Your Daily Devotional for December 1, 2007

 

December 1,  2007

 

 

Enjoying an Early Christmas

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah."

 

Psalm 68:19

 

 

This year, Christmas is coming early! Why wait until Christmas morning to enjoy the excitement of opening gifts when you and I can begin opening God's gifts today?

 

God daily "loadeth" our lives with benefits; He daily sets aside benefits or gifts for you and me. He is the giver of unspeakable gifts—that's who He is! He is the giver of grace when our strength has failed. He is the giver of forgiveness when our flesh has won. He is the giver of love when our world comes to an end. He is the giver of strength when our spirit is faint. He is the giver of the finest gifts of all. Let us look at some specific gifts you and I can enjoy before Christmas day.       

 

Don't you just love financial pressure? Actually, we hate this feeling. We would much rather God give us a written sketch of how He plans to meet our needs each month. But, this is not how God works. God sometimes uses provision to stretch our faith and strengthen our trust in Him. Around the time our faith becomes stagnant, God will provide a need that only He can supply. He does not do this to frustrate His children, but to strengthen them.

 

God gives the gift of supply. During this holiday season, let's remember that God supplies our needs. Philippians 4:19 says, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

 

God gives the gift of security. The opposite of security is vulnerability. Instead of living a life of questioning and wondering "what if," God is presenting you and I with a gift of security—a life of peace with Christ Jesus. John 10:28 says, "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

 

Someone once said, "Christ was content with a stable when he was born so that we could have a mansion when we die." God gives the gift of salvation. Once you and I have trusted Christ as our personal Saviour, we receive God's gift of salvation. Second Peter 3:9 proves that God wants everyone to have this gift, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

 

Instead of waiting for the thrill of tearing open presents on Christmas day, begin enjoying the thrill of God's gifts. Seek the Lord, enter His presence, rest in the promises of His provision, His security, and His salvation!

 

Daily Bible Reading

Ezekiel 40-41 • 2 Peter 3

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