Diligent Service

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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. --Philippians 4:6 I recently read that YouVersion, the popular Bible app, shared that its most engaged with-popular- verse of 2019 was Philippians 4:6. One only has to open the front page of a newspaper or click on the homepage of news site to see crime, war, sickness, death, conflict, and a culture in decline; it’s enough to cause anxiety in anyone. When that is coupled to the “real world” stress of personal finances, health issues, ageing, and isolation of ourselves or loved ones, it’s enough to cause any person worry and fear. So it’s no wonder the wisdom of the Apostle Paul found in Philippians 4:6 is beloved.   Do you need a little peace in your life? The apostle Paul wrote practical help for you in Philippians 4:6. Now keep in mind, he was in prison when he wrote it. So, Paul knew what he was talking about! Be thankful for everything. Don’t just thank God for the good things, thank Him for all things. Genuine gratitude and praise produce peace because God inhabits the praises of His people. God draws near when we praise Him. Paul knew how to keep from becoming calloused by life’s troubles, trials, tribulations, and temptations. Paul’s life was full of God’s joy. Paul knew the importance of rejoicing and laughter. Don’t worry. Trust God. Worry wastes your time and accomplishes nothing. Instead of being gripped by fear, worry, and stress, be gripped by the grace of God. Rest and relax in Him. He has promised to deliver you from all your fears. Think on the right things. It’s nearly impossible to think two thoughts at once. So if you are thinking on the right and good things, you can’t think of the wrong things. Pray about everything. Really converse with God on a daily basis. Pray with an attitude of devotion and trust. That’s when prayer accomplishes something. When you pray, you won’t be immune from the problems of life, but you will be in touch with the Redeemer. There is nothing that’s not small to God. Your problems in life, be they a hurt toe or deep anxiety, are well within His control and worthy of being brought before Him. Don’t ever think God is too big to hear your little requests. Yes, He’s the Lord of creation, but He’s also an intimate friend. Take your requests to Him and trust He’ll work every single one of them out for your good and His glory. God loves you and whatever concerns you also concerns Him if you’re walking in His will. Finally, do the right thing. A cure for worry, anxiety, or fear is work. Put your faith to practice, get involved in life. Give yourself to meaningful ministry and live out the Christian life. GOD CAN HANDLE ANY PROBLEM IN YOUR LIFE AND GIVE YOU THE ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE YOU NEED TO SEE PAST TODAY'S STRUGGLES. Diligent Service Tuesday, December 31, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.” 2 Chronicles 29:9–11 When King Hezekiah decided to seek God’s help after a period of national judgment, one of the things he did was call for those who served God not to be negligent in fulfilling their duties. He recognized that God would not honor halfhearted or indifferent service. God is looking for dedicated, faithful, diligent servants for His work. Every day we face a choice of how we will spend the twenty-four hours we have been given. Our answer to that question determines what we will accomplish. Adoniram Judson said, “A life once spent is irrevocable. It will remain to be contemplated through eternity. The same may be said of each day. When it is once past, it is gone forever. All the marks which we put upon it, it will exhibit forever. How shall we then wish to see each day marked with usefulness! It is too late to mend the days that are past. The future is in our power. Let us, then, each morning, resolve to send the day into eternity in such a garb as we shall wish it to wear forever. And at night let us reflect that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly marked.” The reality is that 366 days from now, unless the Lord returns or we meet Him in Heaven, we will be looking ahead to the start of another year. Whether we do that with gladness or regret will be determined by how we use those days. Today's Growth Principle: We owe God our diligent service, and we will give an account to Him for how we served Him.

How much of you does Jesus have?

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But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. --Galatians 5:16 One of the most troubling news stories of 2019 has been the attack by the media, the radical left, and “social media influencers” of the Salvation Army.  Despite the incredible selfless, good works the Salvation Army does around the globe, it is being boycotted, protested against, and slandered all because it stands by its doctrine that its members adhere to traditional and Christian standards regarding sexual relationships. Two years ago in London, I had the opportunity to meet with the General of the Salvation Army, and it was a true blessing to hear and see first hand faith at work. The founder of the Salvation Army was a man by the name of William Booth.  He was a great Christian who shook London with the Gospel of Christ and helped bring many people to faith in the 19th century. He was once asked, “What is the secret of your success in bringing people to faith?”  He said, “There have been men with greater talent; there have been men with greater education; there have been men with greater opportunity. But as far as I know, God has had all there is of William Booth.”  Does God have all there is of you? Have you turned from the life of self-promotion and self-focus to a life where you surrender yourself and walk in sync with the Spirit of God? That’s the call on the life of every man or woman who follows Christ – to die to yourself and live to God! You have a choice to make: to either walk by the Spirit or fulfill the desires of the flesh. You’re going to do either one or the other. Surrender your life to Christ, giving Him the control, allowing Him to determine your steps, and watching as He uses you to shake the world! GIVE JESUS ALL OF YOU BY ALLOWING HIS SPIRIT TO TAKE CONTROL AND DETERMINE YOUR STEPS. Living in Obedience Monday, December 30, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 1 Samuel 15:22–23 As a year ends, people often look ahead to the coming year. Many make plans and resolutions. Some of those are more lasting and important than others. As Christians this is a good time for us to assess our relationship with God and determine how we can more effectively serve and glorify Him. It is fine for us to set goals for our health, finances, and other activities. But our plan for the new year is not complete without considering the spiritual. And one of the realms in which the spiritual condition of our world, our nation, our communities, our churches, and our own lives needs the most attention is the arena of obedience. There are many things that we try to substitute for obeying God’s Word. King Saul attempted to justify his disobedience by offering lavish sacrifices. It did not stand with God. He is more concerned with our obedience than with anything we offer as an alternative. We must do whatever He tells us to do. A. W. Tozer wrote, “Have you noticed how much praying for revival has been going on of late— and how little revival has resulted? I believe the problem is that we have been trying to substitute praying for obeying, and it simply will not work. To pray for revival while ignoring the plain precept laid down in Scripture is to waste a lot of words and get nothing for our trouble. Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience.” Today's Growth Principle: We cannot honestly call Jesus Lord unless we are obeying what He has commanded us to do.

Not Ashamed

Not Ashamed
Sunday, December 29, 2019
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

2 Timothy 1:11–13

Paul would have had a much easier life if he had simply kept quiet about his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. If he had never told anyone what happened, he would not have suffered so much—running for his life, being imprisoned, being beaten, being whipped, and stoned. He would not have been jailed in Rome before being executed. But despite all that he endured, Paul was not silent as long as he lived. He would not stop talking about Jesus. Even before he made his trip to Rome in chains, Paul wrote, “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also” (Romans 1:15).

There are things for which people should be ashamed. In our day many of those things are now being praised by the society around us. We should never take part in anything of which we legitimately would be ashamed. But we should never be ashamed when we are judged or condemned or criticized or even persecuted for doing and saying what is right. The world may not accept the truth. They may mock and scorn us. And they may exact economic hardship or even worse. But we should never be ashamed of the truth or of the Lord who saved us. And we should do all we can to share the message of the gospel with a world desperately in need of it.

Today's Growth Principle:
Our commitment to Christ should be so strong that we are not ashamed of any suffering that follows from it.

No One Is Exempt

No One Is Exempt
Saturday, December 28, 2019
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.”

2 Samuel 12:9–10

One of the tools that Satan has used successfully for thousands of years to lure people into sin is the lie that they will somehow be exempt from the consequences of that sin, or at least be able to control those consequences. That has been a lie every time he has used it, and it is still a lie today. There is no one who is exempt from the impact sin makes on their own lives and on others. No amount of talent, no amount of service, no amount of spiritual gifting allows us to sin and get by with it. Our sins are forgiven through the blood of Christ, but the earthly consequences remain.

James was not writing to the lost when he said, “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:15). Sin is destructive to the Christian. Not only does it hinder our fellowship with God, but it produces negative effects that can last for generations.

David was a faithful leader of Israel and a man after God’s heart, but his great victories and his years of service did not lead God to overlook his great sin. Instead the prophet Nathan came to openly confront David and remind him that God had seen what he tried to hide. God did not sweep David’s sin under the rug, and while He forgave David, there were gravely negative consequences that lasted for the rest of his life.

Today's Growth Principle:
We must never be lured into forgetting the destructive nature of every sin—even “little” ones.

“The Contradiction of Sinners”

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The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”             They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,             there is none who does good. --Psalm 14:1 Perhaps you’ve noticed as you’ve looked at the Bible that within its pages, there’s never once an argument for the existence of God. In fact, today’s Scripture is the only verse that directly addresses anything close to the subject. But it tells us much about the mindset behind the atheistic worldview: it’s definitely mistaken. You see, the atheistic worldview tells us that long, long ago, a chance event happened where life came into being. And through an innumerable series of other random events, over millions of years, inanimate matter evolved into the life we have today. Now, I don’t know about you, but to me, that’s absolute foolishness. And the reason many people adhere to it isn’t because of the plausibility of the arguments. Behind the atheistic mindset is a rebellious spirit that wants to take God out of the picture. That’s because if there’s no God, there’s ultimately no accountability. But if we look at what’s most logical, we know that creation requires a transcendent Creator. And that Creator, I firmly believe, is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. We know God by the relationship we have with His Son, Jesus. Acknowledge God today as your Creator and King by affirming your faith in Jesus! THE ATHEISTIC WORLDVIEW IS FOOLISHNESS. SO EMBRACE GOD AS YOUR CREATOR BY AFFIRMING YOUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST TODAY. “The Contradiction of Sinners” Friday, December 27, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Hebrews 12:2–4 Because Jesus was perfect and the Son of God, it would be reasonable to assume that people would gladly obey what He said to do. While there were some who did respond to Him in that way, many others did not. Instead they critiqued His words, refusing to accept that Jesus could be the Saviour for whom they had been waiting. When Jesus healed a man crippled by palsy, and told him he was forgiven, they should have rejoiced, but their reaction was very different. “And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” (Luke 5:21). Though we should gladly and willingly follow what Jesus says to us in His Word, there are times when all of us struggle with doing what God said. Even saved sinners are prone to contradict the teaching of Jesus. We must be on our guard not to allow our thoughts and feelings, or those of others, to influence us to disobey God. Jesus may be contradicted by the world, but He should never be contradicted by His children. Jesus explicitly connected the state of our relationship with Him to our obedience of Him. “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14). Our salvation is not conditional, but our closeness to Him certainly is. There is never a time when what we think or feel should be given precedence over what He said. We must not contradict God. Today's Growth Principle: We must either accept God on His terms, or not at all. There is no middle ground.

Building Your Life to Last

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Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” --1 Peter 1:13-16 A story is told about a sailor hundreds of years ago who was given charge of a ship overnight while the captain slept. It was his first time to have full command of the ship, and the only directive he was given was to sail due north, toward the North Star. “Okay, Captain,” the young sailor said. “So should I just come wake you when we sail past that star?” The captain looked at him and said, “Son, we will never sail past the North Star. It will always be our guide to true north. It never changes.” In much the same way, the statutes and ways of God are our true north. They’re our guide in life as we pursue holy living. And while we’ll never pass them, we can look to them and know the direction to go that will lead us down the path of godly living. Never forget your true north… it’s the very character of Christ Himself. Pursue godly living by following your North Start: the Word of God and the Spirit of God. As long as you are heading in the right direction, you can be sure you’ll stay on the path toward Christ-like living! STAY ON THE PATH TO LIVING A LIFE LIKE JESUS BY KEEPING YOUR FOCUS ON THE HOLY CHARACTER OF GOD. First Things First Thursday, December 26, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” John 1:39–42 The Bible tells us that Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. We don’t know how long he had been following John before Jesus came to be baptized, but the next day Andrew began following Jesus instead. The first thing Andrew did when they reached their destination was to go and find his brother Peter and bring him to Jesus. That was the most important thing he could do, so Andrew did not allow anything to take precedence over that task. All of have friends, family members, co-workers, neighbors, and acquaintances who need to know Jesus. And it is our responsibility to introduce them to Him. Not all of them will respond to the gospel, just as not everyone Jesus Himself talked to accepted Him as their Messiah and Saviour. But if we do not tell them the truth, where will they hear it? “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). We need a renewed sense of urgency and priority when it comes to reaching people with the gospel. It is right for us to send and support missionaries to other places. But we have a responsibility to those around us to be a witness. Today's Growth Principle: There are many good things we can and should do, but none are more important than bringing people to Jesus.

Good Tidings of Great Joy

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“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” --John 3:16 God wants to live in your heart and transform your life. You see, when you become a believer in Jesus Christ, a wonderful thing happens. The very Spirit of God enters your life and lives within you! And when the Holy Spirit lives within, you’re never the same. This is the best Christmas present of all! Nothing can compare to receiving the gift of Jesus Christ because His salvation is the ultimate gift of forgiveness and eternal life. God loves you and me so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth as a baby. God sent Him so you could have meaning, purpose, and a future with Him. He sent Jesus to teach us, and most of all to save us – the Sinless One taking on the sins of the world. God didn’t walk away or give up on restoring our relationship with Him. He provided the way to everlasting life! It’s my prayer that you would remember God’s love for you this Christmas and that you would be bold in sharing this gift with the world. Nothing can compare to receiving the ultimate gift of Jesus Christ because His salvation is the ultimate gift of forgiveness. It will be the best Christmas present you could ever give someone! Good Tidings of Great Joy Wednesday, December 25, 2019 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 Surveys show that for many people Christmas is one of the most stressful times of year. Yet it is meant to be a time of joyful celebration. When the angel announced the birth of Jesus Christ he called it news of “great joy.” Too often we allow the pressures of the event to overshadow that joy. Finances, strained relationships, time pressure, and stress can turn Christmas into a difficult day rather than a celebration. But that should not be true of God’s children. Dr. John Rice wrote, “Christmas joy does not depend on the outward trappings of Christmas. You may be lonely, poor, and cold, neglected by the children, forgotten by your friends, yet may have the glad Christmas joy in your heart as Paul had, shut up in prison cells at Rome! Be sure to open your heart and let the dear Lord Jesus make it a happy Christmas time for you.” This is a day of good news as we celebrate the birth of the Saviour. Even though those around us may not understand the real meaning of this special day, we who know the truth should not lose sight of it. Let it be said of us as it was said of the wise men: “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy” (Matthew 2:10). May your Christmas truly be merry and blessed. Today's Growth Principle: As you celebrate Christmas, rejoice in the glad tidings of the hope for eternity God has given us.

Songs for the Savior

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For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. --Hebrews 9:24 Every Christmas, the hearts of believers everywhere focus on the birth of Christ. Now, while I love the fact that people are thinking about spiritual things this time of year, the story of the baby Jesus is just a snapshot in God’s story. In fact, it’s only a small portion of the life of Christ. Jesus grew up, lived a powerful life filled with many miraculous works, died a terrible death for you and me, rose again, and ascended to heaven. He paid what we owed. So you see, we miss a whole lot when all we remember is His birth. And today, as you read these words, Jesus is as alive as ever, seated at the right hand of the Father! But what is Christ doing in heaven? He is interceding for the faithful. He is in the presence of the Father, at the very throne of God, to speak on our behalf! If you knew that Jesus Christ was in the next room right now praying for you, would that make a difference in the way you face life each day? Well, the distance makes no difference. Jesus is praying for you right now. And you can face the challenges and the battles of life knowing that He is interceding for you!

A Promise of Pain
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Luke 2:33–35

We think to think of Christmas in terms of joy, and it is truly a joyful occasion. But it was not easy or simple. Mary went through the same physical pain in childbirth that other mothers have experienced through the years. She was not miraculously shielded from the suffering just because the child to whom she was giving birth was the Messiah. And the pain of childbirth was only the beginning—the greatest pain Mary would experience was yet to come when Jesus was crucified.

The prophecy Simeon had given Mary when Jesus was a baby came true as she watched Him die. “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!” (John 19:26). Even in His final moments, Jesus made sure that Mary would be cared for after His death. He knew that her heart was broken, and she would need the physical and emotional comfort John would be able to provide.

There is no salvation possible apart from sacrifice. And there is no way to follow God’s Son without carrying our own crosses just as He did. Mary willingly accepted her part in God’s plan, but it came at a very high price. There is great joy and glory and reward in faithfully obeying and serving God, but it is not an easy road we have been called to walk.
Today's Growth Principle:
The seriousness of sin is measured by the amount of pain the solution for it brought both to the Lord and those who loved Him.

The Christ of Every Christmas

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He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. --Colossians 1:15 I want you to try to imagine what the world would be like if Jesus had never been born. It’s beyond our imagination, but just try to picture it. We certainly wouldn’t know God as we know Him now. In fact, we’d be fortunate to have even heard about the God revealed in the Old Testament.   So what changed on that first Christmas so long ago? Well, when Jesus Christ came, the Bible says He was Immanuel – “God with us.” God was no longer a distant deity. He was no longer an unfathomable, unapproachable image. God became flesh and blood; God was with us! The Lord of all creation came as a baby, toiled as a carpenter and lived His final years on earth as an itinerant preacher. He is God incarnate. That’s why Jesus would later say, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). When Jesus was born into the world, He was God! He wasn’t a man acting like God; not even God acting like a man; but God who was fully man and a man who was fully God! What Christ was seeing, that was God seeing. And when Christ was walking, that was God walking! If Jesus hadn’t come, and if He wasn’t God, we’d never have the knowledge of God we have today. So thank God for sending Jesus to Bethlehem all those years ago so that you might have a clear picture of a God who loves you unconditionally! The Rejected Stone Monday, December 23, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” 1 Peter 2:6–8 When ancient buildings were constructed from stone, it was critical that the foundation layer, and especially the cornerstone, be perfectly straight and square. All of the walls of the building would be put together based on that one stone. If it was not exactly right, the builders would reject it in favor of one that was. They would keep looking until they found the prefect stone, because they recognized the importance of that foundation. Peter uses this metaphor to illustrate the way the world responded to Jesus. He was not rejected because of any error or flaw or imperfection. Indeed after his examination, Pilate proclaimed the innocence of Jesus to the people when he said, “Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him” (Luke 23:14). Jesus was rejected because the people were not willing to accept what He had come to offer on His terms. It is much the same today. People find the message of the gospel offensive in our culture where acceptance of everything and everyone just as they are seems to be the cardinal virtue. The message of Jesus is that we are not ok as we are, and have no hope apart from Him. Today's Growth Principle: It is foolish for us to try to make God conform to our ideas and expectations when He is the perfect standard.

The Arrival of Peace

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For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures … --1 Corinthians 15:3–4 Our world has spent the past month going through a whirlwind of consumerism mixed with religion and a dash of spirituality when appropriate. Now that we’re just a few days from December 25th, let’s try to answer this question: What is the meaning of the Christmas season?  If you asked 20 people on the street this question, you’d probably get 20 answers. Some might say, “Peace on earth, goodwill to men.” Others might answer, “It’s about being with those you love.” Now there’s a lot of truth in both of those answers, but they’re really both inadequate because they miss the main point: Jesus. So I want to give you what I believe the Bible says is the real meaning of this season: In Jesus Christ, our greatest need is exposed; and in Jesus Christ, God’s greatest deed is disclosed. He came for us, He died for us, and He rose again for us. If we can start living our lives in light of this key truth, we can have Christmas in our hearts year round. So start living today with a new awareness of what Christ did for you by coming into the world! The Arrival of Peace Sunday, December 22, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:6–7 When sin came into the world, the perfection that God had created was broken. Among the things that was lost in the fall was the perfect peace that had previously existed. Now both man and nature live in strife and conflict. The prophet Isaiah was given a vision of the future in which that peace will be fully restored. “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 65:25). The foundation for that future was laid when Jesus came into the world. It was not by accident that the angel announced to the shepherds, “Peace on earth” when He was born in Bethlehem. Jesus is the only source of real and lasting peace in a broken and sinful world. And He did not merely offer the possibility of peace, but instead the promise of lasting peace to those who believe in Him. The night before the crucifixion Jesus told the disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). He is our peace, and the peace that He gives can never be taken away. Today's Growth Principle: There is no peace in a sinful, fallen world except that brought into the world by the Prince of Peace.

“According to Thy Word”

CURRENT RADIO SERIES The Gift   CURRENT TV SERIES The Christ of Every Christmas

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. --Romans 6:23 I’ve told the story before of a man who was getting ready to put a sign in his yard that said “N-O-E-L” to spread some Christmas cheer. It was a cold night, a snowstorm hit, and the man was trying to put the letters up from behind instead of facing them. He fumbled and bumbled, and said some very un-Christmas-like things in the process. He finally finished, plugged in the lights and promptly forgot about them. The next morning, he awoke to a foot of snow on the ground. He went outside to take a look at his sign and noticed he put the letters up backwards, “L-E-O-N.” Now, his neighbor across the street was named Leon. And when he saw him fixing the sign he said, “Man, I thought that was just for me!” When God came in Christ, He came for you. It wasn’t a mistake. It was a gift with your name on it, a gift Jesus purchased. And the question of Christmas is whether or not we’re willing to open that gift and receive it by faith, or simply let it sit under the tree. The greatest gift of Christmas is the gift of salvation. In fact, the very name of Jesus means, “God saves.” Receive that gift, be saved by faith, and you’ll experience eternal life! “According to Thy Word” Saturday, December 21, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:35–38 Mary’s life was turned upside down when Gabriel appeared to her with the news that she would be the mother of the Messiah. She went from planning a wedding to planning to be a mother—realizing what everyone would think about her and Joseph, and the danger the news posed to her dreams for the future. Yet despite all the implications, Mary willingly accepted what God had planned for her life. She viewed herself as His servant, and was willing to do whatever He wanted her to do. Many times we struggle, not with knowing what the right thing to do is, but with being willing to do what we know is right. There is no promise given to us that God’s way will be easy. George Muller said, “Nine–tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord’s will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.” Obedience may and often does require a significant sacrifice on our part. But that should not deter us from doing what God has commanded. The response of our hearts should be the same as Mary’s, that we are willing to do whatever God has called us to do, regardless of the cost. Today's Growth Principle: We can only fulfill our role in God’s plan if we are willing to do everything His way.