Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 Search Archive Print This Article The last shall be first Wednesday, December 17, 2008 Psalm 72:11-17 All kings will bow down to him and all nations serve him, for he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help ... He will rescue them from oppression and violence, For precious is their blood in his sight ... May his name endure forever, may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed. On the wall of George Bailey's building and loan office, under a picture of his father, the sign reads, "All you can take with you is that which you've given away." It's a Wonderful Life is a wonderful movie. We watched it on Sunday night, once again inspired by George's generosity of spirit and his spontaneous acts of home-town heroism. In spite of his best efforts to be selfish, George's good deeds and accomplishments for others outstripped his own ambition and personal dreams. Of course he was forced into heroism by unfortunate circumstances. He wanted to explore the world, make a name for himself, accomplish greatness; but instead, stuck in his old home town, he found himself working with "the afflicted who have no one to help." Under-appreciated almost every day of his life, he is vindicated in his most awful circumstance by the people for whom he has given his life. In their wake, even the antagonistic bank examiner "bows down to him." Effortlessly, the servant has become the master, and all is right in the world. How many times must I go through suffering to know that God always turns it into gold? As often as George Bailey? Did he ever really understand that amazing truth? Will I? Precious is our blood in your sight, O Lord. "; Add      Edit    Delete