold, some walking quickly to and fro, some already sleeping that sleep which ends in death, and some standing lost in prayer. These words arose to Heaven, “O Lord, forty wrestlers have come forth to fight for Thee. Grant that forty wrestlers may gain the victory!”

Finally, one of them could endure the suffering no longer. He left the others and went into the house where the centurion, Sempronius, and his men were on guard. But still the petition went up from those able to speak, “O Lord, forty wrestlers have come forth to fight for Thee. Grant that forty wrestlers may gain the victory!”

Their prayer was answered. Sempronius the centurion was touched by his comrades’ bravery, and the Holy Spirit moved upon his heart. Declaring himself a Christian, he went to the frozen pond and took the place of the one defector. When the long night was over, forty glorious spirits, Sempronius among them, had entered into the presence of Christ.

Many like these have helped preserve our Christian faith. There was a time when kings and rulers made laws against being a Christian.  They vowed to kill every follower of Christ. It was during times like these that a believer’s faith was truly put to the test. Would they endure suffering and hardness for Christ? Or would they deny Christ and save their own lives?

We have the Bible today because of people who were willing to give their lives for Christ! Don’t take lightly the sacrifices that have been made! We tend to forget the price that was paid so that we could have the Gospel.

Take time to thank God for those who stood for His Word throughout the generations. Then ask yourself, what will you do today to help further the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

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