"But You remain the same, and Your years will never end" (Psalm 102:27).
Another year is coming to an end. For some of you this has been a year of significant change in your life. Celebrations such as the birth of a child, a long-awaited job promotion, an in-law added to the family structure, a new home. In addition to the celebrations you've possibly experienced the loss of a loved one, a difficult job transition, a divorce in the family, or even a major medical battle.
2009 is around the corner and you're not sure just what to expect. What do the terrorists have planned? What will happen in the Middle East? How will the economy affect your personal life? What will the political changes bring? Or more importantly, will this be the year for the return of the King of kings?
The portion of Scripture truth in the daily text gives great assurance for life's inevitable transitions. It's said that change is certain and from our perspective that's true. There will be change in your life in 2009. That's for sure. And there will certainly be change in our world as well!
The Psalmist is speaking of God in the daily text when he writes, "But you remain the same." This speaks of the theological attribute known as the immutability of God, which is taught throughout the Bible. God declares in Malachi 3:6, "For I am the LORD, I change not." Hebrews 13:8 declares that, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." I often find rich assurance in the portion of the great old hymn that states, "Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not. As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be."
The latter part of the verse states, "And your years will never end." This speaks of the attribute known as the eternality of God. From eternity past, to this very moment we call "now", and throughout eternity future He is. Less than 24 hours this year will end and one day our physical existence on earth will end, but His years will never end. And the remarkable blessing is that He has made provision for us to live with Him for all eternity!
There are many changes on earth we dread, but the certainty of a future in heaven with the King of kings is a change that fills us with glorious anticipation as we welcome in the new year of 2009. As we go through life's transitions let us place our growing faith and steadfast hope in God's ever-faithful care! As we do so, His grace will sustain us and His Word will guide us through another year.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we are so very thankful for all the blessings we enjoyed over the past year of 2008. There were many opportunities for rejoicing and many opportunities for trusting. Your mercies are renewed daily and Your provision is experienced in our lives each moment of every day. We seek You for guidance in the new year and growth in our daily Christian walk. Though we cannot predict the future we can predict Your faithfulness because You are a God that does not change. Every promise You've made is true as we have seen in the Biblical records. This gives us reason to trust You for the dawning of a new year where we will once again experience Your guiding presence in our daily lives. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Amen.
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights" (Habakkuk 3:17-19).
Just minutes after midnight Saturday morning Brooksyne and I experienced something that we'd never experienced before. I had just climbed into bed while Brooksyne was putting away some dishes in the kitchen when we heard a loud rumbling noise and felt some vibrations for a few seconds. To borrow from a famous Christmas poem, I "sprung from my bed to see what was the matter." I quickly descended the steps and Brooksyne met me with, "What was that?" I told her unconvincingly, "I think it was thunder."
She suggested we open the front door to make sure there wasn't large farm equipment driving past our house, though it was certainly a strange hour for that. We did so but there was nothing but the empty field across the street. Then she came up with the ridiculous theory, "I believe it was an earthquake." "No, we don't get earthquakes around here" I told her.
We went to bed and thought little more about it. But when I got up the next morning I googled "Lancaster earthquake" just to see if there was anything to Brooksyne's farfetched theory. Sure enough there were many entries under the subject matter. And, indeed, we did have an earthquake that registered 3.3 on the Richter Scale.
Ester slept right through the earthquake as did many others. Another first for us is that we drove through the epicenter in Salunga about five miles from our home as we took Ester to work later that morning.
Now I realize that our little earthquake didn't make national news or we surely would have gotten phone calls from worried family members and distant friends. We had no structural damage, no material breakage, and most importantly no deaths were reported due to our earthquake.
But the earth's trembling that we heard and felt reminds me of the shaking that takes place in people's lives in various magnitudes. Sometimes it is of a local nature such as our small earthquake and other times it might be of a much larger magnitude affecting multitudes of people all over the globe. The fallout can have disastrous consequences, rather than just a minor distraction that becomes the talk around town the next morning.
Today let us consider the great statement of confidence and faith that concludes the rather obscure book of Habakkuk. This was written as Judah was about to be destroyed by the Babylonians and the remnant taken captive. It was a desperate time.
Since the economy was agriculturally based Habakkuk describes the equivalence of a severe economic depression. Based on the wider context of the book (the impending judgment upon the nation of Judah) I believe he's describing a situation in which everything that can go wrong does, a "worst case scenario."
What response does he have during such times? Twice he states the will to live in an attitude of joy and in both cases the immutable (unchanging) source of that joy is expressed: "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior."
Consider the word "yet"; few in letters but packed with meaning. It conveys the sense of "in spite of" or "notwithstanding." Habakkuk was determined to keep his faith in the Lord, and experience the deep abiding joy that is derived from one's relationship with an unchanging God, not the changing circumstances of one's life.
Jesus prayed to His Father in His final "High Priestly" prayer: "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them" (John 17:13).
Today, what are you going through? For most of you it doesn't compare with those in the areas devastated by destructive earthquakes, other natural disasters, wars or persecuted lands. But some of you are dealing with a trial and doubtless for some readers it's a very serious trial. Today, let us quote Habakkuk and make this our own personal victorious declaration: "The Sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights" (3:19).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, Habakkuk reminds me that my joy is not derived from my abundant provisions. But rather my joy comes from God my Savior as I choose to rejoice in Him whether or not my pantry is overflowing. I rejoice in knowing that You are my strength as You enable me to descend the rigorous, steep terrain toward the victorious mountaintop. At the height of the mountain I can look back at the disappointments and hardships I climbed through as You made my feet sure-footed like those of a deer. I once again affirm my faith in You, my Sovereign Lord, and rejoice in the work You are accomplishing in my life.
Note: We're presently in Harrisonburg, VA this morning and we will be travelling to North Carolina today. We are planning to see Stephen's sister and her husband along with three other families throughout North Carolina over the next several days. We will attempt to write daily but realize that our schedule may be impeded due to our travel and visiting schedules.
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me–holy is His name” (Luke 1:46-49).
I had the role of planning and leading our Christmas Eve service. In the beginning I invited the little children to come forward to the manger setting on the platform to play the role of the shepherds, Joseph, and Mary. A three year old visitor, without hesitation, came forward and at my invitation she sat down on Mary’s three legged stool right next to Baby Jesus in the manger. Three year old Tirza immediately marched right up the steps behind her. She reached right into the manger to remove Baby Jesus and she lovingly cuddled him throughout the song, “Away in a Manger.” The congregation found this impromptu live nativity to be a charming event!
Following the service I was stepping down the steps on the platform when I met little Tirza with the absolute intention of climbing the big people steps to make her way back to the wooden stool we had set up earlier for Mary She sat right down on the stool and once again lifted Baby Jesus out of the manger and gave Him tender love and attention. This time no one was looking on. In fact the people left pretty quickly so they could get to other Christmas Eve activities. That got me to thinking.
Tirza didn’t want the role of Mary so others could watch her and whisper, “Isn’t she adorable!” She took her position after others left because that’s where her heart remained during the entire service. We had an abundance of Scripture narration, Christmas carols, Pastor’s meditation, Communion, and the Candle Lighting service but Tirza must have been thinking of Baby Jesus lying there in a manger all by Himself while we were busy with all the other Christmas Eve activities.
Her innocent childlike affection for the newborn babe is a lesson for all of us who get busy with the multitude of the season’s activities but we unintentionally leave Baby Jesus all alone in His manger. Our love and affection can be shown to Him by reading His Word and endearing it to our heart and, like Mary, though she didn’t understand everything she was told chose to “treasure up all these things and ponder them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).
We are at the dawn of a New Year where we’re often challenged to make New Year’s resolutions. In this New Year I want to challenge you to treasure your relationship with Christ just as little Tirza treasured Baby Jesus. Don’t leave your Bible on a shelf only to be pulled down when others might take notice as you go to church. Read it daily, ponder its meaning for your life, search for hidden truths and most especially apply the message to your heart. Hopefully your Bible will show plenty of wear, not because of abuse but because of daily usage.
It is through the faithful reading of Scripture and daily prayer that we will be able to rejoice and proclaim just like Mary, “The Mighty One has done great things for me–Holy is His name.”
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Father, we confess that it is often easier to be busy about Your kingdom than it is to sit at the feet of the King. Intensify our desire to set aside a segment of each day to be a sacred time with You so that we faithfully read Your Holy Word and prayerfully commune with You. It is in communion with You that we grow in our love and devotion and we become mindful of the great things You do for us. You are the Mighty One who is at work in our lives–Your name is holy. Amen.
"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:4,5).
Do you have a hard time waiting? Are delays difficult to deal with causing you stress and anxiety? For most of us the answer is "yes." God had first promised the Messiah after Adam and Eve's transgression in the garden. Over the next several millenniums there was a growing body of Messianic promises that the Jewish people were given. At the time of Christ's birth two elderly Jewish people are mentioned in Luke who had longed for the Messiah's coming. Simeon had been "waiting for the consolation of Israel", and Anna "spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem."
In the daily text the Apostle Paul is reflecting on the events of Christ's incarnation. He uses an intriguing phrase "when the fullness of the time came" to describe that wonderful moment in space and time when God acted on our behalf in sending His Son for our redemption. The long wait was over. The faith of devout people like Simeon and Anna and others like them was now reality. God kept His promise.
And God still keeps His promises. He always will. He'll keep everyone of them. We have the perspective of looking back and seeing the fulfillment of the greatest of God's promises. This occurred after a long wait and in "the fullness of the time."
I believe I come to an understanding of this verse better when I recognize that it's the fullness of God's time, not ours. Many of us are waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled in our lives. The wait can be very trying. Many are living with an ongoing burden for spiritually wayward family members, others have long-standing physical ailments in their lives or in someone they love. And on my heart this morning are so many of our dear brothers and sisters living in very oppressive conditions. And we all wait for that next great cosmic event when Jesus again keeps His last word to us when He declared, "Yes, I am coming soon."
God has fulfilled the biggest promise. Let us wait with faith and assurance that "in His time" He will also take care of the scores of other matters we all deal with. He is faithful!
In His time, in His time;
He makes all things beautiful in His time.
Lord, please show me every day
As You're teaching me Your way
That You do just what You say in Your time.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we know that Your time table is pre-ordained in the events that make an eternal difference in our lives. A thousand years is as a day and a day as a thousand years. Help us to patiently wait for Your will to be fulfilled in our personal lives, in the lives of our loved ones, and in the world around us. May we be found steadfast, sober, expectant and alert awaiting the day of your promised return. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons" (Galatians 4:4,5).
Yesterday we took our Amish friends, Jesse and Anna Ruth, along with their four children, and also Ken and Nila with their toddler David to an assisted living facility. The children rang the bells and we sang Christmas carols to the residents room by room.
This up-close and personal approach was very meaningful to the residents. Their eyes brightened and their warm smiles greeted us as we walked into their rooms (mostly seeing the kids, of course). The children were a little nervous in the beginning but quickly grew comfortable after meeting the first couple residents. They extended their little hands for a warm handshake which was most eagerly accepted from the people. Even Eli James stretched out his nearly two year old hand to each resident. Anna Ruth placed the 6 month baby, Naomi Grace, on many grandmothers' laps and they were absolutely delighted with the touch of a tiny babe in their arms.
As we approached the room of a Jewish woman I whispered to Brooksyne, "She might not want to hear the Christmas carols." Brooksyne asserted that she would be fine since she regularly attends the hymn sings that Brooksyne leads. We went in and sang a sacred carol and she sang right along. As we left singing "We wish you a Merry Christmas" she expressed her heartfelt appreciation that we had stopped by!
Here in the United States (and probably in many other countries) public Christmas expressions are increasingly seen as insensitive, unacceptable and intolerant. Even using the customary "Merry Christmas" expression is banned in some settings. This is a relatively recent development brought on by the sensitivity police and those easily offended. (I don't think the new politically correct message had gotten to our Jewish friend.) The incessant efforts of godless groups like the ACLU persistently seek to remove any hint of Christ from the public square and this is most pointedly seen at Christmas.
However there are those who still boldly express their view of the season. Along the main street in our town we have a large auto dealership with a lighted sign which states "Christ Is Born."
Bible teacher Warren Wiersbe observes, "In this day when pluralism is interpreted by most people to mean 'agree with everybody about everything and don't make waves,' Christians need to remember that they are different and must test everything by the Word of God. There are many religions, but there is still 'no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved'" (Acts 4:12). That name of course is Jesus.
Today let's remember the real focus of Christmas: "God sent His Son." This is the vital truth and the greatest source of joy and encouragement. Jesus Christ is the greatest gift!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Jesus, You are life's greatest Treasure as You emptied Yourself of equality with God and chose to be made in human likeness taking on the very nature of a servant. Thank You for coming to us and meeting our most critical need of salvation. May we not be fearful but openly voice Your presence in the public square even as great hosts of angels proclaimed Your earthly arrival in Bethlehem. Your salvation message brings hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak, and release for those help captive in the ravages of sin's wasteland. You did not descend to earth in order to conquer or enslave, but to draw the hearts of humankind to Yourself through the incredible sacrificial love that poured forth from Your body on the cross of Calvary. What personal wondrous love is this! Amen.
"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).
At seven years of age a thoughtful child wrote out an acrostic, spelling out the letters of his name and expressing his strong faith in God.
I – I am a vile polluted lump of earth
S – So I've continued ever since my birth
A – Although Jehovah, grace doth daily give me
A – As sure this monster, Satan, will deceive me
C – Come therefore, Lord, from Satan's claws relieve me
W – Wash me in Thy blood, O Christ
A – And grace divine impart
T – Then search and try the corners of my heart
T – That I in all things may be fit to do
S – Service to Thee, and Thy praise too.
I wonder how many of you have ever formulated such an acrostic for your name? I sure haven't!
This Christmas season many of us will sing carols with words so familiar that we may pay little attention to their rich meaning. Let us consider just one line from a great Christmas carol that most of us know well and will likely sing sometime during the season. It was written nearly 300 years ago by Isaac Watts and is still sung all over the world. He wrote a number of other great hymns that we sing to this day, but this is probably his hymn that is most universally sung.
There is a single line in the hymn I want to focus on today: "Let earth receive her King." I consider the conflict all over the world, particularly in the land of Christ's birth. Bethlehem is essentially closed up due to terrorism and violence. And there are so many places of strife from domestic to foreign.
The prayerful imploring of Isaac Watts is just as appropriate today as it was when he wrote it and when John wrote the words of the daily text: "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." The children of God are those of any generation, of any nation, of any skin color, of any economic level, powerful or powerless, who have received the King, who have believed in His Name. And all over the earth today many are receiving the King. Have you received Him?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, there is nothing we can do in our own power or charm to receive Your favor, but we do receive Your forgiveness as we believe on Jesus and the wondrous work of His redemption through death on a cross. Then we are no longer orphans but are adopted into the family of believers who call You Father. And the amazing blessing is that You call us Your children. We receive You as our Father, our Savior, and our blessed eternal King.
"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).
At seven years of age a thoughtful child wrote out an acrostic, spelling out the letters of his name and expressing his strong faith in God.
I – I am a vile polluted lump of earth
S – So I've continued ever since my birth
A – Although Jehovah, grace doth daily give me
A – As sure this monster, Satan, will deceive me
C – Come therefore, Lord, from Satan's claws relieve me
W – Wash me in Thy blood, O Christ
A – And grace divine impart
T – Then search and try the corners of my heart
T – That I in all things may be fit to do
S – Service to Thee, and Thy praise too.
I wonder how many of you have ever formulated such an acrostic for your name? I sure haven't!
This Christmas season many of us will sing carols with words so familiar that we may pay little attention to their rich meaning. Let us consider just one line from a great Christmas carol that most of us know well and will likely sing sometime during the season. It was written nearly 300 years ago by Isaac Watts and is still sung all over the world. He wrote a number of other great hymns that we sing to this day, but this is probably his hymn that is most universally sung.
There is a single line in the hymn I want to focus on today: "Let earth receive her King." I consider the conflict all over the world, particularly in the land of Christ's birth. Bethlehem is essentially closed up due to terrorism and violence. And there are so many places of strife from domestic to foreign.
The prayerful imploring of Isaac Watts is just as appropriate today as it was when he wrote it and when John wrote the words of the daily text: "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." The children of God are those of any generation, of any nation, of any skin color, of any economic level, powerful or powerless, who have received the King, who have believed in His Name. And all over the earth today many are receiving the King. Have you received Him?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, there is nothing we can do in our own power or charm to receive Your favor, but we do receive Your forgiveness as we believe on Jesus and the wondrous work of His redemption through death on a cross. Then we are no longer orphans but are adopted into the family of believers who call You Father. And the amazing blessing is that You call us Your children. We receive You as our Father, our Savior, and our blessed eternal King.
"Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made" (Psalm 145:13).
Yesterday I received an interesting email ad from Staples, an office supply store where we periodically shop. This ad especially caught my attention as the subject was "Will Office Depot closings affect you?"
Office Depot, a competitor to Staples, is closing some stores and Staples "thoughtfully" wants to inform me (even though we don't have any Office Depot stores in our area). The ad begins "You can always count on Staples" followed by a press report about the Office Depot closings.
Well that sure caught my attention and I called Brooksyne over to have a look. She thought it sounded rather arrogant. The email confidently proclaims "when other suppliers are closing their doors we're here to stay." Well I certainly hope that's true but only time will tell.
I believe one of the greatest perspectives we can have in life is a daily recognition of God's faithful and abundant blessings. In the physical realm these blessings vary among us. Some have better health than others, some have more of this world's goods, and some have greater heartaches.
Because we live in the physical realm we inevitably focus on these. Nevertheless, how quickly these things can change! Any security we have in the physical world is very tenuous. There is such uncertainty in the current economic conditions and millions are affected.
We all know that that "steady" job can quickly vanish. An unfaithful spouse, a tragic accident or medical diagnosis can alter our present and future plans instantly. We really have no guarantees of security in regard to the physical realm. Bluntly speaking a store, no matter how popular it is, can't really claim, "You can always count on ______." (I realize the advertisement slogan is intended to make people feel more secure about Staples in an insecure economy.)
But in the spiritual realm our security is absolute with no deficiency whatsoever. These blessings are safe and abundantly adequate regardless of where we live or how "blessed" we happen to be in the physical. My Christian brother or sister reading this in Africa, India or anywhere else on this planet is equally blessed with me in the spiritual realm.
What a tremendously assuring truth is expressed in the daily verse. These are 3,000 year old words written by King David. "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made" (Psalm 145:13). The first part of the verse is classic Hebrew parallelism, a great reinforcement of the reality of God's eternal Kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
Your dominion endures through all generations.
The second part has two complimentary truths.
The LORD is faithful to all His promises.
The Lord is loving toward all He has made.
These statements may not always appear to be true in regard to our own observation and experiences but they are absolutely true in the spiritual realm and equally so regardless of the extent of our physical and material blessing or lack thereof.
Many of you are encountering a shaking that reveals the insecurity of this present world. Today, let us consider the altogether abundant blessings and promises of God. "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all--how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Jesus, our material accumulation initially brings great pleasure but it fades with each passing day. When we strive to hold onto that which is fleeting it deters us from that which has eternal significance. Lord, You promise to give us all things that we have need of as we seek You and Your Kingdom above all. May Your light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the glory of God in the face of our Lord Jesus Christ.
"He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit" (Psalm 147:4,5).
How are you doing with your Christmas shopping? Are you having trouble getting just the "perfect" gift? I am a very poor shopper and struggle getting the right gift for my wife. Well, for several years now I've been hearing about a very different gift. The International Star Registry allows you to name a star and will send you an official certificate! Whoever came up with this has a pretty good business model since the current estimate among astronomers is that there are a billion stars, and of course they'll probably always be discovering a few million more.
However there is a problem for the enterprising business entrepreneur who devised this scheme. The mighty God we serve and who sent His only Son to this little planet earth has already taken care of naming all the stars. He has determined their number and calls them each by name.
He made them all (Genesis 1:16) and has them all accounted for. The prophet Isaiah, in proclaiming the mighty greatness of God, declares "Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing" (Isaiah 40:26). This is the great God we serve today!
Yesterday we wrote of the increasing evidence of mass apostasy (falling away) as modern man sits in judgment of God and His revealed truth in the Holy Scriptures. On issue after issue we are told by modern experts that we've had it all wrong. Author Rod Dreher writes concerning this viewpoint, "Truth is not determined by emotion, as I see it, and certainly I find it epistemologically arrogant to assume that an early 21st-century white American bourgeois male can stand in judgment of Scripture and the Church." I am quoting Rod Dreher here but I would emphatically remove the qualifying phrase, "as I see it." Truth is not determined by emotion. Period!
"His understanding has no limit." How extremely limited my understanding is. The very brightest minds understand only a tiny, tiny fraction of all there is to understand. Each person's culture, location, and life experience will have a significant bearing in what he comes to know and apply to his understanding. How distorted that is.
The NASV translates this phrase describing God's attribute as, "His understanding is infinite." Time, location, and culture are not factored into God's understanding for He has always existed and His understanding far exceeds our skewed vision and earth-based experience. God's infinite frame of reference springs forth from His eternal character. In His unshakable kingdom God's infinite understanding is applied not just here and now but will also be revealed in the future kingdom.
Today let us again resolve that we will stay true to the faith once for all delivered to the saints even while we humbly acknowledge our own very limited understanding in light of God's unlimited understanding.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we are mindful that we not only fall short of Your glory, but we also fall short of understanding. Understanding all that You want to teach us in this life and the life yet to come. But we draw near to You with a sincere heart as we study Your truths and seek to apply them with understanding to our minds and hearts. This comes about as we read the Scriptures, as we meditate in prayer, as we contemplate Your holy character, and even as we make wrong decisions that force us to reaccess our actions and go back to Your infinite wisdom and understanding. As we do so we hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for You are faithful in all You say and in all You do. We bless You, Lord, at all times and give thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord, for Your infinite wisdom. Amen.
"This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it'" (Jeremiah 6:16).
Yesterday we attended an Amish church service held in the home of our Amish friends Jesse and Anna Ruth. It was altogether unlike any service we had ever visited and we will share some observations on the experience below our message. On the way over to their home on the eastern side of Lancaster County we listened to a portion of a church service on the radio. It was a live service from one of our local mega churches and had the latest music, most of which we didn't even recognize, even though we don't consider ourselves entirely "out of the groove"! But it did underscore the incredible contrast we experienced yesterday morning.
Jeremiah's ministry was to the Kingdom of Judah in the years just prior to the Babylonian Exile. His ministry essentially urged the people to repent of their sins and turn back to God. In today's verse the direct appeal is from God, "This is what the LORD says."
They were instructed to "stand at the crossroads and look." I believe in this instance the crossroads was that critical period in which they lived. An old commentary states that this is the "image from travelers who have lost their road, stopping and inquiring which is the right way on which they once had been, but from which they have wandered." The crossroads of life is a critical time of decision making not just outward, but also involving inner contemplation. It is a good time to examine our lives. In the case of Jeremiah and the initial recipients it was the sobering reality of the imminent judgment and destruction of the kingdom.
In our own lives crossroad experiences may be the death of a loved one, a life-altering trial, our own aging and sense of mortality, or choosing to tackle a longstanding, destructive addiction.
God called the kingdom of Judah to "ask for the ancient paths." Today the last thing most people are interested in is the "ancient paths". Our culture is obsessed with the lure of the new. For so many the ancient paths have no appeal at all and are generally scoffed at. "Out with the old, in with the new."
"Ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." I believe the meaning here is spiritual and a call to obedience as found in God's Holy law. This is the "good way" and by walking in it one will truly find rest for the soul. Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
But many then and so many today emphatically declare, "We will not walk in it." The "ancient paths" are maligned from so many sources. I always expect before Christmas and Easter to see major publications and newscasts launch an assault on Biblical truths. I was perusing through books at a local warehouse store where book after book attacked the foundations of the historic Christian faith. Modern scholars malign the ancient way and sit in judgment of the wisdom of the ages.
Just this morning we received a letter from a trusted Christian ministry informing readers that PBS will run a program on December 18th titled the "Bible's Buried Secrets" which will declare that the patriarchs, Moses, and the Exodus are all myths, and that God and "his wife" were a part of the pagan Canaanite pantheon; the program declares further that the Israelites were simply a sub-tribe of the Canaanites and that the Old Testament was a fictitious concoction made up by dozens of Israelites during the Babylonian captivity around 500 B.C. or later. This is blasphemous historical revisionism at its worst.
We need to return to the "ancient paths." We must commit our lives in obedience to Jesus Christ our Lord, to the entire infallible, authoritative Bible, and to the great example set for us by scores of dedicated, sold-out believers throughout the ages of the Bible and the Church.
My earnest prayer today is this, "I stand at the crossroads and look; I ask for the ancient paths where the good way is, and by God's grace I choose to walk in it and accept Your promise that I will find rest for my soul."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Lord, as I stand at the crossroads of decision I am pulled in many directions, but then I see the well-worn path marked out by the faithful followers of God throughout the centuries – the faithful ones who remained true to Your ancient law whose hearts did not betray the One True God. With godly determination I earnestly desire to follow in the steps of the Master that leads me to find rest for my soul on earth and secures a heavenly home where my soul no longer grows weary.
“And Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife” (Matthew 1:6).
Here we have the fourth detail presented in Matthew’s genealogy regarding great grandmothers of the Messiah. The first three references specifically mention the proper names (Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth) but here we only have the identifying description, “Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife.”
Her name was Bathsheba and the story can be found in 2 Samuel 11 & 12. This woman, whom the record describes as “very beautiful” took a public bath in view of the wandering eyes of King David. The rest is classic sin and the attempt to cover-up. But David is confronted by the courageous prophet Nathan which resulted in his confession of sin and restoration.
Now prior to this David had shown much evidence of his spiritual walk and maturity in the Lord. While still a young boy he had by faith conquered Goliath and patiently waited until it was his time to ascend to the throne. Under his leadership the kingdom was doing very well. Many of the Psalms had been written by this time and he had been referred to as “a man after God’s own heart.” Yet the Bible records David’s fall into sin and Matthew reminds us that this is indeed part of the story. Not only did he collapse morally but he also engaged in criminal behavior.
What lesson is there for us today? There are many lessons regarding the nature of temptation and the progression of sin. We wrote about this in our series about David and Bathsheba last week. But I want to highlight this one today: God is still in the forgiveness and restoration business. David’s sin was not excused, but he was forgiven.
God’s nature is to forgive. Are you burdened down under a load of sin today? Have you sinned even as a believer? Of course you have. We all have. Is your sin a “big one” like David’s? I don’t read any restrictions in God’s offer to the earnestly repentant. His Word is very unambiguous: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Why don’t you accept this gracious offer of forgiveness today?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, we praise You because there is no dreaded sin in our life that surpasses the all-sufficient grace You freely give to all who believe. It is through no merit of our own for we are deserving of death and eternal punishment. But through the tremendous sacrificial death of Your Son, Jesus, we are freed from all our guilty stains of sin. No greater love can we know this side of heaven. In the precious name of Your Son, Jesus, we give You thanks. Amen.
"Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth" (Matthew 1:5). "But Ruth replied, 'Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God'" (Ruth 1:16).
Early this week there was a deadly plane crash in San Diego. Although the pilot was able to eject from the aircraft safely the spiraling jet hit a residential area exploding into flames. In a matter of minutes Dong Yun Yoon lost his wife, two baby daughters, and his mother-in-law; his most precious treasures on this earth. In addition to his overwhelming loss, the home where he had built a family with much love and laughter is now but a rubble of ashes.
He is demonstrating remarkable faith in the midst of his personal devastation and has publicly stated that he doesn't blame the surviving pilot, realizing he did all he could. He expressed eternal confidence, "I believe my wife and two babies and mother-in-law are in heaven with God and I know God is taking care of them." Surrounded by his pastor, siblings, and church members his state of shock and perplexity is seen when he looked to them for direction, "Please tell me how to do it. I don't know what to do."
How does one go about completing a life puzzle with essential pieces that are permanently gone? In the present day our brother Dong Yoon who made his home in San Diego can feel the exact sentiment of Job who made his home in the land of Uz some 4000 years ago. One of the greatest expressions of faith is that which is expressed during times of great hurt and personal loss.
I consider Job's tremendous faith declaration; "I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand upon the earth" (Job 19:25). Today we have on our hearts those, like Dong Yun Yoon, who've had monumental loss. Some of our readers have been dealt a heavy blow to the midsection. The visible acute pain may be over but now you're dealing with the inner lingering turmoil; turmoil that occasionally has round table discussions with the lethal enemy of bitterness or its first cousin, indifference.
Today we look at the third woman mentioned in Matthew's genealogy of Christ which is Ruth (Matthew 1:5). Apart from the book that bears her name this is the only mention of her in the entire Bible. The book of Ruth could have been a narrative of two women, Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi, who fought bitterness. Instead it is a delightful account of the remnant of true faith and goodness. It is a picture of loyalty so esteemed by millions who have read the account that wedding ceremonies, past and present, are often built upon the theme of loyalty as seen in the person of Ruth.
Ruth is a Moabitess belonging to a people who were ancient enemies of the Israelites. The story is set in the time of the judges characterized by a period of religious and moral decadence. But the story of Ruth reflects a temporary time of peace between Israel and Moab, unlike the dark picture that otherwise accounts for the evil period of the judges. She had married an Israelite who earlier had moved to Moab with his family during a time of famine in their homeland. How many of you know his name?
In time Ruth's husband died and she became a widow, along with both her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. What deep heartache these three women surely experienced. Naomi decided to return to her homeland of Israel after the famine lifted. Ruth, with great courage and loyalty, insisted on going with her and thus the classic statement of faith in our daily text. "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."
Over time things went well for Ruth. She married an Israelite, Boaz, and bore a baby son who was a delight to her mother-in-law and a distant great-grandpa to Jesus.
Now Ruth had surely faced one of the greatest enemies of our spiritual progress. We are specifically told that Naomi had fought with bitterness (Ruth 1:20, 21). When we go through tough times we can grow bitter. It can eat at our spiritual life like a deadly cancer as we torment ourselves with questions like "Why me?", "It's not fair", etc.
But God takes our brokenness and builds a bridge of great compassion and comfort to those whose hearts are willing to trust Him. Today, remember the story of Naomi, this distant great-grandma to our Savior. Determine to overcome any trace of bitterness you may be dealing with by God's grace.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, it is in bitterness, revenge and self-pity that we become useless to others and toxic to ourselves. But through expressions of forgiveness and love we are granted inner strength and power beyond ourselves to move forward, and it is there that we find healing and restoration for our wounded souls. May we not live in the past or turn to our own destructive vices but find deliverance and victory through the enduring work of the Holy Spirit that brings comfort, conviction, and cleansing. We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. Amen.
“Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab” (Matthew 1:5). “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient” (Hebrews 11:31).
I received an email with an interesting perspective. A reader shared how she tried to read Matthew and Luke each Christmas season. In reading the names in the genealogies she noted, “I make myself read every one, even if I can’t pronounce them. The way my thinking goes is this: ‘If this person was important enough for God to make sure they are listed in the Bible, it’s important enough for me to read it.’”
Today let us note the second woman mentioned in Matthew’s genealogical record of Christ (Matthew 1:5). Rahab’s story begins in Joshua 2 where she courageously hid the Israelite spies as they were being pursued by the King’s messengers of Jericho. She then helped them to escape by lowering them out a window over the city wall on a rope. And then later, as a guarantee for her family’s safety, she placed a scarlet cord out the window signifying her faith.
The final mention of her in the Old Testament is in Joshua 6:25 where we read that “she lives among the Israelites to this day.” I find it interesting that none of the Old Testament narratives or genealogies refer to her after this and specifically her marriage to Salmon who is listed in Matthew’s genealogy: “Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab.”
Dr. W. A. Criswell wrote, “Rahab the harlot is an example of the grace of God at work. Her salvation was not based on her character or merits: she lived in a doomed city, practiced a condemned profession, engaged in subversive activities, and falsified [lied about] her actions. Nevertheless she acted upon faith, and was spared the judgment of God which was executed at the hands of the Israelites.”
Both references to Rahab in the New Testament epistles specifically call attention to Rahab’s background as a prostitute (Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25). But she is commended for her faith and obedience in assisting the Israelites.
Some may wonder what business the Israelite spies had staying in the house of a prostitute which was likely also an inn. We could speculate that it would also have been a good place for strangers to enter and gain information without undue suspicion!
Rahab was not a member of the covenant community nor was she bound to its moral laws. Yet, after hearing the miraculous stories of the Red Sea crossing and their great military defeats, she was observant and had a great sense that these spies would conquer her homeland of Jericho as she said to them, “I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us…” (Joshua 2:9).
I believe there’s a great lesson in her purposeful inclusion in the genealogy of Christ. Rahab was certainly not deserving of salvation on the basis of any type of her own merit. But God saw her faith, rewarded her obedience in tying the scarlet cord in the window, and she is an early example of His grace.
But that’s not all. God used her to fulfill His plan. In the providence of God she married one of her Israelite conquerors and with him bore an ancestor of the Messiah. If God can save and use Rahab the harlot He can surely save and use each one of us! Like her, we’re a trophy of grace, a masterpiece of His mercy and nothing we’ve done could deserve His great love.
What’s your past like? For some it’s like Rahab. But God hasn’t changed. He’s still saving, transforming and using lives today! This message applies to every reader and to those for whom you are praying to be saved.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, we think of Rahab’s obedience in hanging the scarlet cord from the window of her home which brought safety and deliverance for her and all her household. It would seem that the scarlet cord is symbolic of the blood of the Passover lamb that was posted on the houses of the Israelites during their mighty deliverance from captivity in Egypt. And, on the personal level, when we receive Jesus as our Savior we post His sinless blood on the doors of our hearts so that we are freed from the captivity of Satan’s tyranny. We are protected from our deserved judgment for sins, because Your Son, Jesus, bore our sins for us. Thank You for making provision for us just as the spies made provision for Rahab. But even greater is that Your provision for salvation is not just for this life but for all eternity. We give You thanks in Jesus name. Amen.
"Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar" (Matthew 1:3).
My wife gets a lot of comments about her name. Actually it's a hybrid name her mother came up with as they were hoping for a boy so they could name him Brooklyn Jr. which is Brooksyne's father's name. However they had a girl (for which I am sooo grateful) and named her Brooksyne. She often assists new acquaintances with the unusual pronunciation by saying, "like the scene of a brook…now turn it around - Brook-scene." She gets it mispronounced a lot though. She's got a good name both in regard to being interesting and distinct, but much more importantly in her character.
Today I want to consider the first of four women mentioned in Matthew's genealogy of Christ. It's not a familiar name and I've never met anyone by that name though I know it is still used today. The story is found in Genesis 38 and is surely one of the most sordid accounts in the Biblical record. It's a story with a theme that would be in keeping with the expression, "Truth is stranger than fiction."
I won't go into the unpleasant details here but merely sum it up by pointing out that Judah and his sons acted in a very wicked way. Tamar's pregnancy with Perez and Zerah is the result of a deceptive prostitution alliance with her father-in-law, Judah. It may be disturbing enough that such an account is way back in the genealogical record of Jesus Christ, but Matthew even calls it to our attention!
What do we make of it? One of the outstanding evidences of the reliability of the Bible is the unvarnished record of its main characters, both men and women. Judah is one of the most familiar ancestors of Christ and in the book of Revelation Christ is identified as the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" (5:5). Yet Moses was inspired in Genesis to record this story (taking an entire chapter to do so) and Matthew is inspired to call our attention to it as he opens his gospel.
However there is another thought that comes to mind when pondering this matter. God uses even the most unusual and evil situations to advance His cause. No attempt is made in the record to justify Judah or his son's actions. They are forthrightly presented as wicked.
However that does not stop the fact that Tamar's twins, Perez and Zerah, were conceived and born as a result of an ungodly act. Surely God's ways are at times puzzling to us. The life of faith and obedience often is, but we are called to keep pressing on by faith. Perhaps there is something in your past that really is bogging you down.
Remember that God has a wonderful plan for your life and any unusual or even sordid background is not going to stop Him from accomplishing His will in your life as we submit to Him. Though you may struggle with fully understanding or clearly explaining it to others, undesirable experiences from the past or present may possibly enhance your walk with God and your witness to others!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we're so thankful that there is nothing in our past or future that can separate us from Your love or daily provision for our lives. You provide the necessary tools to overcome the difficulties we encounter from earliest childhood to present day. Though the enemy seeks to disrupt our lives, pollute our minds and sear our conscience we will not be defeated by evil. Instead we overcome evil with the steadfast goodness You instill in our hearts as we hold dearly to the light of Your Word. We say "no" to ungodliness and worldly passion as we eagerly wait for our great hope in the second coming of Your Son, Jesus, who will unite us with You, our Father, in heaven. Keep us faithful and ever hopeful. Amen.
"The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah" (Matthew 1:1).
How many of you know much about your own genealogy? There's a lot of interest in this subject and the internet has been a valuable source for those trying to find their roots. I don't know a whole lot about mine, although I do know I have German descent on both sides and have heard that one of my ancestors was Abram Clark, who signed the Declaration of Independence. Brooksyne has an Irish background from her father but also some Cherokee Indian from her mother.
There are those who can trace their lineage back hundreds of years and know who their ancestors are. Hope Winchoba, a dear friend from our congregation in Massachusetts went to be with the Lord this last August. She could trace her genealogy all the way back to the Mayflower (the Mayhew family) and in fact all the way back to Norman in 1,000 AD!
But sadly in our broken world with so much immorality and fragmented families there are those who do not even know their own birth father, let alone their grandparents and previous generations. In fact many are so focused on the present and so disconnected to any heritage that they don't even care.
In the next several days I would like to consider the genealogy of Jesus Christ, which both Matthew and Luke record. The genealogies of Scripture are not something most of us would name among our favorite portions. The longest genealogy is found in 1 Chronicles 1-9!
I suspect many of us tend to scan through these genealogies to get past them and get on to the "real" message of the Bible. Although we might be hesitant to say it to others, we may reckon these genealogies as boring. But all Scripture is profitable and even these genealogies are inspired truth and have lessons for us. They also foundationally place the truth presented in Scripture in the context of real history.
Matthew was one of the original disciples and his gospel was primarily intended for those with a Jewish background. Thus Matthew's genealogy begins with Abraham. In contrast, Luke's record (3:23-38) traces the lineage of Christ all the way back to Adam.
Matthew's genealogy, although generally comprised of straightforward phrases such as "Abraham was the father of Isaac", also has several interesting details which call the reader's attention to specific Old Testament events.
In the next several days I want to focus on the specific women who are mentioned in the genealogy, all of whom have quite a story recorded in the Scriptures. The inclusion of their names is quite significant, particularly to the early Jewish readers who would have known the story. I believe each of these stories will provide a lesson in God's acceptance and plan for each of us. As you read these stories may you marvel in God's love for the fallen human race. And may you rejoice in God's love for you!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, regardless of our birth genealogy, whether we're born to peasant or royalty, when we are born into the Kingdom of God we become Your children and all are on equal standing at the foot of the cross. We are not just born into Your Kingdom but we were purchased with the precious sinless blood of Jesus. There is no higher calling and no greater privilege granted to the human race. Thank You for the spirit of sonship that invites each of us to call You Abba Father. This is possible only because of Christ Jesus. He gave His all that we might be born again and receive eternal life. Amen.
"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15).
The other day I stopped by to visit my friend Ken who packs eggs in a large chicken house. His work for most would have an element of drudgery but Ken has a contagious attitude of gratitude. He's likely to greet you by rejoicing that his heart is pumping steadily and after he draws in a deep breath he expresses thanks for the freshly oxygenated air. He tends to elaborate on the often unconsidered gifts from God. This gives him a joyful outlook which spreads to those around him.
This week in our encouragement series we have been focusing on the topic of thanksgiving. May we be full of gratitude to our Lord Jesus knowing that all we are and all we have is a gift from Him.
Many of us will give and receive gifts at Christmas, a custom that for so many is the main thing. The origin of giving gifts (at least in the Christian sense) probably goes back to the gifts the Magi presented to the baby Jesus.
What is our response to these gifts? Some will likely be returned. They didn't fit, wouldn't work or weren't what we liked. Others will soon be forgotten. Others are appreciated but will wear out or break in a relatively short time. And there will be a few that we will cherish for many years, perhaps our entire life. It might even be passed down to our children and be meaningful to them.
I have my PaPa's old wooden cane. It might have been a gift he received at one time but for him it was also a practical aid in his walking. In fact I never recall seeing him without it. My Mom used it some and now it is a sentimental treasure in my possession. Who knows – someday it may not just serve as a warm memory of my PaPa but it may be a functional aid to assist me in walking as well!
But no gift we receive on this earth even remotely compares to the spiritual gift of our Lord Jesus Christ, the gift we can all receive and share regardless of where we live or how much of this world's possessions we have or don't have. Jesus Christ is certainly the greatest Gift and deserving of our highest thanks!
Paul concludes a section in his second letter to the Corinthian believers by expressing appreciation to them for abounding in good works and for their generosity in supplying the financial gifts needed by the Jerusalem believers. He concludes his expression of thanks with today's marvelous exclamation, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" Many years earlier Paul had been converted and had moved from an attitude of hateful rejection to grateful acceptance of God's gift of salvation through Christ. Through the years his gratitude to God grew and that's the way it should be for all of us.
In his grateful burst of praise he uses a very interesting Greek word to describe the gift. Linguists use the term hapax legomenon to describe a word or phrase that appears only once in a manuscript. The Greek word translated indescribable is used only once by Paul in all his writings. It essentially means, "not expounded in full." Other versions use phrases such as "beyond telling", "inexpressible", and "unspeakable". One words it this way; "a gift too wonderful for words!"
Indeed that is the case with God's greatest gift; a gift too wonderful for words but deserving of our highest thanks. Today and each day let us join with Paul in thanking God for His truly indescribable gift of salvation through Christ Jesus our Lord!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, You gave first and foremost as you selflessly gave of Yourself through the person of Jesus Christ. Your gift of grace exceeds human description, for the far-reaching effects in our lives are truly indescribable. It's too wonderful for words, but it brings unspeakable joy and glorious hope that makes our spiritual journey so worthwhile. We receive Your indescribable gift that brings forgiveness for our sins and reserves for us a home in heaven for all eternity. Thank You, Father! Amen.
"For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:21).
I recently prayed with a lady whose former husband is living deep in sin. Although divorced she still is burdened for the state of his soul and continues to hope for reconciliation. She told me how his actions had greatly harmed not only their marriage but also their children. Several years ago he had gone to see a pastor about his spiritual condition and the pastor observed at that time that he was "sitting on the fence" in regard to a decision to follow Christ. He went from his half-hearted condition to full-hearted rebellion against God and is now ensnared in various heinous sins.
Spiritual unbelief and unleashed rebellion always bring about consequences. Sometimes they're immediate, other times they lag for a season. We might even think that the fallout from our actions will be inconsequential. But God's Word plainly states, "The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction" (Galatians 6:8).
Today's verse is from a powerful section in Romans 1 dealing with a panoramic view of man's state of disbelief, disobedience and rebellion against God. "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." I chose this selection today due to the phrase that reveals the ungrateful heart of man, "nor gave thanks to Him."
God's Word is so abundantly clear regarding His desire that we glorify and thank Him. Doing so is a direct consequence and overflow that comes from our belief, obedience, and submission to God.
Disbelief, disobedience and rebellion against God lead to one's failure to glorify and thank God. This in turn results in the dire consequences described in the remainder of the daily verse (as well as the verses that follow). Although this portion is describing the human race as a whole it also describes the individual response to God.
"Their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." This is a portion that is very helpful to me in seeking to understand current events. Increasingly the world is mocking people of faith and labeling them as ignorant and uninformed. Sadly some in the professing church want to be loved and esteemed by the world rather than God, and they sacrifice their beliefs to accommodate the world's way of thinking. I am appalled at the increase in liberal and "emergent" outlook that is affecting so many of our historic Christian colleges which eventually dilutes the pure message from God's Holy Word in our pulpits.
The very next verse has this stunning indictment, "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools." Today we live in a time when so many consider themselves wise and advanced education is rampant. Many claim to be wise, but the wisdom of this world does not reconcile its message with the Bible text. Sadly, there are those who then try to make the Bible say something it doesn't or silences that which it does say.
Today we who follow Christ need to examine this passage and determine that our knowledge of God will result in belief, obedience and submission. This in turn will fill our hearts with a desire to glorify and thank God. In turn our thinking will be clear and our hearts will be enlightened as we walk in His ways each new day.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, Romans 1:21 indicates that those who knew You neither glorified nor gave thanks to You which led to their futile and foolish thinking. It eventually caused the light of Your Word to be veiled and ineffective in their lives as darkness crept in and covered the radiant light of Your truth. They sought honor for themselves and lived for self-glory. Anything good in us is but a reflection of the Spirit of Christ who lives within, so we will glory only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ though it is mocked and ridiculed by the world. We are unashamedly children of God whose depth of wisdom comes not from the understanding from the world but the understanding from Your Word. May its truth always be our source of light in the dark.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that" (1 Timothy 6:6-8).
This week marks the "official" start of the Christmas shopping season, at least here in the USA. However the newspapers are stuffed with sales flyers and the mall parking lot has been filled for weeks. Ester works at a store called TJ Maxx and it has been crowded each time I pick her up in the afternoons. But the big shopping day for many will be this Friday and there is an abundance of great deals, particularly if you want to go shopping at 6:00 in the morning, or even earlier!
There's just more and more neat stuff that claims it will make the people we love happy if we just buy it for them. Of course the ads are surely also designed to appeal to our own sense of desire as well. I can sure tell you that some of this stuff is alluring to my interests, particularly electronic type gadgets.
I want to pause this morning and consider the bigger picture. The foundational meaning of Christmas is that God sent His Son as the greatest and most needful Gift of all. Increasingly our current generation is losing sight of the initial Christian meaning of this sacred holiday due to the secularization and over-commercialization of this special season.
We that love the Lord and desire to live in obedience to the Scriptures are called to properly provide for our families. Indeed the Word declares that, "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8).
However beyond our desire to properly provide for our families is the materialistic rat race. We're all affected by it and perhaps some of us are among the front runners in this race where the finish line is never within sight. Living in an age of affluence we have to be on guard against this tendency. The Apostle Paul's words that follow our daily reading are so applicable today; "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Timothy 6:9, 10). My, isn't that so often the case!
A great Biblical teaching in regard to experiencing balance in this tension between properly providing (good) and the materialistic rat race (bad) is contentment. Consider the power of the phrase, "But godliness with contentment is great gain." A Bible teacher has observed "Contentment is understanding that if I am not satisfied with what I have, I will never be satisfied with what I want." Among the many ways the world seeks to force us into its mold is the lie that it can offer true satisfaction. Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have and finding satisfaction with that. It's realizing in the words from the great hymn that, "All I have needed Thy hand hath provided." Contentedness and thankfulness are interrelated.
Our daily verse declares that "If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." I wonder how much food Paul was accustomed to and the extent of his clothing line. Yet he says, "We will be content." I believe our need for contentment is an attitude we must diligently strive for. The pressures of materialism are ever before us, particularly during this season that we remember and celebrate God's greatest gift. What a wonderful, deep-settled peace we experience when we learn to live in contentment which gives us hearts of thankfulness!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Jesus, when I get overly anxious about having the latest gadget or the newest fashion I usually overlook the fact that I have so much already at my disposal. So much, in fact, that I struggle to properly manage my possessions and can often be overwhelmed with clutter. Thank you for the people I know who live with less so that others can have more; more of the basics of life and the provisions needed to reach others with the Gospel message. Contentment from You cannot be packaged and sold, but it can be a way of life as I align my priorities in accordance to Your will. Teach me the great gain You want me to experience by setting my heart's affections not on this world's changing and peril-stricken economy, but by storing up treasures in heaven's economy where eternal riches never perish, spoil or fade. May that precious truth help me find contentment in a non-content society. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service" (1 Timothy 1:12).
In the course of our spiritual journey we meet a lot of interesting people and hear some remarkable testimonies. It's a joy to see people serving the Lord in a wide variety of ways.
When we think of this service we may tend to consider those who have larger or famous ministries. Perhaps they pastor a large church, have written books, have a television ministry and so forth. I could mention names here that many readers would immediately recognize.
Or we may consider those who have remarkable testimonies of deliverance from the ravages of sin and now live for the Risen Savior. I have met many from this walk of life and indeed we rejoice that God saves to the uttermost and will use all who submit to Him.
But the vast majority of Christ's servants fit into neither of these categories. Of course all believers are redeemed from sin but a great majority has testimonies of preserving grace that protected them from ever going into a full-fledged sinful lifestyle. They turned to Christ at an early age, usually due to the influence of godly parents, grandparents, and others such as Sunday School teachers, Youth Leaders and so forth.
Most of you reading this have never heard of Oren and Naomi Hofstetter. They are an active ministry couple in our local church who serve the Lord in a variety of ways. They both turned to the Lord at an early age. They have a servant's heart, much like Priscilla and Aquila, and demonstrate compassion in the way they care for hurting people.
As I observe the body of Christ whether in my present local church, churches that I have pastored, or churches that we visit we know so many people like Oren and Naomi. Growing up I recall Joe and Pauline. In the early years of our pastoral ministry in northern Pennsylvania it was Mike and Kathy and later in New England Bill and Veda. And of course there are many, many others we could mention that come to mind as well.
What a blessing these folks are. I greatly appreciate pastors and other church leaders. I also appreciate the role the more famous members of Christ's body have. I am grateful for those who have dramatic testimonies of great deliverance from sin.
But the backbones of our churches are people like Oren and Naomi. I want you to consider your own church people. You have folks like this and perhaps you might even blush to realize you may be numbered among them by your fellow brothers and sisters! I sure hope so.
This coming week here in America we especially emphasize an attitude of thankfulness and today's Scripture expresses the highest form of thanksgiving; that to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In this text Paul specifies three issues he is thankful to Christ for:
1) He was given strength.
2) He was considered faithful.
3) He was appointed to service.
As I reflect upon my nearly thirty-five years of service for Christ I find great blessing in reflecting upon these three issues as well. When Paul experienced salvation on the Damascus Road he was given strength for a long record of faithful service to God. And thanks be to God for His outpouring of grace upon my life; this is my testimony as well and that of Brooksyne's! And that is God's promise for each one of us. What a great joy to be appointed to His service!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we thank You for Your marvelous grace that was poured out in the sacrificial death of Your Son and is made available to all for salvation from sin. You want all men and women, boys and girls to be saved and come to knowledge of the truth. We're grateful for those You raise up to be arms of compassion and instruments of blessing to others in the body of Christ and to those still clinging to the world. Whether we were protected from the ravages of sin or we are experiencing Your restoring grace we thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has given us strength; that He considered us faithful, appointing us to be His servants for the furtherance of the Gospel. Amen.
Before I send this out let me add another thought. Some of you have really messed up. You may feel that God could never use you. As I read of God's redeeming grace in the Holy Scriptures I am once again amazed at His unending grace. He lets us start each day anew. We may very well have varying degrees of overcoming in regard to the consequences of our past but He has a plan to bless and use each soul that earnestly calls out to Him. Today look "to Him who able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:20, 21)
"And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us" (Luke 16:26). "After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:17,18).
Right up the road from us is an old country cemetery. It is well maintained and still receiving earthly remains. Often the line of cars coming to a burial service comes right in front of our house giving us pause for consideration of another one "for whom the bell has tolled".
Last week we learned of a young girl our daughter's age that died unexpectedly. We were especially prayerful as we saw the long line of cars pass our home headed toward the cemetery this past week. Having lost our parents, other loved ones, and a number of friends we consider one emotion in particular that many experience; the sense of finality and a desire that in some way we could communicate with the departed. But of course we cannot.
In considering the Scriptures the first daily text comes to mind. It is the story of the rich man and Lazarus. It is a powerful portion from the very words of Jesus and much can be gleaned from the conversation. (A link to the entire passage is noted below.)
However I am especially intrigued by the phrase, "a great chasm has been fixed." Now this is specifically referring to the chasm between the rich man in hell and those who remained on earth whom he desperately wanted to warn.
However, clearly this same chasm exists between heaven and earth as well for it is equally true that, "Those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us." We just can't willingly pass back and forth between heaven and earth. Once we die this chasm is indeed fixed, that is until the appointed time.
That's what we experience at the death of a loved one with this great chasm. The two way communication we may have been so accustomed to is suddenly completely curtailed. This is so hard!
But the second daily verse has a wonderful promise. It's the great "rapture" passage and the entire context is linked to below. It's a promise concerning the coming of the Lord and expressly addresses a concern the Thessalonian believers had regarding their deceased loved ones. Paul assured them that actually the dead would rise first, then those living will be caught up together with them. That will be a glad reunion day (sounds like an old hymn, doesn't it). "We will be with the Lord forever." Think about it, we will be with our loved ones who lived for Christ and the Lord forever!
Paul wanted them to "encourage each other with these words." The word encourage is also translated comfort. The basis of this encouragement and comfort is that they would once again be together with their loved ones, no longer deceased and separated but very much alive and reunited. This is a Biblical truth so we also have the very same promise.
Let us be filled with anticipation for this future heavenly reunion. I pray that each reader will find similar encouragement and comfort in this wonderful truth!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we know that living in the light of eternity gives us an unending hope that surpasses our journey here below. It takes our spirit to heights that soar beyond the brutish world we live in and motivates us to lay up our treasures in heaven where greed and corruption do not exist. It gives us a deep, settled peace that our loved one who walked with You on earth now worships You in heaven. We anxiously await that wondrous day when we will be joined with our loved ones in giving praise, glory and honor to our everlasting King of Kings around the heavenly throne. Our hearts are encouraged and our spirit is strengthened as we meditate on these wonderful future events. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
"For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).
Yesterday we shared a story about a soldier from World War II and his marvelous testimony. We received quite a number of comments on how this blessed readers concerning the power of love and prayer.
This brings to mind another testimony Brooksyne and I heard when we lived in New England. We attended a State Convention of the Gideons, a men's organization committed to the distribution of the Bible, all over the world. It was a remarkable testimony of John Parkinson regarding the power of God's Word and a faithful, persistent witness. He also shared it in our church service the following Sunday morning.
John joined the Marines during World War II and was given a small Gideon New Testament and Psalms. He had no interest in spiritual things at the time but still carried the Testament in his pocket. A short time after enlisting he met a fellow Marine by the name of Charlie Kline, who bore witness to Christ and persistently tried to persuade John to become a follower of Christ, but John just as persistently refused.
The war was over by the time John got to Okinawa and upon the completion of his first term of service he returned home to his farm in upstate New York. But as a young man he determined that there was nothing to keep him there so he re-enlisted.
This time he was traveling through the Mediterranean when, lo and behold, he met up with Charlie Kline again, who was still witnessing for Christ. And John was still rejecting.
While at sea the Korean War broke out so John and Charlie were deployed to Korea and were a part of the famed Inchon landing. They marched inland and just when it appeared the war was nearly over the Chinese entered the war and John described the horrendous battles that followed in November 1950.
One night he and Charlie were two of only 6 men left from the original 96 men in his unit and things looked hopeless. Greatly concerned that they might not make it out alive, Charlie witnessed to John again. Yet again he refused, angrily shoving him away.
But later that same night in desperation John cried out to God. He pulled out his Testament and "randomly" turned to the 23rd Psalm where he read the phrase, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me." This was a remarkable personal message as he looked out on the dark valley literally filled with scores of casualties, since he had no Christian training and was unfamiliar with this well-known passage of Scripture.
John miraculously made it out and immediately found a chaplain who led him to the Lord. He was curious about Charlie, but several thought they had seen him removed on a stretcher so he was assumed to be dead. John returned to upstate New York and this time the farm looked pretty good! He married and began to farm and in time became a Gideon, sharing God's Word.
Now, for the rest of the story:
As a Gideon Parkinson began to share his testimony in various settings. In 1985 he was at a Gideon's Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While being introduced he noticed a commotion in the back of the room. A man stood up and shouted, "We finally gotcha, John!" It was none other than Charlie Kline!
What a reunion that was! As it turned out Charlie had gotten separated from the rest of the unit that dark night in 1950 and lost his direction. He walked right into the Chinese camp and had to spend three nights in a culvert in sub freezing temperatures to avoid detection. He also eventually made it out, but of course had no idea what happened to John. At least not until 35 years later!
"For the Word of God is living and active" and penetrates right to the heart of men and women, boys and girls! Has it penetrated your heart? I'm sure thankful that it penetrated my sinful heart!
Be encouraged today and keep spreading the Word!
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, You are the Holy One of Israel who saves those who call upon Your name. You have shown Your mercy with kindness to those who have cursed, mocked, and rejected You. Your Word penetrates the calloused walls of pride, rejection, and resentment. Thank You for Your relentless love that captured my heart and called me out from spiritual darkness into the Kingdom of Light. When we speak the Word of God to others it does not go forth without effect. Your Word is never cancelled or rendered void, for it will either bring spiritual life to those who choose to receive it or bring condemnation to those who refuse its message. Scripture in Your Holy Bible is our lifeline to salvation on earth and eternal bliss in heaven. We thank You for Your wondrous work in our lives through the sacrifice of Jesus in whose name we pray. Amen.
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8)
Lynne, a friend of ours, called the other night seeking advice concerning a nephew who is struggling with his faith in God and is now leaning toward an atheistic belief system. She’d had a role in raising the boy and is deeply burdened for the state of his soul.
Last night I reconnected with Paul, a friend I hadn't seen for many years. He told me his oldest son, although very successful in terms of worldly education and success, had drifted from his spiritual moorings established from infancy by his godly parents.
Today's message is intended to bring hope to those burdened for a wayward loved one.
Many years ago I heard a remarkable testimony from a veteran pastor who served in the 2nd World War. He went to Nagasaki, Japan shortly after the A-bomb was dropped. Interestingly, his mission that took place shortly after the Japanese surrendered was to provide care to the Japanese by going from house to house, checking on them and getting them out for medical care. He was not serving the Lord at the time and was consumed with hateful feelings, especially toward the Japanese.
Over many years his godly mother had been diligently praying that he would turn to Christ before it was eternally too late. She had given him a Bible before he left home which he never read. But the Lord was working on his heart and one Sunday, prompted by the Spirit, he decided to attend a small Japanese church. The angry soldier sat in the back with a sneering countenance and begrudging attitude.
Can you imagine the mutual hatred and raw emotion that would have been present in that church service? Being a Japanese believer and seeing an American serviceman shortly after the A-bomb was dropped on your city or being an American who had seen his own service buddies die before his very eyes at the hands of the Japanese.
Yet through the joint realization of the power of the blood of Christ, an overcoming aspect of love was demonstrated in that small church in 1945. When the Communion elements were being distributed they did not pass him up, but they served him as well, and the process of healing and reconciliation in his life began.
Let us consider today's verse. "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins." The Apostle Peter's call was initially issued to persecuted believers whom he had called "God's elect, strangers in the world" in the very first verse of the epistle. Now, through the Holy Scriptures, we believers of all time read:
"Above all, love each other deeply." Oh, how this command is greatly neglected but wholly needed in every avenue of life; in marriages, families, churches, communities, nations and of course all over the world.
"Because love covers a multitude of sins." Love still covers and always will. Foundationally the love of God expressed in Christ's death on the cross covers our sin.
And in some remarkable way the power of God's love was at work in that Japanese church covering sin right after the horrors of World War 2. Thirty years later the bitter soldier, who was now a redeemed minister of the Gospel, was invited back to Nagasaki to share his testimony and the power of God's love to transform.
That same power is not diminished one bit and is being expressed all over the world. May God help each of us to live in the power of God's love today and generously communicate that love to others!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we bow in prayer before You today, and ask that You, in Your great glory give us the power to be strong inwardly through Your Spirit. We pray that Christ will live in our hearts by faith and that our lives will be strong in love and be built on love. And we pray that we will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ's love – how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is. We pray for our loved ones who are struggling in their faith, that they would be able to experience Your inexhaustible love, that they might be filled with Your fullness, Father. With Your power working in and through us, You can do much, much more than anything we can ever ask or even imagine. So we thank You in advance for hearing our heart's cry and for answered prayer. Amen.
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17, 18).
What kind of light and momentary troubles are you dealing with today? At first glance we may assume “light and momentary troubles” are merely the minor annoyances and time robbers of life such as getting stuck in a traffic jam, spilling a cappuccino on the carpet such as Brooksyne did yesterday in our van, or dealing with a leaky faucet as I am right now.
But this is certainly not the case. Paul is writing of troubles that would rival or surpass our most difficult experiences in life. He had written a few verses previous to this; “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body” (2 Corinthians 4:8-11).
These are relatively “light and momentary troubles” in comparison to the ultimate glories of heaven and eternity. We might argue that they sure don’t seem light and momentary at the time we’re experiencing them! Some of these troubles are constant or recurring and weigh heavy on our hearts. Some of them are appearing in your mind’s eye even as you read this.
Yet we need to embed this truth deep in our hearts, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” I marvel as I consider the last part of the verse, “are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” These troubles are fulfilling a purpose ordained by God, achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. The small three letter word, “a-l-l” encompasses the multiple “light and momentary troubles” we continually experience as trials on this side of eternity.
This “eternal glory” must be the ultimate guide by which we view all that happens to us personally or in the world about us. We must live for the “then”, not just for the “now”. It’s something I’ve learned theologically and know in my heart to be true but need to constantly remind myself. As a believer in Christ I must remember that my times are in His hands. With my eyes I see only the physical results, but in my spirit I must always contend for the future eternal reward.
The big picture is so powerfully expressed by the Apostle Paul in these two verses. I’ve memorized it and even now, through eyes of faith, rejoice in its truth. But it only pertains to people of faith in Jesus Christ. People without faith are blind to the big picture. Understanding the eternal scope of life begins when we commit our lives to Christ. Have you done that?
Here’s a prayer of faith that essentially begins the journey of seeing beyond this immediate life to receiving the promised eternal life through God’s plan of salvation. If you have not done so I urge you to pray this prayer from your heart today. And if you have done so already join me in reaffirming your commitment to Christ today.
“Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner. I believe that You came to this earth and died on the cross as a substitute for me. I place my faith in You and what You have done for me. I receive You into my life and choose this day to follow and serve You. Thank You for hearing my prayer.”
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, there is much that we can learn from our temporal problems here on earth that better prepares us for eternity. As we work through these troubles enable us to have the mind of Christ so that attitudes reflecting the fruit of the Spirit become a spontaneous response to the difficulties that challenge us daily. Just as light, soil, air and moisture are requirements for growth in vegetation so must faith, prayer, self-denial and persistence in obeying God’s Holy Word be requirements for growth in our Christian walk. Help us not to become so caught up in viewing our daily challenges from an earthly perspective that we don’t look for the deeper, spiritual, and eternal meaning that You have to teach us in all things. We stand in the strength of the Lord Jesus and pray in His name. Amen.
“And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God” (1 Samuel 23:16).
Among the various forms of ministry we are involved in is a creative expression of care by Transport For Christ, a ministry to truck drivers and their families. I staff a 24 hour trucker prayer line where drivers can call if they desire prayer (the 800# is set to forward to our home phone; if you know a trucker who needs prayer the number is (877)797-PRAY or (877)797-7729). This number is then published in various TFC literature materials and lately we have been getting quite a few calls from needy truck drivers.
The other day I got a call from a man who really just seemed lonely and wanted to talk. He didn’t have a specific request but shared several burdens and I offered to pray with him over the phone. He was not at all familiar with this type of prayer and nervously told me he didn’t know what he was supposed to do. I told him he just had to listen as I would be the one praying. I offered a brief prayer for him concerning several of the burdens he had shared and thanked God for him.
When we finished he told me how blessed he was and how he had never experienced anything like this in his life (He expained that he came from a more formal religious tradition where he was not accustomed to a personalized and spontaneous prayer like the one I prayed.). I was in turn blessed at having the opportunity to share an uplifting, encouraging conversation and prayer with this lonely driver.
Thank God for friends, for people who care. I hope you have a lot of them and that you have several friends like David had with Jonathan. Their friendship is surely one of the greatest found in Scripture.
Today’s text is a remarkable statement. At this point Saul was insanely jealous of David and was in hot pursuit of him. The previous verse states, “While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life.”
However Saul’s son Jonathan apparently saw his father’s error and remained faithful to his friend David. David had just learned that Saul was determined to kill him. Surely Jonathan knew this as well and he was risking his own life and the resulting fallout from his father’s wrath in order to help David.
Notice that Jonathan “went to David.” He took the initiative and made the effort to help a friend in trouble. David had fled to Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, which was a very desolate and remote region south of the Dead Sea.
The purpose of Jonathan’s visit was to “help him find strength in God.” The NASV states, “encouraged him in God.” This is surely one of the most powerful examples and images of strengthening encouragement found in the entire Bible.
You may know of people like David who are besieged by difficult circumstances. They need a friend like Jonathan. They need someone to help them find strength. But notice the very clear source of strength, “in God”. This verse expresses the highest purpose of a truly godly friendship.
Although God is the source of strength He uses people to be channels of that strength. Aren’t you thankful for people who come to you when you need a helping hand, a listening ear and a compassionate heart! Those who do so have generally developed a spiritual sensitivity that helps them see beyond surface conversation to sense the deeper needs that one might be hesitant to bring out in the open.
The most practical way we help strengthen them is to pray with them. Notice I say “pray with” rather than just telling them, “I’ll pray for you” and walking away. Right then and there lift them before the Father in prayer as you’re gathered in His presence. “Where two or more are gathered in My name there am I in the midst of them.”
One of the blessings Brooksyne and I especially appreciate about our workplace chaplaincy is being able to pray with a troubled employee. Many are often burdened down with personal cares and experiencing a very difficult day at work. We stop and pray, as long as the employee is comfortable with this practice, and we’ve often receive feedback of how much this helped to lift their load while at work.
Praying for others is important, but I also experience a great deal of spiritual strength when a brother or sister thoughtfully considers a verse that matches my need and shares it with me. We all know of weary, discouraged and fearful people like David. Let us help them find strength in God through prayer and Scripture!
Is there someone you need to seek out today? It might be a walk down the hall, a brief trip, a phone call or maybe just a short, “I’m praying for you” email, forwarding a message like this. Will you be that channel of strengthening encouragement today?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, I pray for a sensitive heart that I might be a representative of Your indwelling Spirit to those who have distressing needs. Develop in me a discerning heart that I might seek out those in need just as Jonathan did with David. While I don’t have all the answers I do know that Your Word brings light, direction, and confidence as we must navigate through the frequent twists and turns in our sojourn here below. We offer ourselves to You to be a blessing to others. We do this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you" (Philippians 1:27,28).
Last night we had a couple over from York, Rick and Rachel Caldwell, for a Mexican dinner and discussed our common desire to honor Christ and live with a Kingdom purpose. We discussed the challenges that very well may be ahead for the faithful and as we prayed I shared today's verse and considered its application for our lives.
I memorized this verse many years ago. "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." I suggest reading the verse in the first person, "Whatever happens, I will conduct myself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." In personal application I see it as a challenge to resolve in our hearts that we will stay faithful to Christ, seeking to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of Him.
Today I am especially drawn to the phrase "Whatever happens..." I have always considered the "whatever" to mean whatever happens to me (Stephen Weber or any reader of the passage.) That is, whether I am having a good day or a bad day, whether things are going well or I'm going down a rough road; whatever happens to me I am to conduct myself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Now this is certainly a valid outlook in life and I will continue to see the passage this way, yet as I consider the contextual interpretation, I consider another intention that Paul likely had.
Just prior to this verse Paul had written concerning his own realization that he would continue to live for Christ or he might die for Him (martyrdom). When Paul originally wrote this passage I believe he was instructing the Christians at Philippi, "Whatever happens to me (Paul) you are to conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."
He goes on to write, "Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence..." Now what really intrigues me is that Paul had every intention of seeing the Philippian believers if it was God's will that he remain alive.
However it was also his firm expectation that should this not be the case, I will "only hear about you in my absence." The "absence" in this context would be his departure to be with the Lord (his death). This is similar to his statement in 2 Corinthians 5:8, "We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord."
He is confident that if that were the case (his being with the Lord) he would still hear the good report that the Philippians were "standing firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you."
Our service for the Lord Jesus Christ has eternal consequences. When we, in our divinely appointed time, are absent from the body and at home with the Lord, like Paul we will see the ongoing results of our ministry. Let us stay faithful and rejoice in the fruit of our labor as we daily seek to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we praise You and give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy and most especially the freedom to worship You. But we know that there are many regions in our world where Christians are persecuted and suffer martyrdom at the hands of those who are enemies of the cross. We lift them up to You in prayer and ask that You will give them supernatural strength and unyielding resolve to stand up for You in the face of evil surroundings and conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. May they never return evil for evil, but rather good for evil. Though wicked men may destroy the flesh, they cannot rob the soul of inner peace and the uncompromising determination to "stand firm unto the end." Sustain those who have endured the painful loss of loved ones as well as those whose family members are being held captive and are presently enduring persecution. May You be glorified in the midst of these horribly adverse circumstances and may souls be saved for the kingdom. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb'" (Revelation 7:9, 10).
There is so much division in our world today, from the international level down to so many homes and marriages. Local churches can face seasons of disharmony. Our country is deeply divided and the recent election merely underscores this.
Last night in our home Bible Study this phrase from the Apostle Paul to the Philippian believers really ministered to me, "I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel" (1:27). That is our prayer for our marriage, family and Christian associations.
But one of the most certain hallmarks of heaven will be genuine unity. What a wonderful glimpse of heaven is found in today's text. It speaks of when we get to heaven and the astounding difference we will experience on the other side. Throughout the Bible we have only glimpses of what heaven will be like. Much of our understanding is based on conjectures attained through these glimpses.
Consider the great multitude in the glimpse we have today. People of faith comprise "a great multitude that no one could count from every nation, tribe, people and language." Representation from every generation since Adam and Eve will be present. Enoch will be there, along with Noah and Abraham, and all who have lived by faith, serving God, throughout the ages. We know the names of only a tiny fraction of this great multitude that happen to be recorded in Biblical history, church history or are famous people of faith in our own time. The cast, vast majority will just be ordinary people like you and me.
The skin color of the redeemed next to us won't matter. Neither will their ethnic background or age. Who knows, I might be standing near a black believer from Ethiopia who lived for God hundreds or even thousands of years ago!
We will be "standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb." This is a glimpse I can scarcely imagine. The Lord will need to make a transformation for me since I'm not drawn to large crowds but I am most confident that it won't matter here. I will be engaged in worship to the only true God.
Frankly I also don't know how comfortable I'll be wearing a white robe and holding palm branches in my hands. But I know I'll get over it, because the real focus will be toward the throne and the Lamb!
I have a loud voice and I'll have no difficulty making the greatest declaration of all time as I stand with the redeemed multitude and cry out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb"! Will you join me there?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father we the redeemed declare here on earth, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power. Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength belong to You, our God, forever and ever. Never again will there be hunger; never again will there be thirst. You will wipe away every tear from the eyes of those who have suffered. How we long for that glorious eternal event to take place in our lives. Amen!
"I then, as Paul--an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus" (Philemon 1:9b).
Today is Veteran's Day here in the United States, a day in which we properly remember veterans and consider the tremendous price they paid for our temporal freedoms. I realize many veterans read these messages including several we know personally and there other readers who are in active service. We thank you for your service. I specifically consider my Uncle Jim who passed away earlier this year who served in WW2 as a navy pilot.
Today I want to focus this devotional on spiritual veterans. Many have gone on before us and are now in the great cloud of witnesses. Others are still on this side and in their senior years of life. They have faithfully served God in their generation and await their call home.
Pastor John Howard was my first pastor (as a born-again Christian). Pastor Howard never had large churches, but due to his commitment to Christ, integrity, friendliness and genuine interest in people he impacted many for Christ. I was one of several ministers he and his wife, Sister Howard, introduced as one of "our boys". I saw her a couple years ago when we took this photo.
They both had such a sweet, loving spirit although they surely have known pain and fought bitterness. Their only son was killed when he was eleven by a drunk driver. I still recall the pain and honest confession, "I still don't understand" in Mrs. Howard's voice as she shared this story with me several years ago. However, in spite of the pain and questioning, they have kept the faith and rejoice in the impact of their ministry in many other ways. I'm glad I'm a part of that.
As we grow older we see more and more of our spiritual mentors going to be with the Lord. Pastor Howard passed away in 1999. I spoke to Mrs. Howard, who is now 89, on the phone last night and she again told me how proud she was of "her boys" (those she and her husband had discipled).
Today remember the contribution made by the countless old spiritual veterans. Let us look at a tiny statement made by the apostle Paul, a true veteran of the Christian conflict. He had fought the good fight of faith and was not at all reserved in identifying himself in the text as an "old man". (The KJV states "the aged".)
He is one of scores of men and women who have risked their lives and sometimes laid down their lives, faced hardship, and otherwise bear the scars of battle for Christ and for our souls. Our spiritual freedom was supremely paid by Christ's death on the Cross. However many others have paid a great price to bring that message to us and to keep the flame burning bright. Let's honor them and let us now take our place in line with the faithful!
I'm sure you can think of some veterans today. Why don't you take a moment to thank God for them, and if you're able, get a word of appreciation to them. You'll make their day an extra special one. That's what Mrs. Howard said to me as we concluded our conversation last night!
Finally we all will become spiritual veterans should the Lord keep us on this side. Brooksyne and I state our determination to stay faithful and enlist readers, near and far, to join us.
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful,
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, for those who've gone before us and remained faithful to the end we take note of their example. For those who have sacrificed their lives that we might have freedom to read Your Word and worship freely we are greatly indebted. And for those of us who remain we want to be vigilant in our daily walk with You, ever growing in Your grace and knowledge, and staying faithful until we draw the last mortal breath on this side, so that our first immortal breath on the other side will be from the portals of heaven. It's all because of Your amazing love, Father, and Jesus' divine sacrifice. Amen.
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us" (I John 3:16). "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" (I John 3:1). "This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (I John 4: 9, 10).
Earlier this year I learned about a woman diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer who had need of light meals to be brought into her home. Except for getting radiation treatments and chemo therapy at the cancer clinic Mary Lou was homebound making the sofa in her living room her daily recuperation bed month after month.
I began visiting Mary Lou in February of this year. I took over light meals and spent time talking to her. She was in obvious physical discomfort, but I also sensed that there was a pressing spiritual need. I talked to her about Jesus and learned that she had become very angry with God 48 years earlier when she was just 12 years old. A jolting loss in her life had caused her anger to turn to bitterness over the years and Mary Lou turned her back on God.
During my months of immobility due to my broken ankle I lost touch with Mary Lou, but I went to visit her a couple of weeks ago and saw an immediate change in her countenance. Bibles were sitting on her coffee table and she had a bookmarked copy of a Christian book she was reading. Our conversation flowed and she told me that she had asked God back into her life and asked Him to forgive her. He had restored her joy and peace. But the one thing she couldn't fully comprehend is how God could love her so much that He would give up His only Son to come to this world and die for her sins.
Our warm conversation refreshed my spirit and reminded me that I often take God's redemptive and inexhaustible love for granted. I read the following message from an article by Regis Nicoll that especially deals with the subject of God's inexhaustible love:
"At the heart of love is other-centeredness. From small acts of kindness to the laying down of life for another, love is lived out and authenticated through personal sacrifice. It is thus, in the Incarnation, that we find the highest expression of divine love. For there we find a God who refused to exempt Himself from the stinging injustice of a world gone wrong. For a brief moment in history, God set aside His omnipotence to be the Son of Man—the Advocate who presents God to man and man to God.
Making Himself as one of us, God invaded the world, not as sovereign king but as a helpless infant. Associating with the downcast and outcast and ministering to the least and the last, He was shunned by His brothers, rejected by His countrymen, convicted on phony charges, tried by an illegitimate assembly, sentenced to an unjust death, spat upon, beaten, cursed, scourged, nailed to a tree, and, crying out in anguish, killed in infamy with common criminals as the hand of his Father was withheld. If anyone knows, from first-hand experience, about injustice it is He.
Because He walked in our shoes, He is the only deity who can understand our pain, sympathize with our suffering, and be patient with our questioning hearts. The Incarnation is the shocking and irrefutable display of inexhaustible Love."
Mary Lou and I sat together and discussed how impossible it is to fully understand this kind of inexhaustible love the Father has for His creation. In fact it made her weep as she realized how gracious God is to forgive her 48 years of walking away from this incredible love she had once known as a young girl. We can't fully understand it, but by faith we can accept it! I hope you have done so today.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we ask that out of Your glorious riches that You might strengthen your children with power through Your Spirit in their inner beings, so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith. We pray that they, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that they may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. In the precious name of Your Son, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Brooksyne has written the full story about Mary Lou's heartbreaking childhood experience that embittered her and the physical struggle she faces today in Mary Lou's Story.
"A farmer went out to sow his seed…. where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown" (Matthew 13:3b,8).
Jim is a friend of ours who was raised in a non-Christian home. He shares an interesting means by which the seed of God's truth was planted in his life. As a teenager he saw a television advertisement that featured a man sitting on a stool reading a sign. The camera focused on the man's facial expression as he was reading while the back of the sign was blank to television viewers.
As the man read the sign he would respond with expressions such as those heard in the youth vernacular of the 60's, "Wow, this is far out! Cool, man etc." At the end of the ad he turned the sign around to face the camera very briefly and Jim caught a glimpse of words unfamiliar to him at that time. But they were shown so quickly that he was unable to read the entire message.
He was so intrigued by the mystery message that he decided to write down the words, one phrase at a time, whenever he saw the ad. He watched carefully and wrote down, "For God..." The next time he added "so loved" and the next time he wrote, "the world" until the message was finally complete.
By now most readers will recognize that it turned out to be the very familiar Bible passage from John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Jim sees this ad as a seed planted several years prior to his making a commitment to follow Christ during his High School years. He shared this story as a demonstration of the Spirit's progressive work in drawing him to Christ. I believe it also illustrates the power of the Word of God.
As it turns out it was an advertisement placed by a church group in an attempt to witness of Christ's salvation. The believers who put that ad together in the late sixties could not be certain of its specific impact on the lives of the viewers and how that some 40 years later Jim would look back and see it as a seed planted in his spiritual life. But they were obedient in sowing the seed of God's Word.
Jesus spoke in parables to the crowd that gathered by the sea in Matthew 13. He likened the kingdom of heaven to a man who sowed good seed in his field. Though there were obstacles also sown by the enemy that caused some seeds to die or be stunted in their growth, nevertheless there was a future harvest and seeds that were once very small, nearly invisible, grew and produced great results.
That's the nature of our sowing seeds of truth along the path of life. So very often we don't know how effective our sowing is, but we need to be faithful to the call and commit the results to God. "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:10, 11). One glorious day I firmly believe we will have some wonderful testimonies of the impact of our seed sowing.
What type of seeds are you planting today?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we want to be faithful in sowing Your righteous truths by the manner in which we live and by the message we share with others. The gardener sows good quality seeds expecting a high yield as they grow into healthy, vibrant plants. But the wise gardener knows there will be involuntary weeds, dry spells, unwelcome pests, severe temperatures and other obstacles that will threaten the vibrancy of the sown seeds. Nevertheless the gardener must plant the seed to experience a future harvest. Father, You have commanded that we too must sow the seeds of truth, no matter the yield we see with the visible eye. We commit the fruitful harvest to You, the Master Gardener. Amen.
"For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end" (Psalm 48:14).
600,000 Christian Armenians were executed by Young Turks who implemented a genocidal program on April 24, 1915. A young Armenian dragged herself into an American relief camp just inside Russian territory and collapsed in relief. A nurse quickly brought her food and water and asked if she was in pain. The teenager shook her head. "But I have learned the meaning of the cross," she murmured. At the nurse's perplexed look, the girl exposed her shoulder. The shape of a cross had been burned deeply into her flesh. Then she told her story.
Rounded up with others in her village and separated from home and family, she was asked to choose: Muhammad or Christ? "Christ, always Christ!" she replied. Seven days in a row she was asked the same question, and her reply was always the same. And each time she answered, part of a cross was burned into her shoulder. Finally she was told that the next day would be her last chance. If she chose Muhammad, she would live; if she chose Christ, she would die. But that night, hearing rumors that Americans were close by, she escaped to safety. "That," she finished, "is how I learned the meaning of the cross." (Excerpt taken from the book "Christian Heroes".)
The Armenian teenager had to make the difficult choice: Muhammad or Christ. In the Old Testament three Hebrew boys were also forced to make the difficult choice: bow down to the golden image or remain faithful to the God of Israel. Their ancient story has emboldened saints, both young and old, throughout the ages as they refused to bow down and worship the image Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They expressed unswerving confidence in God even if it meant their lives would be sacrificed.
Psalm 48 is a familiar Scripture passage to many because of a chorus we sing based on the first two verses, "Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised…" This Psalm is written by a group of singers known as the "Sons of Korah". Most likely these were temple singers who lived during the period of the divided kingdom.
This Psalm extols God for His greatness, His deliverance, His unfailing love and other divine attributes. But the Psalm ends with our daily text which empowers us as we transmit the life-changing message of God's truths to our generation. Let us examine it today, consider its relevance, and receive its assurance.
"For this God is our God forever and ever." This is our great God. This God is our Maker, Defender, Redeemer and Friend. Consider His great acts throughout history. Consider the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, of Moses, Joshua, Samuel and David. The God of Ruth, Esther and Mary, of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel. The God of Peter, Stephen and Paul. The God of those who have stood up throughout the long history of the church. Martin Luther, John Wesley, D.L. Moody, Jim Elliot and countless others like the Armenian teenager, whose name we don't even know, in today's opening illustration.
In your own life consider those who have walked faithfully with God and impacted your life. Some are now with Christ, others still labor here below. Let us together with one heart and one voice declare, "This God is our God! And He will be forever and ever!"
And, "He will be our guide even to the end." What a great promise this is. Let us praise God today and live our lives faithfully in His service, for He is indeed forever God!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, You are great in power and unsurpassed in wisdom. Though Your marvelous handiwork is seen in every direction, Your most awesome work is visible in the way You change and redirect our lives. When we consider the saints throughout history and the marvelous saving power exhibited in their lives we're encouraged by their example and enduring walk with You. We recognize these "greats" of the past and those in our own generation who are faithful and powerful examples. They do not build their own kingdom or take credit for their accomplishments. Instead they declared it is God and God alone who deserves our truest praise, no matter the sacrifice. So we praise You, Lord, and You alone this day as we seek to be faithful even to the end. Amen.
"You, O LORD, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation" (Lamentations 5:19).
As God's children we are heirs to a kingdom that will last forever. Jeremiah proclaimed in our daily verse that, "You, O LORD, reign forever." What tremendous assurance this should bring to every believer reading this message today.
Jeremiah didn't make this proclamation of praise in the setting of an edifying worship service where devoted worshipers were excitedly lifting their voices in praise and thanksgiving. Instead he spoke these words even as he was acknowledging the desperation of his people and confessed that they had turned their backs against God. They were spoken during a time of social and spiritual chaos, as Judah's captivity to Babylon was imminent. The period leading up to the fall of Judah is instructive. During this time the nation slipped deeper and deeper into apostasy.
2 Chronicles 36 is a solemn record of the fall of Judah and the onset of the Babylonian Captivity. It records the final three Kings in Judah who were each described as doing "evil in the eyes of the Lord." It's not a pretty picture and without a doubt the people of the land endured grave consequences as a result of having wicked rulers that likely modeled and endorsed their own personal wickedness. "The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through His messengers again and again, because He had pity on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked God's messengers, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against His people and there was no remedy" (2 Chronicles 36:15,16).
The passage ends with a phrase that greatly intrigues me, "and there was no remedy." There came a point when it's as if God essentially said "Enough is enough." We see this at other times in the Bible such as the flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. We also witness this wrath unfolding as temporal earthly kingdoms fell (Daniel 5). We will one day all see it at the culmination of the age.
Where is America as it is being weighed in the balance of God's holy vindication or any other country for that matter? When will it be determined by God that there is no remedy? Surely only God knows, but we must all be numbered among those the Scripture calls a "remnant." The remnant is those whose hearts remain true to God no matter the cost. At the time of Jeremiah's writing, the remnant of true followers would have included Jeremiah, Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach, Abednego and others whose names are not recorded in the Bible.
In our daily text God gave Jeremiah spiritual eyes to look beyond present extreme circumstances and declare, "Your throne endures from generation to generation." Now 2,600 years later all around the world we sing "Our God Reigns." We will be making this proclamation throughout eternity and we will be living it out. In a glimpse behind the veil in John's vision, recorded in the book of Revelation, we read, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever" (11:15). The King of kings will turn our days of mourning into joyous eternal dancing if we keep this extremely important perspective before us today!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Dear Father, You were King of the heavens before time was begun and You will be King for all eternity. What joy and assurance that truth brings to our spirits today. Our temporal burdens are lightened when we transport our hearts to the New Jerusalem where there is no temple in the City because You, Lord God Almighty are the City's temple. The City won't need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because Your glory is its light, and the Lamb is the City's lamp. By its light the people of the world will walk. The City's gates will never be shut on any day, because there is no night there. Nothing unclean and no one who does shameful things or tells lies will ever go into it. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life will enter the City. Heal our land and forgive us of our sins. We want to walk earnestly with you on this earth and live with joyous anticipation of eternity in heaven. In the blessed name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
(See Revelation 21 for further encouragement and future blessing)
"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people" (Proverbs 14:34).
Finally, it's Election Day here in America. When we pastored in New England our church was on a very busy US highway and was also used as a polling place. We had a large road sign with a changeable message at the entrance. On Election Day my dedicated secretary placed this message on both sides of the sign: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). For many voters that was probably the extent of their exposure to Scripture!
Half a century ago Peter Marshall made the following cogent statement: "No nation has ever made any progress in a downward direction. No people ever became great by lowering their standards. No people ever became good by adopting a looser morality. It is not progress when the moral tone is lower than it was. It is not progress when purity is not as sweet. Whatever else it is, it is not progress!"
My family, along with so many others, is praying with great fervency for our country at this time.
We have been disgraced as a nation. The disgrace of sin abounds yet so many are blind to it. As I prepared this message I considered my grandmother who died in the early seventies. As best as I can determine she is a strong link in my spiritual lineage. Could she even have imagined if we were able to foretell the spiritual apathy and moral decadence we are seeing today?
Righteousness fundamentally is attained when individuals, families and churches turn to Christ and live daily in submission to His will. This has an accumulative impact on our community, state and entire nation. Thus a nation's leadership reflects the righteousness or unrighteousness of the people.
The political leadership chosen today certainly will affect the fate of our nation, but we each individually have the decision regarding the fate of our soul. I urge you all to accept or reaffirm your personal decision to follow Christ today and experience God's great hope and peace as a citizen of heaven!
I emphasize again and again the most important decision that we all should make in this life; that we will love and serve Jesus this day and every day forever. As we make this most important decision we will be doing our part to make our country a righteous nation!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer (John Piper has written a prayer most pertinent for our election): Father in heaven, as we approach our national election, I pray that your people will vote, and that they will vote with a sense of thankfulness for a democratic system that at least partially holds in check the folly and evil in all our hearts so that power which corrupts so readily is not given to one group or person too easily. I pray that we would know and live the meaning of being in the world, but not of it, doing politics as though not doing them, being on the earth, yet having our lives hidden with Christ in God, rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God’s; that we would discern what truths and values should advance by being made law and which should advance only by the leavening of honest influence; that your people would see what love and justice and far-seeing wisdom demand in regard to the issues of education, business and industry, health care, marriage and family, abortion, welfare, energy, government and taxes, military, terrorism, international relations, and every challenge that we will face in the years to come; and above all, that we will treasure Jesus Christ, and tell everyone of his sovereignty and supremacy over all nations, and that long after America is a footnote to the future world, he will reign with his people from every tribe and tongue and nation. Keep us faithful to Christ’s all important Word, and may we turn to it every day for light in these dark times. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
"Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do" (1 Chronicles 12:32).
Brooksyne and I awakened very early on Sunday morning, likely due to turning our clocks back one hour before we retired Saturday evening. We awakened at 5 AM instead of the usual 6 AM which is not surprising since our internal biological alarm clock, not yet reprogrammed, buzzed us to tell us it's time to rise. It was a beautiful morning, bright and crisp.
As the sun came up I took a walk along our favorite trail and prayed. Like many here in America (and others around the world) my heart was burdened concerning the presidential election and the state of things to come. It seems the Lord laid this rather obscure verse on my heart and as I prayed I pondered its meaning and want to share a perspective today.
"Something's happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear…" I suppose you have to be in my generation to recognize that these are the first words (at least as I recall them) to a popular song in the late sixties/early seventies. Something's always happening, but there is an intensity it seems; a sense I have in my spirit of some type of significant threshold being reached or as some would say a tipping point. I am quite certain we will be seeing significant change but really wonder of what type. I want God to give me wisdom to understand the times and know what to do.
A vital spiritual principle is this: It's so easy to see the physical reality but far more difficult to grasp the spiritual understanding. This is true in our individual lives as well as international affairs. I desire to have the spiritual discernment of the men of Issachar, "who understood the times and knew what Israel should do." A powerful apocalyptic verse at the end of Daniel states, "Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand" (Daniel 12:10).
Issachar was one of Jacob's sons and his descendents later became a tribe which had amazingly maintained their distinct identity for some 800 years up to the time of David. This verse is found in a section of Scripture chronicling David's soldiers. Two qualities marked these men of Issachar and the special contribution they made during the time they lived. They "understood the times and knew what Israel should do."
1) They "understood the times." What a powerful statement! We are bombarded with information about the times in which we live. I can turn on the TV or sit down at my computer and instantly get an update on significant and insignificant news from anywhere in the world. But "understanding the times" is far more than this. It involves spiritual discernment. I find contemporary events interesting and often very disturbing, frightening and even potentially despairing. But the fundamental focus on properly understanding the times is a steady, growing understanding of God and His Word. "The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure" (Isaiah 33:5, 6).
2) They "knew what Israel should do." As a husband, father, and minister of the Gospel I desire the leading of the Holy Spirit. I need to know what to do to in these times to keep my life, family and ministry on the right track. Here's a lengthy portion I read this morning and feel compelled to place in the body of the devotional. Please read it thoughtfully. "And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature" (Romans 13:11-14).
Consider these qualities in your life today and pray that the Lord will help you to understand the times and show you how to remain faithful, as you press on for Christ and His Kingdom! Let us all be like the men of Issachar.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Lord Jesus, we who are children of the light, do not live as those who walk in the darkness. Instead You have shown us right from wrong, truth from error, and You have given us discernment to test the spirits to see that which is from You and that which is from the evil one. The foundations seem to be shaking as we are flooded with a tidal wave of twists and spins that seeks to confuse or demean the believer. We clothe ourselves daily with godly armor, both defensive and offensive weaponry since our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but rather the authorities from this world. Keep our souls untainted by the changing rhetoric and sliding standards from our decadent society as we stand against the spiritual forces of evil. May we not fluctuate but walk boldly in the conviction and power of the Holy Spirit today!
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). "Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you" (John 12:35).
Today hundreds of millions of believers all around the globe seek to live for God. Yesterday a sister in Kenya wrote to us her confession of faith based on a recent message: "I will never turn back.’Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.'" This morning an international reader from Singapore declares, "In this global financial chaos, in a world full of speculation, only God's Word is certain."
We tend to think of church as either a building where religious services are held or more properly the group of people who meet together to worship God. While I strongly believe in the institutional aspect of the church and the importance of meeting together regularly, the church is so much more than just this depiction.
The church is the community of the redeemed who recognize their heavenly citizenship. The church is active today all over our world as the redeemed let the light of Christ shine through their lives. The light shines all the brighter outside the walls of a church building due to the intense darkness of the world.
But I share a word of caution from Jesus: "Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you" (John 12:35). It seems darkness is overtaking many. Even among those who confess Jesus Christ as their Savior moral confusion abounds. Indeed we live in a world where wrong seems right and priorities can be easily misaligned. In this great cosmic battle between light and darkness we need to walk steadfastly in the light of Christ and in the knowledge of His Word.
I want to consider the power of the Word planted deep in the hearts of Christ's followers. It is planted in a variety of ways but I believe a key component is exposure. Sure there are times of concerted memorization, intense study, and accelerated spiritual growth. But I believe God's Word can also minister to us when we allow ourselves to be regularly and systematically exposed to it. I have listened to thousands of sermons and spent thousands of hours reading the Bible. Frankly, I specifically recall only a relatively few of those sermons. Though I've memorized a good number of Scriptures I can also read the Word and later seem to forget much of what I read. Ouch! Is it thus a waste of time? Of course not!
The point today: Keep your eyes, ears and hearts exposed to God's Word. Exposure to godly music is another great means of exposure to godly instruction. You never know how He may speak to you and rekindle the Light that this world so desperately needs to see through you.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Lord Jesus, as I commit myself to You this day, I ask that You make me a glowing ember of Your truth, Your wisdom, and Your compassionate mercy. I want my light to shine for You so that all glory will be directed back to You, my source of light. If I find myself in the midst of a circle of employees engaged in ungodly conversation help me not to blend in. But rather help me to be the light of Your glory in my conversation, full of grace seasoned with salt, so that I will know how to respond to each person. I ask that You would reveal to me any false motivation for carrying out good deeds. Remind me that it is for Your glory that I do these things. It is neither for the praise of others nor for personal advancement, but the advancement of the Gospel. Lord, help me to reach just one today with an unexpected act of kindness that will direct the recipient's thoughts toward my Father in heaven. In Your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
"Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him" (Daniel 2:20-22).
The daily Scripture portion is a powerful proclamation of the providence of God. Here's a historic definition of this theological term: "God's works of providence are His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing of all His creatures and all their actions."
King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and God revealed to Daniel both the dream and the meaning, a panoramic sweep through hundreds of years into the future and the rise and fall of various kingdoms. We look back now and see how this has marvelously been fulfilled.
"Praise be to the name of God forever and ever." Before Daniel revealed the dream to the king he offers praise to God. He "blessed the God of heaven" (v. 19).
"Wisdom and power are His." This timeless truth is so instructive and encouraging in light of the many issues of uncertainty we face; those things which cause us anxiety and fear. Some we commonly deal with such as world turmoil and especially at this time here in America with the forthcoming election as to where the nation is headed. Others are personal and unique to us. It may be a health need, a job situation, a family matter or many other issues that trouble your spirit.
"He changes times and seasons." Once again as we are in the midst of a very predictable seasonal change we see the hand of God in the changing of the seasons as He ordained at creation. Following the great flood God made a covenant with Noah and seasonal changes have been an evidence of God's faithfulness ever since. As I was preparing this message, Tom, a friend from northern PA, sent a photo of the first snow in that area. We have had some very cold weather here in Lancaster County the last several days but no snow yet!
"He sets up kings and deposes them." History sure validates this. Some 2,600 years have passed since Daniel made this statement and history abundantly demonstrates that many kings and kingdoms have come and gone. We live out our lives in a tiny window in the scope of God's providential dealings. Our perspective is narrowly skewed if we don't constantly observe the bigger landscape of God's dealings with humankind.
"He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things." We must look to God as we direct our focus toward Him. A great need for the earnest follower of Christ in this information overload age is godly discernment. It seems that we are awash in outright lies, distortions, spins and misleading information. We need revelation from God's Word concerning the deep and hidden things not revealed by man, but revealed to our hearts by the inner working of the Holy Spirit.
"He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him." This last phrase really, really blesses us as we prepare this message. Daniel needed the light of God's revelation to interpret the king's dream. God revealed the dream and its meaning to Daniel in the middle of the night. Rather than rushing to the king and boasting of his interpretive skills Daniel broke forth in praise to God and made this glorious declaration about our omniscient God: "He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him."
Since we're unable to see "what lies in darkness" let us walk with God everyday of our earthly journey since "light dwells with Him." Then we'll be assured that the light of His glory will illumine our path and give us the needed light to see our way through the troubling and narrow passages that await us. God will replace our fear of the future with His promise of provision for that which lies ahead.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, Your vast wisdom is given to those who seek godly wisdom and Your knowledge to the discerning believer. You are the bright light that comes bursting forth when darkness seeks to blind the godly. All foes are rendered powerless in Your presence. Thank You for the marvelous standing we have as Your children.
“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66). ”So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised” (Hebrews 10:35, 36).
I heard a challenging sermon dealing with integrity and faithfulness using the text, “David shepherded them with integrity of heart.” The preacher then challenged the congregation to renew their commitment to “our high calling in Christ Jesus.” We concluded with a chorus that challenges and motivates me to persevere each time I sing it; “cause I never want to go back to my old life.”
Surely our first daily text is one of the saddest expressions in the Bible. This was the response by many who upon hearing the teachings of Jesus said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” (John 6:60). This remains the reaction of many when confronted with His teaching. Some of His teaching indeed seems so hard to understand. Some issues make sense to us, others we accept by faith (And I have learned that there are many previously hard teachings that become easier to grasp after a period of growth and experience as a Christian).
After many of His disciples walked away, “Jesus then said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’” (vs. 67).
Peter spoke up and uttered one of the greatest faith statements in the entire Bible: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (vv.68, 69).
The early Hebrew Christians were enduring persecution and were tempted to return to their old way of life. However, every generation of believers has this call to persevere. Every individual follower of Christ has this call as well. The letter to the Hebrews laboriously teaches the superiority of the way of Christ over the old religious system the initial readers had come out of. Of course His way is infinitely superior to any system devised by man.
A key purpose of the entire letter to the Hebrews can be summed up in the exhortation and promise of the second daily verse: “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”
The exhortation –“Do not throw away your confidence.” This is the confidence or assurance believers have in Christ. We are not to throw it away or cast it aside.
The promise –“it will be richly rewarded.” Notice the certainty of this promise “it will be”, not might be or should be. Praise God, it will be richly rewarded. “How and when will this happen?” our hearts cry out, especially as we are undergoing trial? But I particularly consider this with those being persecuted.
This answer and date is not given, but the writer goes on to say, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised” (Hebrews 10:36). Keep trusting in Him today, fellow believer. Your confidence in Christ will be richly rewarded!
But some throw it away. May we have a persevering heart to do the will of God regardless of luring temptations or formidable obstacles we encounter.
Today, may we all, like Peter, consecrate ourselves to God and continue as His follower. “A faithful follower I would be, for by His hand He leadeth me.” By the grace of God I’m not going back to my old life!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, there is no one or no thing that is worthy of our complete allegiance, but You, our Lord, who has the words of eternal life. Though others may refuse to listen or turn away from the message of salvation we choose to persevere. We persevere in trial and in victory, in the ups and downs and in the in-betweens of everyday circumstances. We seek to do Your will in all things so that we will be richly rewarded at the end of this life. In the name of Jesus we persevere. Amen.
"You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings--what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:10-17).
I am aware that today's Scripture selection is longer than usual. I want to highlight just one phrase in it but felt the surrounding context is especially important to fill our hearts. I encourage you to read it slowly, perhaps aloud, if you are in a place where you can do so.
We regularly count our blessings in our family. We do this in part to resist the tendency to take our blessings for granted. God has indeed blessed me with a wonderful wife and family and comparatively a very good life on this earth. As we join hands in prayer before our meals I often pray, "Thank you Lord that we continue to experience Your blessings of freedom, peace and provision in our home."
But we wonder how much longer these times will last and our faith in God is certainly not contingent on whether or not they do.
I consider how different my life is than a similar aged male in Sudan (although I wonder how many even live as long as I have.) I consider God's love for me and God's love for him and, although our lives are dramatically different, yet His love is identical for both of us.
I have before me an excellent message by James K. Bridges titled, "Critical Questions We Must Ask Ourselves” (To see message, click here). Essentially he solemnly calls believers to consider what may very well be coming in regard to the current direction civilization is going. He points out that the World Christian Encyclopedia has indicated that from A.D. 33 to 2000 there were an estimated 70 million martyrs. However from A.D. 33-1900 there were 25 million and 45 million in the last century alone. WOW.
So many of us reading this material just can't grasp that. Our lives have been so free from persecution of any type. We may even suppose we have a right to live out our lives in freedom and prosperity. The portion of the daily text that again grips my heart as I share this is, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
I frankly struggle with the meaning of this verse based on my own personal observation and experience. Clearly many millions of believers have lived facing very little persecution in their lifetime, apart from ridicule and perhaps scorn. But I believe we need to be prepared to see this increase and perhaps include more severe and physical types, even martyrdom.
Bridges' message concludes with a powerful challenge. "The church must arouse out of its intoxication with the Laodicean spirit (Revelation 3:16,17). The church must not be like King Belshazzar who celebrated in his banquet hall while the enemy was conquering his capital and his kingdom (Daniel 5:30, 31). These are times when the church must be like 'the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do'" (1 Chronicles 12:32).
Be encouraged and strong in the Lord today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we pray that we will not be fearful or ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that Christ will be exalted through us, whether by life or by death. Whatever happens, help us to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that we honor Your name and bring strength to the Christian body. Amen.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
Yesterday afternoon Brooksyne and I visited the family of a man who had died as a result of a construction accident last week. Though we did not know him personally we are good friends with his older sister and her husband. The entire family is processing his untimely death and we joined with many others who sought to express words of comfort and support as we walked through the long visitation line.
In the midst of lingering troubles or unexpected tragedy it is essential that we not allow the troubling circumstances to drain us of the eternal hope that comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul warned the Corinthian believers, "Do not lose heart…For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (II Corinthians 4:16, 17).
The Life Application Bible gives an important faith perspective on this passage in its study notes: "Our troubles should not diminish our faith or disillusion us. We should realize that there is a purpose in our suffering. Problems and human limitations have several benefits: (1) they remind us of Christ's suffering for us; (2) they keep us from pride; (3) they cause us to look beyond this brief life; (4) they prove our faith to others; and (5) they give God the opportunity to demonstrate His power. See your troubles as opportunities!"
By faith we must look beyond the painful circumstance visible to all and remind ourselves that God is working in the invisible realm of the hearts of those impacted by the tragedies of this life. Our friend who experienced the sudden loss of her brother asked us to pray that God will work in the hearts of family members. By faith she is looking at the "bigger picture" to see this as a pivotal time for those she loves to find a deepened walk with God. The final outcome is not always seen on this side since the "eternal glory" that far outweighs life's troubling circumstances will not be fully revealed in this life.
Believers have long received deep assurance and much needed perspective from Romans 8:28. It was one of the first verses I memorized as a young Christian. How often I have drawn strength from its message and do so again as I slowly read it and again ponder its truth, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." God's going to work through this temporal trial for the ultimate good, although I believe in some cases much will be revealed or clarified on the other side.
Trials dark on every hand, and we cannot understand,
All the ways that God would lead us
To that blessed Promised Land;
But He guides us with His eye and we'll follow till we die,
For we'll understand it better by and by.*
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, because we are visually stimulated by that which surrounds us it is easy to become discouraged by what we see. Yet we choose to live by faith, not by sight. We want to rise above life's visible circumstances to scenes invisible here on earth but made known to us through Scripture. Regardless of our limited perspective or the personal cost we persevere in our trials and hardships so that we will gain an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. *"We'll Understand it Better" Charles A. Tindley
"In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25).
Where is our culture heading? As an American I ask where is my country heading and readers can do so regardless of where they live. When will the Judge of the universe act in a dramatic way as He has done so all throughout history? These are questions I have today particularly as I consider the moral apostasy evident in so many ways all around us.
The Book of Judges ends with the summary statement that describes the moral climate of Israel as expressed in the daily text. The early part of the verse describes the period as a time when "there was no king in Israel." At this time, following the death of Moses and his successor Joshua, the kingdom had not been established and there were no kings but rather a succession of Judges.
As later history proved, this in itself was not necessarily significant. When the nation had kings there were periods when the people earnestly followed and obeyed God. But there were also periods of spiritual decline and apostasy.
However if we understand "king" in the sense of "moral authority" this portion has enduring meaning. Certainly in our time God's moral authority is neglected and rejected and evil is abounding.
The latter part of the verse really sums up the period: "every man did that which was right in his own eyes." The NIV phrases it, "everyone did as he saw fit." The period of the Judges was one of the most barbaric times in history. Some are troubled at the events recorded and even wonder why they are mentioned in the Bible, but they merely document the sordid history of the period and the consequences of living without regard to God.
Is it that much different than our day? Stories of lawlessness and barbarism are far too common in our own time. Listen to the news any given day and the increase in evil is evidenced all around us. Surely the phrase, "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" describes our times as well and in the direction we are heading will increasingly do so.
Fellow believer, let us who follow the Lord heed the words of Scripture through Moses: "Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God" (Deuteronomy 12:28). Today, let's strive to do what's good and right in the eyes of the Lord!
Let us live under the realization that "the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him" (2 Chronicles 16:9). Let us commit our hearts fully to Him this day and receive His strength and blessing as we live in these very challenging times.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we read throughout the period of the Judges that the people of Israel endured great heartache and spiritual defeat because each one became his own authority and acted on his own opinions of what was right and wrong. They did not make You the final authority; they disregarded Your holy laws and chose to do that which was right in their own eyes. We see this prevailing attitude in our own day. But as believers we acknowledge that our judgment is flawed and our motives are selfish when we do not submit our will to a holy God who knows what is best for His children. Today we want to obey Your laws and surrender our will as we seek to do what is good and right in Your eyes. This will result in our hearts being strengthened and our lives being blessed by You. Amen.
"As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend" (Proverbs 27:17).
Today I would like to share a story that I hope will encourage in a different sort of way. It concerns a friend of about 25 years, going back to my years of pastoral service in upstate Pennsylvania. I have Steve's permission to share this message as we both feel it may be of benefit in illustrating the blessings of an enduring friendship that was at times a challenging one.
Steve had retired after working for the city of Pittsburgh and moved up to our area, which was about 125 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. He lived in a small trailer near the site where today's photo was taken in a region known as the Pennsylvania Wilds. He had a background of broken relationships and alcoholism but several years earlier had made the decision to follow Christ and God was at work chipping away in the re-creation process.
Steve could be somewhat difficult; the kind of person we might describe as "rough around the edges." He himself acknowledged that he was like sandpaper. But he boldly proclaimed his love for Jesus and had a heart to serve, so he volunteered to be the church custodian. He was faithful in his service, but he also had a knack for coming up with ideas that were not always feasible.
The most memorable one was the time he decided to use a small space heater to defrost the refrigerator freezer in the church kitchen. He placed it inside the freezer and shut the door and then forgot he had done so. I suppose he reckoned it would get the job done quickly. Well it did, but it also melted the inside of the freezer! Steve required much forbearance and at times I felt like pulling my hair out!
We worked together several years and butted heads more than once but we both endured. In time I took a new pastoral role in New England and Steve eventually moved back to the Pittsburgh area. We completely lost contact for many years until we reconnected through Daily Encouragement several years ago. He receives the messages and periodically shares an update concerning his life. He's dealt with numerous health problems but is staying faithful to Christ. Last night we reminisced about our unusual friendship and prayed that in sharing our story it might be a blessing to others.
I've always been intrigued by the brief but pointed Proverb in today's text. As is the case with many of the Proverbs there is nothing in the immediate context to further clarify the author's intended meaning.
Hebrews 10:24 expresses a similar concept; "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." The word "spur" translates a very rare Greek word (paroxusmos) found in the NT elsewhere only in Acts 15:39 where it is used to describe the contention between Paul and Barnabas regarding John Mark. Tracing the roots of this word we find it comes from two words with the sense "to sharpen alongside." The writer of Hebrews uses it here in a positive sense to describe an essential Christian responsibility. We need to come alongside one another to keep each other sharp! The NASV uses "stimulate" and the KJV states "to provoke."
I've often been enriched by the sharpening influence of a thoughtful friend in Christ. The sharpening itself may be thought-provoking and at times even painful, but in the end I am stronger and better for it.
But I also consider relationships like the one I had with Steve. I am convinced that God providentially allows these associations to cause us to grow and be enriched by them.
Sadly, for the sake of a surface unity we may neglect this sharpening role and seek to avoid these kinds of relationships, whether we're the one sharpening or the one being sharpened. Warren Wiersbe observes, "If we are not disagreeable, we usually learn more by disagreeing than by giving in and refusing to say what we really think, 'speaking the truth in love'".
This sharpening process may take place in your own home, among friends in church or at work. You just might come up against a sharpening friend like Steve was to me. How you react is a real test of character as God often uses other people to grow the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and develop His character traits in our hearts.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Today's prayer: Father, we confess that in the process of being molded and fashioned into Your likeness we are often unyielding and struggle in the process of becoming more like You. At various times You place people in our lives that stretch and challenge us, which produces endurance and forbearance. Thank You for also placing people in our lives who model godly character and who courageously speak words of direction and loving correction when we most need it. Help us to graciously receive these messengers and promptly respond to the message they bring when it is supported by Scripture and spoken from a wise and loving heart. Give us courage to "speak the truth in love." Amen.
“But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge” (Daniel 12:4). Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth” (Hosea 6:3).
James Martin wrote a book in 1977 titled “The Wired Society”. It predicted a planet networked by personal computers with the internet, e-commerce, tele-commuting and other technological breakthroughs. At that time many of his predictions seemed bizarre but we now take much of them for granted and many of us experience them. In 2001 he wrote a book, “After the Internet: Alien Intelligence” which has some stunning predictions about where technology is taking us. If he is as correct in this book as he was in his earlier one we are moving into some frightening territory.
He envisions us as entering a brave new world in which alien intelligence can redesign and reinvent itself at electronic speed and without the control of human engineers. Alien intelligence will become so complex that humans will not even be able to understand the computers’ processes. Ultimately the question becomes: Will we control the machines, or will they control us?
The last half of Daniel’s book deals with prophecies that stretch far beyond his own day. Daniel lived about 600 years before Christ’s incarnation or some 2,600 years ago. Of course all through human history knowledge has been increasing. However in our time there has been an exponential increase in the rate of new knowledge and we see that indeed, “Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” Where is all this headed we wonder?
Daniel associated this particular increase of knowledge to the “time of the end.” But the call to God’s chosen people is no different than it’s ever been. Today’s second verse has a timeless call regarding our primary pursuit of knowledge. “Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.”
“His going forth is established as the morning.” As I ponder these things, I find great assurance from a faith statement expressed early in the Reformation from the Heidelberg Catechism: “What is my only comfort in life and death? That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death, am not my own, but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ who so preserves me that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things work together for my salvation.” Let us stay faithful to God and His established plan for our lives and pursue our knowledge of God above all!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, we have seen throughout Biblical and modern history that Your people perish due to lack of knowledge. The treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Your heart. So we can be confident that when we seek the heart of our Father we are also increasing in spiritual knowledge that comes from our loving relationship with You. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, our Helper, whom You sent to teach us and to bring to remembrance all things that You have taught us through Scripture. Your knowledge will preserve us through the fiery trials of this life. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness" (Hebrews 3:13). "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25).
Today is a special day for us. Well, first of all its Brooksyne's birthday so that's pretty special to our family! My birthday gift to Brooksyne is a large engraved plaque that goes above the double doors in our dining room. It declares the last two lines from the chorus of her favorite hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness". We often sing this classic hymn with our dinner guests as we sit around our dining room table just before prayer over our meal.
October 21st is also the day this ministry started 12 years ago in 1996. It was during my pastorate in Taunton, MA that I preached a sermon on October 20th with the subject of "Encouraging One Another daily". The message was based on the daily texts and I sensed a leading from the Holy Spirit to send an email the next morning to encourage a young married couple. (Both are still on the list to this day.)
It read: "Hopefully each of you were in church yesterday and received fresh strength from the Lord and His Word. Unfortunately, then, even as now, some had forsaken this important element of growth and discipleship. As we see the Day of Christ's return drawing ever closer may we be encouraged. Whatever you do today remember the main thing: 'Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might' (Deuteronomy 6:5).'"
For the first several years the messages were just a short challenge sent as a simple text email with no photos or music supplements. The list grew as messages were passed along and as I met people who were interested in receiving a daily encouragement message.
In 1999 we set up the website and as I gained writing experience the messages became more a brief devotional and the list continued to grow. For the first four years I wrote them early in the morning from my pastor's study in Taunton and then later from our home when we moved to Mount Joy, Pennsylvania in early 2001. During this time I began adding links to photos and music.
I resigned from a full-time job with a chaplain agency in late 2004 freeing more time to devote to this growing ministry and to pursue other ministry interests. In early 2005 I learned how to work with html and began to send the messages out using the formatted version most now receive. Around this time Brooksyne took on a larger role editing the messages and adding her prayer and occasional notes. The list continued to grow although in most cases we do not personally know the recipient. At this time we also set up the podcast and the RSS feeds.
But our goal is still the same as that expressed in the very first message; to encourage followers of Christ.
Barnabas is one of my favorite Bible characters. He comes on the scene as "Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth who was also called Barnabas by the apostles, which translated means Son of Encouragement" (Acts 4). But now we only know him by his nickname Barnabas. He is an encourager and the Scriptures demonstrate this. We are all indebted to encouragers even though it certainly is not considered one of the more prominent ministries, such as a polished preacher, a dynamic worship leader or a powerful vocalist.
Consider his influence: no book in the Bible was written by him nor do we have the text of any sermon he preached recorded in Acts as we do Peter, Stephen and Paul. In fact I am unable to find even a single quote attributed exclusively to Barnabas. All the information we have about him is biographical and brief.
A subtheme of this ministry is "Everyone Needs Encouragement." We sure believe that. Now there are certain times in our lives when we need it more than others, particularly when we're going through times of testing. Thankfully most of us don't live in a state of discouragement (depression). But I am never aware of a time I would feel that I just don't need any more encouragement. I am always receptive to further encouragement on a regular basis! So once again on the twelfth anniversary of this ministry let me encourage you today and urge you to be an encourager to others as well!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, much like Barnabas the Encourager, we want to be uplifting to our brothers and sisters, our family members, and others we see from day to day. There are those who've left us with stinging reminders of their hurtful words often accompanied by painful actions. Gratefully, there are others who have brought us strength and encouragement through their words of affirmation, hope, challenge, and helpful instruction. They remained supportive of us when others gave up. Help us to be numbered among the encouragers as we live in these perilous days where confusion abounds and deceitfulness is rampant. May we encourage others not only by our words but also by our steady, consistent, Christian walk. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
"Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body" (Philippians 3:17-21).
Here in the United States we are involved in a very heated presidential race. In a broader sense we are also in a very heated culture war and this is really true wherever this is read today. As God's people we need the Word of God and God's perspective on life.
As I study today's text I note that Paul left an example and pattern. Through the inspired Word of God this example and pattern, initially provided to the Philippian believers, is also very pertinent for us today. We do well to heed it carefully.
An ongoing faith struggle for the believer is to remember where our home really is. I believe this is particularly true in places where life has been very good. We listen to the political leaders and wonder who can best keep us safe, keep life good and even make it better. Of course both candidates project a rosy outlook promising us even more for less. Yet our nation's critical moral and spiritual condition is barely mentioned.
Note the contrast in the daily Scripture portion. First, "many live as enemies of the cross of Christ" (Philippians 3:18) and Paul summarizes their outlook; "Their mind is on earthly things." "Earthly things" conveys a perspective that sees life only with the natural eye. Paul observes that "many" live this way and evidence of this is seen everywhere you look! I consider how relatively few of the people I encounter are likely giving any thought to God and their eternal destiny. Their minds are consumed with earthly things.
"But our citizenship is in heaven." Now that's the perspective I want! Sure, I'll be voting this November and praying for our country (particularly for a great spiritual awakening that I believe is the only hope for genuine reform). I have American citizenship and this is the country where God has providentially ordained that I would live out the earthly part of my existence.
No matter what country grants us citizenship, as believers we have dual citizenship and want to be cognizant daily of where we hold our primary citizenship, where our real home is. It's not here! We want to have the perspective of Paul regarding the return of the Lord. "And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." Where's your primary citizenship and thus spiritual focus today?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, it is because of Your great compassion and the sacrificial death of Jesus that we receive our heavenly citizenship. We're so thankful for our heavenly citizenship where we will one day experience all the special privileges that await us there. Help us not to be so tied to our earthly citizenship that we crave the pleasures and merits of this world above the future eternal inheritance promised to Your faithful followers. Amen.
Dual citizenship - Paul testified that he was also a Roman citizen (Acts 22:25).
“But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him” (Acts 2:24).
I’m a baseball fan, particularly in the postseason. Having lived in New England for over seven years in the nineties our family became Red Sox fans, although their recent success in winning two World Series came after we moved from that area. This year they are again in the American League championship series and last night was an elimination game for them against Tampa Bay as they were down three games to one.
I watched until the top of the 7th inning when Tampa Bay scored two more runs making it 7-0. A comeback from this deficit was extremely unlikely and the Tampa Bay team was on a roll, tasting the thrill of victory and ready for celebration. The Boston team was showing the agony of defeat, with despair on their faces. Watching anymore of this game seemed pointless so I went up to bed.
Imagine my surprise when I checked the score early this morning and Boston had come back to win the game 8-7 in the bottom of the ninth!
I know people feel strongly about their teams and we now live where most follow Philadelphia Phillies, who will be in the World Series. I don’t know whether Boston will go any further this year as Tampa Bay has an outstanding team, but in the last several years Boston has demonstrated several remarkable comebacks, most famously being down three games to none in the 2004 American League Championship series before winning four games in a row to win the series.
These comebacks can be encouraging to sports fans everywhere and remind us that it really isn’t over till it’s over. But of course I see a spiritual application as well!
In our daily verse Peter is preaching to the curious crowd gathered in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. Fifty days earlier he was among the first witnesses to the greatest comeback in history. Apostolic preaching emphasized the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was and ever will be at the very heart of the Gospel. A faithful witness will always, “earnestly contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3).
Peter, who had infamously denied the Lord at His trial, now makes a great statement of faith concerning Christ. “God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death.” Christ had experienced the agony of death and apparent absolute defeat. To His enemies a comeback now was an impossibility.
But Peter goes on to say, “It was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.” He surely recalled the teaching of Jesus he had heard time after time. Early in His ministry Jesus had said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19). After Peter had made his great confession of faith, Jesus clearly taught that He would “suffer many things, be killed, and be raised again the third day.” Even his enemies were aware of the claim and had made provision for a guard at the tomb (Matthew 27:62-66).
But no paltry Roman guard was going to stop this Comeback! Death had forever lost its sting. Jesus Christ mounted the greatest comeback ever recorded in history; His resurrection from the dead. Today we indeed serve a risen Savior. Let us rejoice in this truth and live for the One who once died and now lives forever, for it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him! It is for this truth that we must earnestly and faithfully contend!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, You defeated physical death when You resurrected our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Because of that wondrous miracle of miracles we no longer have to face death with cringing fear, but in confident hope of the eternal life we will inherit. Thank You for Jesus, our anchor and our hope that holds us steady in the daily challenges of this life. Keep us longing for that which is yet to come and keep us faithful until that joyous hour. Amen.
"Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You" (Psalm 119:11).
Our dog Roxie enjoys playing a little game with Brooksyne. I hold her back, then cover her eyes and ears while Brooksyne hides behind a car or a tree. After I know that Brooksyne is out of sight I then holler, "Ready or not here she comes." As though she's competing in a race Roxie takes off, initially where she senses Brooksyne was heading. Then she dashes to and fro with her nose sniffing the air, trying to pick up her scent. She gets closer and closer until I hear Brooksyne gleefully holler out that she's been found! Then Roxie circles around her and acts like she hasn't seen her in days. She's usually quick to find Brooksyne since she knows her scent and the common hiding places.
"Hide and Seek" is a fun game that most all of us grew up playing with our friends and siblings. But there is a very important spiritual exercise of "Hide and Seek" that isn't just a game, rather it's a survival tactic against the enemy of our souls.
I went to a meeting at Lancaster Bible College yesterday and during lunch I visited with Mike Brickley and his wife. Mike is the president of the Pocket Testament League and is speaking in a three days series of messages in the chapel service. He had challenged the students on Tuesday to come to the chapel service the next morning prepared to share a memorized Scripture they had hidden in their hearts. He was unsure of the kind of response he would get but was so blessed when students, one after the other, shared with the college body a verse that was very personally meaningful in their walk with the Lord. His story brought a recollection of chapel services in my Bible College over thirty years ago and how formative these experiences were for my spiritual walk.
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible and is focused on the value and power of God's Word. In fact each of the 176 verses has some reference to the Word using various synonyms such as commands, precepts, laws, decrees, promises, and so forth.
"Your Word I have hidden in my heart." This spiritual discipline is such a lacking element among so many today. The Word is the sacred Scriptures and although we use our minds we need to see that it reaches the heart and is hidden away. When we face temptation or discouragement; when we experience loss or need direction; when we want Biblical role models we then seek out the pertinent Scriptures we have hidden deep in our hearts.
Hiding God's Word begins with regular reading of the sacred text. Of preeminent importance is the text itself. This is a lifelong practice, for God's Word is an inexhaustible treasure of spiritual wisdom. Paul indicated this when he wrote to Timothy, "How from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures" (2 Timothy 3:15). In the very next chapter in his final written words Paul asks Timothy "to bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments" (2 Timothy 4:13). D. Edmond Hiebert writes, "Even as an old man facing certain death, the apostle has not lost his interest for study and mental pursuits. It presents a standing challenge to the minister to be an indefatigable student, especially of the Word of God."
Hiding God's Word includes studying of the sacred text. There are many wonderful supplemental resources that we may find helpful and a blessing as we study the Bible such as devotional booklets, study guides, notes in study Bibles and so forth. The serious Bible student must be very careful to use these tools only as a supplement, never a replacement. Each morning as Brooksyne and I pray over these daily encouragement messages we pray that the various components would be a blessing; our stories, exposition, photos, personal reflections and music links. But we realize the most important element is the Scripture text itself. Above all else read the Scripture!
Hiding God's Word includes meditating on the sacred text. David wrote in Psalm 1 concerning the blessed man, "But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." In my understanding meditation is taking a single verse or small portion of Scripture and thoughtfully pondering and considering it, turning it around over and over in the mind. Jim Gambini, my former pastor, used the phrase "masticating", which is the technical term meaning "to chew" much like dairy cows and other ruminating animals chew their cud. Contented dairy cows can chew their cud eight hours a day totaling 30,000 chews daily. Now, if we could turn God's Word over and over in our minds throughout the day I believe we'd have a lot more victory and joy in our lives and it would certainly spill out to those around us! We would also memorize Scripture in the process.
Hiding God's Word includes memorizing the sacred text. That's hard for many and frankly for me it gets harder as I grow older. We may have different giftings in this regard but I challenge each reader to at least memorize the Scripture that is your life's verse. Early in my pastoral ministry I memorized many Scripture verses which are deeply hidden in my heart to this day.
My life verse and the final challenge in today's message are, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You. Direct me in the path of Your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to Your Word. Let me live that I may praise You and may Your laws sustain me. My heart is set on keeping Your decrees to the very end. Amen.
“So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). “Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14).
Today is a significant day for me. This is the 19,725th day since my birth. However, of course, we don’t normally think of events like these in terms of days, but rather years.
The Psalms are normally associated with David, but David did not write Psalm 90. It was written by Moses who lived about 400 years before David. Yet some inspired compiler placed his writing in the midst of the Psalm collection in the Holy Scriptures. I find the heading of this Psalm in the NASV so interesting; “God’s Eternity and Man’s Transitoriness.” Transitoriness is not even in my online spellchecker but means “of brief duration.” James 4:14 describes this transitoriness, “You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
I don’t know how many more days I have on this earth or what my future holds. But I have learned that in the course of my life I can’t choose or schedule my trials. As a line in an old hymn states, “Every joy or trial falleth from above, traced upon our dial by the sun of love; We may trust Him fully, all for us to do – They who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true.”*
Our daily verse is in the form of a petition. Moses writes, “Teach us to number our days.” The plural is interesting and I include myself with Moses and others in making this petition. Moses lived some 43,800 days, but it seems to me that he wasn’t likely referring to keeping an up to date count of the days since our birth (although some do this.) Rather I believe he is calling us to recognize and give attention to the blessings and responsibilities of each day.
The purpose of numbering our days is “that we may present to You (God) a heart of wisdom.” This should be a foundational goal in life and a lifelong pursuit. Again James reminds us that “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (1:5). In light of the times we are facing we should be seeking God’s wisdom through earnest study of His holy Word. Then we are able to exercise spiritual discernment as we listen to or read the news.
Moses goes on to say a couple of verses later, “Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14). The deepest source of satisfaction for the believer is God’s unfailing love. It is unwavering and inexhaustible; “Though the mountain be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken” (Isaiah 54:10). As an old song says, “the world didn’t give it to me and the world can’t take it away!”
Today in numbering our days let us recognize that, “This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” There are no leap days on God’s calendar. Every single day we awaken is a gift from Him and we must choose day by day to glorify God and serve Him with all our hearts.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, often the days converge into another and before we know it a year has passed. Help us to be keenly aware of each new day and the opportunity it holds for us to be engaged in our Father’s business. We want to daily turn to Your holy Word for wisdom so that we will present to You a heart full of godly wisdom and a life fully surrendered to You. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
“Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33).
Our pastor preaches colorful sermons often using his own experiences in life as illustrative material. Yesterday he told a story that will not soon be forgotten. He was headed home from several days of vacation with his family and stopped for a cup of coffee. As they got on the interstate they ran into several major traffic jams. The longer they sat in idle traffic the more pressing the need was to find a bathroom.
Most all of you’ve been in that situation and will quickly identify with our pastor’s dilemma. After passing several exits with no bathroom facilities Bob was greatly relieved to spot a row of port-a-potties off to the side of the interstate. Making a beeline for them he went to the first one and as he opened the door he was blasted back by the strong foul odor. As we would say in Missouri the smell was bad enough to “gag a maggot.”
He stated that he “galvanized” himself to go in and take care of business and wasted no time in running back to his car. As soon as he got into the driver’s seat his grown daughter looked at him and said, “Ooh, Dad, you smell awful!” It seems the strong smell from the port-a-pottie lingered in his clothing and it did so all the way to their house. Upon their arrival home the clothes were immediately placed in the laundry. After the church service we had a good laugh about this experience with Luanne, Bob’s wife, and his mother-in-law who was also riding in the car.
His point was the malodorous effects of sin.
The title of his sermon was “A Good Apple In A Bad Bunch” based on the life of Lot. He began his message by observing the effects of one bad apple in a bunch of good apples. Of course the bad apple will spoil the good apples so you must get rid of the bad apple if you want to keep the good ones. The reverse is true as well. Placing one good apple among a bunch of bad apples will cause the good apple to rot. Such is the corrosion of unchecked sin in our lives.
Lot made a critical choice when he chose the more lush grazing land in the valley for his flocks (Genesis 13:10). This led him to pitch his tent near Sodom (Genesis 13:12). Even at that time the Scripture describes, “The men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord” (V. 13). But Lot prospered and in time, married and had two daughters. By Genesis 19 he had moved in closer and now had a house in Sodom.
Genesis 19 is one of the most pathetic chapters of Scripture. Lot, who had been raised under the influence of godly Abraham, was so immersed in the sin of Sodom that his judgment was completely gone. Sodom had become his home and leaving was very difficult. But God’s appointed time of judgment had come (it always will) and, in answer to his Uncle Abraham’s fervent prayers, he and his family would be delivered.
“When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them” (Genesis 19:16). But my, was it hard for Lot to leave. As destruction of the city loomed, consider two telling words in the daily text, “he hesitated” (KJV “he lingered”). Matthew Henry’s commentary notes, “Lot lingered; he trifled. Thus many who are under convictions about their spiritual state, and the necessity of a change, defer that needful work.”
Lot had grown very comfortable in the wicked city of Sodom. Perhaps he had grown so accustomed to the wickedness that he no longer even saw it. What a tragic spiritual condition to be in. Perhaps his prosperity and position had blinded him to spiritual truths. His moral values were wretchedly twisted and later in the chapter we see this twisted condition in his wife and daughters as well. Genesis 19 is indeed one of the saddest chapters in the Bible, showing man’s depraved actions in a sin-ridden society.
Fast forward to our own generation where we are witnessing similar attitudes and actions in our day. Recently a young popular singer received much publicity and media attention when he announced his homosexuality. A man, famous in the Hollywood circles, who helped him rise to fame was asked what he thought of the announcement. This was his response: “Good for him. If he said it, it’s the right thing for him. Good for him. I don’t think anyone cares. Let’s face it: It’s 2008. You know. Who cares?”
Popular culture does not determine what is right and wrong, God’s Word does. I don’t want to get comfortable in “Sodom”. I don’t want to hesitate when God directs me to act. I don’t want to follow the mindset of this present world but rather the timeless message of God’s eternal truth, “Flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11). What about you?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, You make Your truths known to us through the ancient words of Scripture; truths that do not change with time or the ever-changing “truths” of humankind. With the Holy Scriptures as our guidebook we align human philosophy with Your truths rather than adjust Scripture to affirm the viewpoint of man. When Scripture brings conviction we call upon You for strength and courage to make the necessary changes so that we live holy lives set apart for Your intended purpose. Then we can more clearly distinguish light from darkness and will keep the forces of evil from overtaking our heart’s affections. We pray for our loved ones who are in bondage to sin. They’ve sought the world’s approval and forsaken Your commands, seeing them as out-of-date and no longer pertinent to our day. Satan has corrupted their minds, but I pray that You would sensitize their hearts to godly teaching. Bring them to repentance and righteous living. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, we pray, amen.
"I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, 'My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?' He replied, 'Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end'" (Daniel 12:8, 9).
On Wednesday I received a brief email note from a reader informing me that he will be closing his business this coming Monday due to the economy. Although I only know him through this online ministry we have periodically communicated and he kindly shared a brief note informing me of the closing. I felt a leading to give him a call of encouragement. We shared conversation for a few minutes and then prayed together. He expressed overcoming faith although uncertain times are ahead for him and his family. You might say he has questions about the short-term outcome but has absolute confidence in the long-term. I feel a lesson from Daniel today might encourage him and others reading our message today.
Daniel served the Lord about 2,600 years ago. He was one of the exiled hostages taken from Judah to Babylon to serve in Nebuchadnezzar's government. Daniel provides a Biblical model of one who was confronted with the temptation to compromise every bit as much as we are, but he remained firm and faithful to God. Early in his life he made a commitment when he first went to Babylon. If you don't already know this passage I recommend that you memorize it (at least the first part of the verse). "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank" (Daniel 1:8).
Notice that he made the purpose in his heart. It wasn't just a passing thought. Daniel must have deeply contemplated his dilemma, weighed the possible consequences, and bathed his decision in prayer. He demonstrates for us the great Biblical principle of separation. I urge you to continually learn God's ways and like Daniel make a purpose or resolve in your heart to live according to His commands.
He distinguished himself in civil service while maintaining his faith and steadfast obedience to God. The first half of his book is an interesting narrative with such familiar stories as his three friends being cast into the fiery furnace and his own deliverance from the lion's den. But the last six chapters have some of the most outstanding prophecy in the Bible. God reveals to Daniel events that would transpire over the next several thousand years and even beyond our own time.
At the conclusion Daniel expresses himself in a way in which many of us can identify, particularly when it comes to some of the more difficult prophetic portions of God's Word. "I heard, but I did not understand." I've sure been there. I've read and wondered, "What does this mean and when will it happen?"
I've also experienced Daniel's heartfelt appeal, "My lord*, what will the outcome of all this be?" I am sure you have too. He wanted to know what God was going to do just like we do. But like us he didn't get the answer in every detail he wanted. Some things just won't be revealed "until the time of the end."
And that's true not only with prophecy, but in God's personal dealings in our lives. Although we know that things will work out according to Romans 8:28, we so much want to know how and when. The answers to most of these questions are simply not provided. So why do we expend so much energy or allow ourselves to become anxiety ridden about those things which we can do nothing about.
We need to move forward in the direction we feel God is leading and trust Him to provide needed answers along the way. The apostle Paul, facing a time of great uncertainty said to the Ephesian elders, "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me" (Acts 20:22,23).
Such is the life of faith! My friend, keep trusting today. The book of Daniel ends with this statement. "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance" (Daniel 12:13). Let us also receive this word today in our own lives.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we don't always know where our present steps will take us on life's journey, but we do know they lead us to heaven as we walk with You. Our steps here may lead to cold, dark mountains or deep valleys. Crooked paths and rough terrain may be part of the journey, but ultimately we will rest where the steps of Jesus end at heaven's throne. There we will no longer have questions about our future, for we know that we will spend eternity forever worshiping You as we give You glory, honor, praise, and thanksgiving. Give us peace and joy for our journey here below and heavenward anticipation for our future inheritance. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
*"Lord" is in the small case in this particular Scripture reference because this message to Daniel came from an angel not deity.
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
I awoke very early this morning considering this verse in light of current events, especially the first phrase, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers.” I recalled a dramatic scene from the “Left Behind” movie in which Nicholas Carpathia, the character who turns out to be the antichrist, is able to murder two men in full view of many others but had blinded their eyes from seeing it.
Several years ago Tom, a friend from Arizona, sent me the carved block of wood pictured above. On first sight it appears to be just strange, illegible characters. It makes no sense until you look very carefully at the letters, perhaps squinting, and it’s very clear that the letters spell, “Jesus”.
Steve, a friend from New England, once saw a couple of men coming upon this saying on a sticker on the back window of a van in Boston. One said to the other “I know that says something, I just don’t know what!” They looked on for a few minutes until in exasperation they walked away and one of them frustratingly called out, “Jesus Christ, I know that says something.” But of course they never saw it.
Today’s Scripture text speaks of this spiritual blindness which blinds the minds of unbelievers.
There are basically two outlooks in life. The personal mission statement that I include in the footers with each daily encouragement conveys one. Although a simple statement that certainly does not convey all that’s true it simply asserts, “I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God’s Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life’s goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity.”
The other outlook denies this and so many feel they have been “enlightened” to reject what they see as a very simple and primitive religious expression. To them we are merely a product of evolution and “god” is merely a figment of imagination to the weak, simple, uneducated and unenlightened. However they have not been enlightened, but rather blinded. Indeed, “they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
“The god of this age” is Satan. Such a statement brings a scoffing sneer from the unbeliever. But this false god is very actively at work as demonstrated in the evil we see all around us, including false, idolatrous religious systems that “deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord” (Jude 1:4).
Following his conversion Paul received his call to ministry directly from the Lord. “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:17,18).
John Newton, best known for writing “Amazing Grace”, expressed it this way, “I once was blind, but now I see.” I hope your spiritual eyes have been opened and you are rejoicing today in the gospel of the glory of Christ!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Jesus, though You do not walk visibly among us You do reveal Yourself through the minds, the hearts, and the actions of Your followers. May Your light shine forth from us so that the unbeliever can sift through the confusing ungodly messages of this world and the counterfeits of this age. May they see “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” We especially lift up to You our loved ones who have chosen the wrong path. We pray that You would dispel their doubts and fears and replace them with confidence, courage and peace. In Your name, Jesus, we pray, amen.
“Each person should judge his own actions and not compare himself with others…. Each person must be responsible for himself” (Galatians 6:4,5).
I served in the Sunday School Baby Nursery this past Sunday and had the privilege of watching over two adorable babies; David (15 months) and Adoree’ (7 months).
David’s father, Ken, was teaching in the Toddler Nursery in the next classroom which greatly upset David who is normally a very happy child. Ken had only one child in attendance so we decided to combine the classes which would help to settle David. Ken’s student, two year old Tirza, would also enjoy being with David and little Adoree’.
We sat in front of the small flannel board Ken supported with an easel on the floor. He then prepared to teach about Noah and the ark but first asked Tirza to fold her hands together and bow her head for prayer, which she proceeded to do. Ken prayed a very brief prayer inviting God to teach us from the Bible and to bless the children.
Immediately following Ken’s “Amen” Tirza very sweetly and innocently inquired of the teacher with her very grown up sounding two year old voice, “Did you hear Adoree’ talking when we prayed?”
I was holding Adoree’ at the time and she was making the usual baby noises that 7 month old babies make. While Tirza was awaiting the teacher’s reply about the disruptive student Ken kept a very even tone and lovingly told Tirza, “Adoree’ was making baby sounds and that’s OK with Jesus.” Tirza, a very sweet and bright child, seemed very willing to accept the teacher’s explanation.
I went into the worship service thinking about the nursery class and considered that I am often like Tirza (though I am not nearly so young or innocent.) Too often I find myself wondering what God thinks about “the other guy” rather than simply being obedient to the things I know He wants me to do. I want to avoid the very thing God is trying to work out in my life and volunteer to help Him correct the person next door or my family member or a co-worker. I might be tempted to judge a brother or sister who is weak in an area where I have no temptation. In our human nature it is much easier to look at other people’s actions than it is to look within our own hearts.
But Apostle Paul instructs, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.” The Psalmist invited the searchlight of God’s convicting power when he prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart… See is there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (139:23,24). In his ongoing distress Job searched his own heart and prayed to God, “If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit - let God weigh me in honest scales…” (5:6). “Each person should judge his own actions and not compare himself with others….Each person must be responsible for himself” (Galatians 6:4,5).
I have digressed somewhat from the original illustration to present a challenge to both reader and writer today. If we’re quick to find fault with another but slow to deal with our own behavior, let us prayerfully take inventory of our own life. When we deal with our own sin, we will find enormous freedom and be a greater example to others. We will also be able to reach out to the weaker brother or sister with a heart of humility rather than a judgmental attitude. It is then that we will both grow and mature in the ways of the Lord.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions – wash away all my iniquity and I will be whiter than snow. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Amen.
"They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death" (Revelation 12:11).
In August I went to a missionary aviation presentation at Smoketown Airport here in Lancaster County. Several planes and a helicopter used in missions work were on display. Pilots from various agencies were present and they performed live flying demonstrations. Steve Saint, son of missionary pilot Nate Saint who was martyred in the fifties in Ecuador, was also present and shared of his faith. He has followed his dad's example and serves the Lord as a missionary pilot!
About the same time Brooksyne read in our local paper about David Clapper, a missionary pilot, who died in a plane crash in Indonesia while he was about the Lord's work. She clipped his obituary and gave it to me to read. I noted at the time that the pilot had connections in this area with our friends, Cerwin and Doris High's church. Yesterday I was speaking to Doris and she told me on Sunday they had a memorial service for him at her church and how very touching it was (I have a link to her [blog] account and photographs; to see photos, click here).
For some time I have had a verse on my heart I wanted to write about. As I read about this missionary's death it came to mind again. The phrase that grips my heart is concerning some faithful martyrs who had overcome Satan by the blood of Jesus. "They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
I consider that this same attitude is evident in regard to Dave Clapper who served in a dangerous place and was well-acquainted with the risks involved. He had to know of the outcome of others who served in a similar way. Yet I believe the sentiment of the daily verse was a foundational component in his overcoming faith. He had an enduring hope which is foundationally a spiritual hope, not contingent on how many years one spends on this earth. It was Jesus who spoke these words to the twelve who went out into missionary service: "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it" (Matthew 10:39).
"Forty brave soldiers for Jesus" is a powerful ballad set in the period of Roman emperor Valerianus Licinius that tells the true story of a group of Christians who took a stand for the Lord and paid the price. "They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." All through the Bible and church history right up to the present time there is a multitude of faithful overcomers who demonstrate this. I have a link to this song below and I suggest at some time you listen to it. It's really a remarkable story and has a very interesting ending!
Today may God give all of us a heart to see the spiritual reality of what really matters. I don't understand why God would allow Dave Clapper to die in a plane crash. My faith in the goodness of God asserts that God is in control even when I don't understand or when life circumstances make no sense at all. When I read Hebrews 11 it goes against the sensibilities that godly people would be stoned, sawed in two, or be put to death by the sword or by the bullets of hate-filled gunmen. But then I immediately consider Stephen, the first martyr of the New Testament, who was stoned as he stood up for Jesus. And Jesus stood up for Stephen as he looked toward heaven before he drew his last earthly breath.
I'm inspired as a couple of phrases from Hebrews 11 seem to leap from the pages of my Bible; "that they might gain a better resurrection" and "the world was not worthy of them." That gives me the perspective I need today. Let's stay faithful and keep standing true for Christ and the Holy Scriptures. No matter the cost. Today let us link our hearts with these heroes of faith past and present, who "did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." Let us stand for the One who also knew the jeering scorn of unbelief and rejection, but remained faithful as He yielded to the Father's will. May our attitude be the same as that of Christ who earnestly prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, "Not my will but Thine be done."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, help us to hold loosely to this temporal life and cling tightly to the promised eternal life. The only way we can have this outlook is to fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Just as Stephen in the book of Acts looked up to the heavens in the face of death, help us to look up to the heavens in life or in death. We are blessed as we persevere under trial, because when we have stood the test, we will receive the crown of life that You have promised to those who love You.
"It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace" (Hebrews 13:9).
Friday evening we joined some long-time friends for dinner at the Country Table Restaurant in Mount Joy. We've known Jack and Millie Provard for many years and at one time he pastored in a neighboring community in Punxsutawney which was about sixty miles south of the church I pastored at the time. They retired from active pastoral ministry in the mid-nineties but continue to serve the Lord in various ways including chaplaincy and interim pastoral work. We were looking forward to getting together since one of the blessings of visiting the Provards is evidence of rock solid stability. Being with them a couple of hours brought a good dose of stability in an unstable world!
God uses people like Jack and Millie who are spiritually mature to strengthen our hearts by grace. I sure hope you have people like this in your life and consider the blessing they bring to your life. It is also something that Brooksyne and I desire to convey to those who walk along beside us in life.
Consider the instability of this present world, yet we long for stability and security. But don't be deceived, the world is unable to offer any real guarantee for this stability. Wars and rumors of wars, terrorist actions and threats, and financial upheavals will always exist on this side of eternity. It's real and a part of our fallen world that is a result of man's rebellion against God Almighty.
The epistle to the Hebrews was written to encourage early believers who were tempted to return to their old way of life. The writer is unidentified but the Holy Spirit is most certainly identifiable as He gives the initial recipients and all of us a good dose of inspiration and spiritual stability.
These believers were enduring both persecution and false teachings that sought to undermine their faith. In fact the phrase immediately preceding the daily text says, "Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings." There are all kinds of strange teachings in our day as well so the Biblical admonition is pertinent to all generations.
But let us ponder this phrase today; "It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace." Perhaps you would like to personalize it even further by declaring, "It is good for my heart to be strengthened by grace." The word "strengthened" conveys the sense of being established and stabilized.
God's grace is so amazing in a multitude of ways. We primarily and properly consider grace in regard to our salvation; we are saved by grace. But God's grace strengthens our hearts all through life's journey. Terror threats may distress us; we may grow weary; discouragement may set in; friends may forsake us; financial security may crumble and false doctrines abound, but God's grace continues to strengthen the heart!
The Psalmist knew this; "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD" (Psalm 27:14). He cried out in soulful honesty, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Psalm 73:26). Paul's beautiful prayer for the Thessalonians is always needed, "May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones" (1 Thessalonians 3:13). Today, my friend in Christ, may your heart indeed be strengthened by God's amazing grace!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, Your exceeding grace is evident as far as the eye can see and reaches way beyond my limited imagination. But the greatest aspect of Your grace is that You choose to reside within my heart. Your abundant grace brings me assurance when the world speaks of trouble. Your abiding grace brings me consolation when others would forsake me. Your sustaining grace is manifested more in the trials of life than in the mountain top experiences. Thank You for supplying me with Your sufficient grace in the height and depth of my existence. Your amazing grace is supernatural; it never ceases to be amazing and it is good for my heart to be strengthened by Your grace! Amen.
"Watch your life and doctrine closely" (1 Timothy 4:16a).
Yesterday I mentioned hurting my back and some readers were curious as to what I had done and how seriously I was injured. On Monday I was trying to repair our utility sink and leaned over to try to lift it out. Instantly I felt a searing pain in my lower back and the pain has continued all week. We know so many people who deal with back problems and it's easier to "feel their pain" when you undergo similar testing. I've had this kind of injury before and, thus far in life, I always recover without medical intervention. However today I am still in pain and trying to work it out.
In retrospect I'm quite aware that I was trying to do something really stupid. Many, many years ago I learned that to lift a heavy weight you must bend the knees and then lift. This position shifts the weight properly so that the back is not injured. At 53 years of age I knew in my head that the experience of lifting an awkward heavy object in the incorrect position would have consequences. As I leaned in to lift out the sink I should have paid attention to the inner "beep, beep, beep" warning that I was doing something stupid!
I recall another warning we did heed and it saved our lives. About 20 years ago we came home from a long trip and were very tired. We fell asleep quickly but about an hour later were awakened by the beeping of a smoke alarm and found our house full of smoke. It's amazing how disoriented I was at both being awakened and in panic. I still recall how difficult it was to dial the number and speak to the fire department.
Within minutes the first volunteer firemen arrived, entered our home, and almost immediately determined it was the motor to the blower on our furnace. We are so thankful for the smoke alarm and for the extremely competent and conscientious volunteer fire department in St. Marys, PA. We were informed that the smoke itself could have killed us had we not been awakened by the alarm.
We get a lot of warning beeps in our lives. We have them in our homes and cars. There are warning signs for cancer and other diseases. Our computers have lots of warnings. We can ignore or disable warnings, but we do so to our own peril.
There are also spiritual warning beeps. Today's verse is a vital one from Paul to Timothy and through the inspired Scriptures to all of us. Many people pay no heed to spiritual warnings. Some have never taken the supreme warning to the human race seriously, which is expressed in these words from the Lord Jesus: "But unless you repent, you too will all perish" (Luke 13:3).
The daily text is a simple command to understand but it can be very difficult to habitually practice. "Watch your life and doctrine closely." Another way this might read is, "Watch how you live and what you believe." The NASV states, "Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching."
We need to continue to watch our life and doctrine closely. Upon self-examination ask yourself, How does my life reflect the character traits demonstrated by Jesus? How does my doctrine line up with that taught in the Holy Scriptures?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, may we be earnest in our study, diligent in our discernment, and consistent in our Christian testimony so that You may be honored and we may be found faithful. Amen.
"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (Deuteronomy 6:6, 7).
"In His Steps", a classic written by Charles Sheldon, is the second best-selling Christian book of all time (following the Bible). Over 30 million copies have been sold. Brooksyne read it in her early teen years shortly after her decision to follow Christ. It had a profound effect upon her commitment in walking in the ways of the Lord. I read it in my college years. It is also the inspiration behind the WWJD theme that was so popular (and heavily commercialized) several years ago.
Garrett Sheldon, the great-grandson of Charles, wrote, "My great-grandfather grew up on a farm in the mid-1800s. His father was a missionary and a church planter. They read the Bible aloud every day, so that by the time Charles went to school, he had heard the entire Bible read aloud five times! This prepared him to write 'In His Steps' which changed the world with the question, 'What Would Jesus Do?'."
The exercise of reading Scripture aloud in the home reminds me of visits I made to Brooksyne's grandparents' home in the hills of Arkansas before we married. They had a practice of gathering each night in the living room of their small four room mountain home and reading Scripture aloud before kneeling in prayer. Whether you were a visitor or not you were expected to drop whatever you were doing and join them for devotions. Her grandpa, Elbert, had great difficulty reading so he always had one of the grandchildren read if they were visiting. It holds a special memory for Brooksyne and me to this day.
This sounds a lot like God's design as conveyed through Moses during his last sermon. God wants His Word to have the preeminent part in a person's spiritual development.
"These commandments are to be upon your hearts." This is key to personal spiritual development. Proverbs 4:23 teaches us to preserve our hearts; "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
"Impress them on your children" is a vital key in the transmission of His truth to succeeding generations. Paul wrote concerning Timothy that "from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation" (2 Timothy 3:15). Timothy's grandmother Lois and mother Eunice had faithfully impressed God's Word upon Timothy.
"Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." This instruction indicates that the follower of God is not to have a casual attitude toward God's commands, but they're to be written upon the tablets of their hearts. These commands are at the heart of our daily conversation. After they're memorized and carried out they become our foundation for godliness and a great defense against the lies that bombard us.
How much emphasis does God's Word have in your life and home?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, help us to learn Your commands, apply them to our hearts, and carry them out in our daily actions. We desire to be obedient to You and to bring our children into a faithful relationship with You as well. We love You with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength. May our absolute devotion bring honor to You and witness to others of our fervent commitment to serve You all the days of our lives. Amen.
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for” (Hebrews 11:1,2).
Mocking people of Biblical faith has risen to a crescendo here in America and very likely elsewhere as well. This weekend a movie opens titled “Religious” which I suppose is a morphing of the words religious and ridiculous. Reviews of the film indicate that it cynically mocks people who hold religious beliefs, especially Christians.
Christ didn’t always leave his listeners with the “feel good” messages we like to hear. He forthrightly told his audience in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11,12). Peter wrote, “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come” (2 Peter 3:3).
Hebrews 11 is known as the “Faith Chapter” and contains a series of brief biographical sketches of men and women of faith. The recurring expression in the chapter is the phrase “by faith” (found 22 times). It is used to introduce each individual and describes their faith in God.
Throughout the book the writer of Hebrews typically uses what is known as the hortative voice, urging and encouraging his readers with the expression “let us” or including himself with his readers using the first person plural pronoun “we”. His writing style seems as if he’s communicating to fellow believers in a small group setting and urging them on as a fellow believer. This is also my favorite style both as a preacher and listener.
In this chapter the ancients are commended for their faith. Hebrews 11:3 makes a foundational faith statement, “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Of course this foundational statement has been under persistent and vicious attack by the secular modernist. But the writer of Hebrews forthrightly states, “by faith we understand…”. And praise be to God by faith I do understand and stand on this truth!
In the section from verses 4 through 39 the pronouns change to “he” or “they” as the writer illustrates the faith the ancients were commended for. This section ends with this concluding phrase, “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised” (Hebrews 11:39).
In the very next verse the writer resumes his use of the 1st person plural with this powerful truth. “God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (11:40). The context of the book indicates the “something better” is the incarnate ministry of Jesus Christ! Believers in the Old Testament period looked forward in faith to the promised future work of Christ. Believers since the New Testament period look back in faith to the finished work of Christ. Ultimately this is the basis for which we are all commended by God. Thanks be unto God!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, the people of faith listed in Hebrews died without receiving all that You had promised, but they never lost their vision of heaven as a “better country – a heavenly one.” We take courage from these brave heroes of our faith who remained faithful to You in this life so that they could inherit a future eternal life. We who follow You many generations later trust Jesus’ promise that He returned to heaven to prepare a place for all who remain faithful. We anticipate with great joy the hour that we are joined with You in the clouds of glory for all of eternity. In Jesus mighty name, Amen.
"I beg you, Father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment" (Luke 16:27, 28).
Brooksyne and I both enjoy lighthouses. Since we now live away from the ocean we don't see them as often as when we lived in New England nearer the coast. Our views of lighthouses are generally from land looking out to sea. We see them for their architectural and historical value as well as their sheer beauty. It's also an inspiring sight to see a structure whose foundation is laid in or near the deep sea that has weathered many a storm and yet stands erect year after year.
But first and foremost lighthouses were built for a specific function, to warn.
Jesus told a powerful story in Luke 16:19-31. Since only Luke tells this story it may not be as familiar to many as other stories that are repeated in all four gospels. Jesus tells the story as an event that actually took place, not as a parable, although it is often interpreted as a parable.
Essentially two men live out their lives: the first, an unnamed rich man had a wonderful life, "dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day." He is traditionally named "Dives", which is actually the Latin word for "rich" used in the Vulgate translation. The notion that this was the name of the man emerged in medieval times. The other was a poor beggar named Lazarus who lived in physical affliction and abject poverty, "covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores."
In time they both died. Lazarus ascended to "Abraham's side" but the rich man descended to hell where he was in great torment. After seeking some relief from his torment he pleads in the daily verse for Lazarus to go back to earth to warn his five brothers of their impending doom.
The rich man's perspective had drastically changed. What once seemed so important now meant nothing and what once held little importance now was vital. "Warn them" was the urgent plea from the suffering rich man as he pondered the fate of his brothers who were presumably living in the same earthly manner as he.
This story provides us with a perspective of what really matters in life. Although I am aware that most receiving this encouragement message are followers of Christ, having accepted His forgiveness through the plan of salvation, I feel compelled to warn all. A powerful verse in the book of Hebrews states, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation" (2:3)?
I urge you all to examine the state of your soul today. Are you saved from your sin and living to please the Lord? If so, are You shining your light for Jesus as He has commanded, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify Your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
Today's text is abundantly clear: we must live upright godly lives here on earth, warn others and seek to win them to Christ in this life. It will be too late in the life hereafter since the kingdom of earth and the kingdom of heaven are eternally separate. Let's spread the life-saving message of salvation to all who will hear, here and now.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, the story that Jesus shares about the rich man who took no thought for his life after death is a picture of so many who live for the here and now. They store up treasures that don't transfer to eternity and dismiss the truths that do prepare us for eternity. May this illustration bring comfort and peace of heart to those who suffer in this present life, as Lazarus did. May they be reminded of the joyous life yet to come where there is no pain, sorrow, or alienation? And help us to be faithful to warn others to prepare not just for this temporal life, but for eternal life. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
"I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:1,2).
I really like mountains. We see a small mountain ridge across the Susquehanna River from our front lawn. But as we move farther west or north we hit the real mountains in the Appalachian ridge. Tomorrow I'll share a photo I took several years ago off the Appalachian Trail.
I've travelled to the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, the Rockies in Colorado, Mount Rainier in Washington and the Andes in both Central and South America.
But the most astounding mountain I've ever visited is Mount Washington in New Hampshire. Although it is not nearly as high in elevation as many other mountains, its steep incline is very prominent since the difference in elevation at its base and peak is well over a mile. Anyone who has ever driven the auto road to the top is likely to remember it. It's quite harrowing! And for those who've climbed it, well, my hat is off to you.
Any given day as we prepare these messages there are issues that concern or distress us. Some are at the personal level while others are international and affect all of us. For instance today we wonder what in the world is going on in regard to the economy. How we will be affected? Generally, in our decision as to what to share in this encouragement series, we do not let these issues guide us since most every day there is some current tragedy or crisis headlining the news. Additionally, we have many faithful readers from other countries.
The power of Scripture is that the message is timeless and speaks to people all over the globe. Today's text is an example. The human author of Psalm 121 is unidentified. Some Bible versions include this interesting designation in the heading of Psalm 121: "A Song of Ascents" or "Pilgrim Psalms" as do all the Psalms from 120-134. Most believe that these Psalms were sung by those who journeyed to the temple in Jerusalem for the annual feasts.
The Psalmist begins by giving us a word picture in verse one, "I lift up my eyes to the hills." You may be surrounded by flat lands, but I hope you're able to occasionally enjoy the splendid view of distant hills.
The Psalmist then asks a question that I believe he is prepared to immediately answer. "Where does my help come from?" .This is one of life's most important questions.
As the Psalmist lifted his eyes to the hills he may have been thinking about enemy invaders or those who were bringing slander against him (Psalm 120). Allegorically speaking we might also consider the steep hills we face and see the many potential and real forms of invasion. We might also cry out: "Where does my help come from?" The answers vary greatly. For some it's the bottle, for others it's a pill. Some believe it'll be that big hit at the casino, still for others it's the miracle diet. And the list goes on and on.
The only right answer has not changed. Dear believer, whatever your trying circumstance, join with the Psalmist who is inspired by the majesty and splendor of God's creation. He looks beyond the visible creation to the invisible Creator who gives the needed help when facing distressing times. Let us declare together, "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth!" He alone is the "The Eternal Source Of Help."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen and Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, our assurance and hope is in Your protection day and night. You made the mountains and the hills, the valleys and the streams. You do not leave us to fend for ourselves, but Your help is constant and ever-sufficient for all our needs. Our help comes from You, the Maker of heaven and earth, who watches over us both now and forevermore. Amen.
"I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward" (Mark 9:41).
Andrew Samuel is a bank president here in central Pennsylvania who takes a bold stand for the Lord. I met him when he spoke at a Lancaster CBMC function about a year ago. During his message he referred to the Hess family from Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, who was a great blessing to him as a young man thousands of miles from his home in India. As we talked afterward I came to realize that he was referring to Lois Hess, a lady who attends our church here in Mount Joy. I told Lois about seeing him and she said, "Oh, I would just love to see Andrew" so I worked on setting up a meeting.
About thirty years ago Lois, and her late husband Wilbur, hosted Andrew when he first came to the states to attend Messiah College here in Pennsylvania. Andrew came to the rural Hess home when he arrived and then during holiday breaks since he didn't have family close by.
Yesterday morning Andrew was in the Lancaster area speaking to a group of students at Lancaster Bible College and stopped by to visit Lois on the way back to his office in Harrisburg. Brooksyne and I were present during their warm reunion. Lois has been very ill and only recently was able to return to her home after a long period of convalescence.
Andrew greeted Lois with a big hug and addressed her as "Mom" before we sat down and visited for a few minutes before departing and resuming our busy schedules. I think it's safe to say he made her day and refreshed her with a "cup of cold water".
The Lord Jesus is speaking in today's text. He begins with a solemn introduction very common in His discourses "I tell you the truth" (In fact in the NIV He uses this exact phrase 78 times). This phrase stands out to me since we are flooded with lies from every direction. It seems especially so during this political season and in regard to so many current events. But we can absolutely rely on the truthfulness of God.
Many years ago Lois and her husband dispensed cups of cold water to Andrew (perhaps literally but most certainly figuratively.) Far from his family in India he found in the Hess home a place of refuge and as close to a family-like atmosphere as he was to experience. An enduring relationship was established, so much so, that to this day Lois is "Mom" to Andrew.
Jesus said in a similar passage, "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward" (Matthew 10:42).
Today we are all called by the Lord to dispense cups of cold water. Very likely we are both dispensers and receivers and, in some situations like Andrew and Lois, it can become a reciprocating relationship. Nearly thirty years ago Andrew as a young college student was a receiver and Lois was the dispenser. Yesterday Andrew, now a middle-aged businessman, was the dispenser and Lois was the receiver.
Let's all look for opportunities to dispense some cups of cold water in His Name today!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, since we belong to You we want to bless others in Your name. Help us to love without reserve and give generously of our resources. We will reap not only a reward in heaven, but we will also enjoy the spiritual fulfillment of being Your hand extended to those in need.
"And if I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:3).
A while back I was doing some yard work in the front yard and spotted Brooksyne who had left earlier for a walk. As she was getting closer to our house I looked in her direction and waved. She quickly returned my wave and for some reason it made me feel a little giddy and young at heart. I decided to let her see my enthusiasm about the fact that she was getting closer to home so I waved to her again, this time with a jumping jack type motion.
Since I stand over 6'2" when I'm not jumping, you can imagine that I was quite a visible moving target as I excitedly waved both arms back and forth high in the air. She didn't wave back which was a little odd. Growing suspicious at this point I squinted my eyes to sharpen my focus and then, to my great surprise and embarrassment, I realized that it was not Brooksyne at all, but some strange woman who was wearing the same color jacket. I left the yard work right where it was and quickly headed into the house before the strange woman could see my beet red face. I had mistaken my wife's identity at a distance since the stranger was about the same size, walking from the same direction, and wearing the same color clothing.
The mistaken identity experience reminds me of the many times people mistake current events in regard to Christ's coming. Prophecy is one of the great distinctions of our faith and a tremendous faith builder. The Scriptures are replete with fulfilled prophecies and contain many that are yet to be fulfilled. Not only do believers have an interest in prophecy, but much of the world is curious as well.
Of course the greatest interest in unfulfilled prophecy among believers is in regard to the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the consummation of this present age. Since shortly after our Lord ascended back to heaven, after his first advent (coming) there has been much speculation regarding these events. This speculation even began in the NT period. All through church history there have been very specific interpretations as to how these prophecies will work out and predictions that later turned out to be wrong. Since I have been a Christian I can recall many very assertive prophecy plans offered by well-meaning believers that were just plain incorrect. The most notable that comes to mind was a widely distributed booklet titled, "88 reasons Christ will come in 1988".
Christ gave His disciples and all of us an assured promise in the daily text. Even before He went to the cross He assured them (and us) that one day He will come back. I realize we may have a yearning to know just when this will occur and some are tempted to make specific predictions. (Such specific assertions by "prophets" also tend to sell books and get speaking engagements!)
But I am aware of the many mistaken predictions in this regard through the history of the church and today I encourage you to find deep assurance in our Lord's simple words, "I will come back." Indeed, in His perfect timing, these events will surely occur. This is an absolute promise, yet to be fulfilled! Until then, get ready and stay ready! Maranatha, the Lord is coming!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:
Father, the forest and flowers exclaim,
the mountains and meadows the same,
All earth and heaven proclaim that Jesus is coming again!
Standing before Him at last, our trials and troubles will all be past,
Our crowns at His feet we will cast when our Lord Jesus comes again.
O what a wonderful, glorious day it will be when Jesus comes again.
“And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He made the stars also” (Genesis 1:16). “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:4). “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit” (Psalm 147:4,5). “Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing” (Isaiah 40:26).
After going to sleep last night I awakened around midnight and since I couldn’t go back to sleep I took our dog Roxie outside and spent a few minutes walking around our yard. (Yes, Roxie was sound asleep, but she would never say “no” to a walk, even in her sleep.) Temperatures dropped through the night and the chilly, fall-like air gave evidence to the official autumn season now in progress. The insect sounds are fading but off in the distance toward the creek I heard the shrieking cry of a wild animal. Then I heard a bawling cow, apparently delivering a calf, coming from the direction of the large dairy farm due east of us.
I then looked up and scanned the skies. It was a clear night and, with the exception of the security lights at a Christian school about a half mile away, we don’t have much “light pollution” out here where we live. The view is outstanding; no admission fee or limited seating! This sight, available to all who are blessed with eyesight, always gives me a perspective jolt. I am faced with feelings of my own human insignificance (or as I like to call it “puniness”) when I consider the vast, vast immensity of the universe.
It has been said that counting the stars in the universe is like trying to count the number of sand grains on a beach, but God made the stars and has each one of them accounted for. Consider the wording from the creation account, “He made the stars also” (Genesis 1:16). He has determined their number and calls them each by name.
I picture the Psalmist scanning the skies as far as the eye can see on a cloudless night, overcome by a sense of awe toward Almighty God. He extols God’s most massive works at creation as “the work of His fingers.” He recognizes that God has set these objects in place. They are not “set in place” as the result of some “big bang” or whatever current scientific theory is presently in vogue.
The prophet Isaiah in proclaiming the vastness of God declares, “Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.” What a spectacular description of an omnipotent God who not only created the universe but makes it subject to His divine authority.
Though it is awesome to contemplate the mighty universe and the magnificent power of God revealed through His creative works, I humbly consider that He values humankind so much that He clothed Himself in flesh and came to this imperfect world to save us from our sins. Though I might view myself as insignificant God certainly does not. He loves me and the entire human race so much that He sent His one and only Son, so that all who believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, our hearts rejoice with resounding thanksgiving, as we consider that You chose us before the world was made so that we could be Your holy people; people without blame before You. Because of Your love, You chose to make us Your own children through Your Son, Jesus Christ. We are set free by the blood of His death as You forgive us of our sins. Your awesome power is seen not only in the vast universe but in the hearts of men and women, boys and girls whose lives are submitted to Your divine authority. What a magnificent God we serve!
“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:3,4).
I took today’s photo [To see photo, click here] about a mile from our house on an afternoon walk. It’s a peaceful pasture with beautiful white fencing and adequate green grass for the horses to graze. They appear quite content and well cared for.
Early this morning I emailed brief words of encouragement to a few friends who had written about some prayer needs. A pastor friend facing a housing situation since he and his family resigned the church they’d served for many years. Another pastor friend is seeking opportunities to extend his ministry outreach. A truck driver from Canada then called for prayer who has critical decisions to make regarding expensive repairs on his truck. As I shared I was able to use today’s verse as a basis of Biblical encouragement and thus I will do so today for all our readers.
I particularly focus on the words “safe pasture.” Likely our most familiar Biblical use of the word pasture is from the 23rd Psalm where David proclaims, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.”
Pasture is land with vegetation cover used for grazing of livestock as part of a farm or ranch. We don’t have as much land used for pasture around here as I was accustomed to in southern Missouri or Brooksyne from Oklahoma, since most of the ground in this area is tilled and planted in crops. This brings a recollection of my very colorful Uncle Gentry, a farmer and banker in tiny Harwood Missouri, who referred to golf as “cow pasture pool” (which by the way, fellow Missourian Mark Twain called golf “a good walk spoiled”).
As we walk or drive through the country we enjoy seeing livestock grazing in pasture land and today’s photo is the quintessential view. In today’s verse the Psalmist David, as in Psalm 23, also uses an agricultural illustration to connect to his readers.
“Trust in the Lord and do good.” He begins with this familiar exhortation which is a common theme through the Scriptures and is reflected in the lyrics of the classic hymn, “Trust and obey”. This is at the very heart of what God calls each of us to do in our earthly journey.
“Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” Surely David is foundationally speaking from a spiritual perspective. Safe pasture connotes security, abundance, and faithfulness. A footnote in the NASV indicates that David is giving counsel to his readers to, “feed securely or feed on His faithfulness.” The Amplified Bible directs the reader to, “feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed.”
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” We can admire a person from a distance for his or her beauty, talent, skills or accomplishments. But to delight in a person holds deeper meaning since it suggests strong emotional involvement, not a distant admiration.
To delight ourselves in the Lord is to desire and enjoy His nearness and the truth and righteousness of His Word. As we develop and nurture this kind of relationship with God we surrender our desires to Him so that they are in accordance to His will. The desires that flow from our heart will be greatly influenced or originate from His abiding presence in our hearts.
The same deep satisfaction that David referred to 3,000 years ago may also be ours today as we regularly delight ourselves in the Lord. It is in this place of safe pasture that the desires of our heart will be shaped by our loving Lord as we feed on His abundance and live by His principles.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we place our complete trust in You, for You are a faithful, trustworthy, and loving God. As we feed on Your faithfulness and live by Your righteousness revealed to us through the Scriptures we find ourselves delighting in Your presence. We also delight in You when we sing praises, when we give ourselves in service to others, and most especially when we commune with You in prayer. May the desires of our heart bring delight to Yours as we conform ourselves to Your will and rid ourselves of that which lures us from the safe pasture You have abundantly supplied for those who believe. Amen.
An alert reader pointed out that the Corner Acre Mums we mentioned in yesterday’s message is really open “dawn to dusk” rather than “dusk to dawn” as we had mistakenly posted! (Brooksyne’s Note: I’m the guilty party since I often get the words backwards for the properly designated time. Our neighbors’ business, if it were open from “dusk to dawn” would thrive if they sold moon flowers instead of mums, since moon flowers are most beautiful in the dark.
"You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed" (Luke 10:42).
Here in the United States we are in the midst of a very heated and contentious political race, something we endure every four years when a president is elected. The race underscores the deep ideological divisions in our country. There is much to be distressed about; the troubled economy, the increasing abandonment of Biblical values, the irreverent scorn toward people of Biblical faith and many other issues.
I will admit that I have a really hard time appropriating the truth in today's daily encouragement. Last night I slept poorly and was "worried and upset by many things" because I failed to really focus on the one thing needed. (Instead I was reading up on the news and current events and got myself worked up.) I am sure there are a number of readers who identify with me.
All through life we continue to overcome life's struggles and in my case an ongoing issue is keeping my focus on the Lord. One of the very first Scriptures I committed to memory while still in High School was Isaiah 26:3; "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee."
It's interesting to me the times we find the phrase "one thing" in the Bible. The Psalmist testified, "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after!" (Psalm 27:4). "One thing you lack," said Jesus to the self-righteous, rich, young ruler (Mark 10:21). "One thing I know!" exclaimed the man who had received his sight (John 9:25). "But one thing I do…" Paul stated to the Philippians (3:13). And Peter wrote: "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8).
Today I find perspective from the words of our Lord recorded in Luke 10:42; "You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed." Many of our readers recognize this familiar portion of Scripture where Jesus uttered these words to one person, Martha, in a specific circumstance. But I feel they have a timeless value when applied to any situation that worries or upsets us. I feel it's a message that expresses the heart of God to all His children.
Consider the "many things" that worry and upset us. I already mentioned some above that we all may share. Probably you too can identify some specifics in your own life today. It might be a child, your marriage, the state of our nation, world conditions and terrorism, something at your workplace, a medical problem. And the list goes on and on.
"But only one thing is needed."I think we all know what that is. As we seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness He will take care of [you fill in the blank] which otherwise robs us of the wonderful peace He has to give. God loves us and wants our complete devotion. Let's give it to Him!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, the perfect peace that You grant to the believer comes when our hearts and minds are one with Yours. Though we cannot avoid the strife around us we can experience wonderful peace in our hearts as we meditate upon Your Holy Word which is the one thing You ask of us. Full devotion to You makes our spirit steady, trusting, and secure. You are the unchangeable God in a changeable society, so we hold onto Your steady all powerful Hand in the ups and downs of life. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
Here's the context that includes the verse I used today for the daily text. "As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-42).
"The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him" (Nahum 1:7)
Last night we gathered in the sanctuary and had special prayer for a young man in our church who is having surgery today for a brain tumor. Prior to the anointing service our friend Mike led out in the hymn, To God Be the Glory and then implored us to "lean hard on God." I like that expression and tucked it into my heart. I trust that Jared's family is leaning hard on God today.
Following Pastor's anointing of oil and the many prayers offered up by his supporters Jared sat with his parents on the front row. A line formed as Jared's friends and family gave him a personal word of encouragement and reassurance of their ongoing prayers. Many tears were shed and hugs exchanged. He and his family surely gained inner strength from knowing others are also bearing their burden. Just over a week ago Jared's life was routine with one day simply blending into another before the tumor was discovered.
Today we share a word of hope and encouragement from one of the most obscure Old Testament prophets. Nahum served and spoke for God during very troubling times as Assyria was tormenting the people of God. This oppression caused a troubling yet frequently asked question. How could God allow such inhumanity to go unanswered?
In different ways we may ask the same question today, particularly during "times of trouble". We again consider our Christian brothers and sisters throughout many parts of the world who are being persecuted or are otherwise suffering. On a personal level you may be in the heat of a difficult trial and you may wonder, "Where is God when I hurt?"
The prophet Nahum speaks through the Holy Scriptures, the inspired and inerrant Word of God, with a great message for us and our brethren around the world.
1) "The Lord is good!" This attribute is insufficiently pondered today. It is so well assumed that it's taken for granted by most. But what if the Supreme Being of the universe was not good? That's a thought that I find hard to even comprehend and have no desire to ponder in depth of just how dreadful life would be if it were true. But Psalm 100:5 reminds us, "For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations."
2) He's "a refuge in times of trouble." The Hebrew word for refuge conveys a fortified place; a defense: force, fortress, rock, strength. What a great assurance during the inevitable times of trouble! Jesus is the rock in a weary land. He is an anchor in the times of storm. "The way of the LORD is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil" (Proverbs 10:29).
3) "He cares for those who trust in Him." Here's our part; we must trust. When we are in the middle of a tunnel, with darkness behind and darkness before us, God still calls us to trust, to lean hard on Him. When we're in the valley of deepest despair we must trust. When we're on the spiritual mountain we still must trust! A very familiar New Testament verse many have memorized instructs the believer not to carry the heavy burdens of life in their own strength but to "cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you" (I Peter 5:7). Our Lord Jesus is the great Burden Bearer.
Finally today, hear the word of the Psalmist, "Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge" (Psalm 62:8). Today let us lean hard on our steadfast refuge!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we want to trust You at all times – in the good times and in troubled times. Thank You for Your promise that You will not let us drown when we pass through the deep waters. We will not be burned nor will the flames hurt us when we walk through the raging fires that seek to engulf us. We don't have to be afraid because You have saved us and called us by name. You are truly our Refuge and we pour out our hearts out to You for all that we have need of. May our faith increase and our devotion deepen as we lean hard on You. Amen.
"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him" (Matthew 24:44).
There have been several significant hurricanes over the last month along America's gulf coast, most recently Hurricane Ike this past weekend. Hurricanes are interesting in that for days leading up to them, sometimes even a week, reasonable predictions can be made detailing the time, location, and even their severity. People can prepare unlike other natural disasters such as earthquakes and tornadoes.
We might get the remnants of tropical storms, but our area here in south central Pennsylvania is rarely seriously affected by hurricanes, but I do recall our years in New England. For days leading up to the predicted landfall of the hurricane warning, residents would stock up on bread and milk and hunker down to survive. Locals told me this mentality goes back to a devastating hurricane in 1938 and the Blizzard of '78. Most schools, many businesses, and other activities are cancelled.
Well, I must admit when we lived in New England I was kind of excited about being in a real hurricane since growing up in the Kansas City Missouri area we didn't have them. (But we did have tornadoes!) However, in our 7½ years of living in Massachusetts we never had one severe enough to adversely affect those inland (aside from some wind damage).
Jesus stressed getting ready as well. Unambiguously He declared to His disciples in His long teaching on the Mount of Olives, "You also must be ready." He's speaking of His promised return to earth; a future event which devout believers hold dear.
But today many mock and unbelievers scoff at the mention of the return of Christ. Sadly in my observation even in much of the visible church it is too often un-proclaimed or under proclaimed.
Most ignore it. In fact Jesus Himself likened it to the days of Noah. People went about their business unaware of their impending doom. Perhaps the economy was strong and people were living well. They reasoned, "Who needs to listen to that crazy preacher building a boat? Similar to the days of Solomon, "A man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry" (Ecclesiastes 8:15).
Jesus said, "You also must be ready." But He went on to state, "because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him." So we have a very forthright warning from Jesus Himself. However, regarding the specific date or time of His return we do not know, even though all throughout the age of the church countless attempts have been made by foolish and even well-meaning people (I just glanced at the headline of an article that contends Jesus will come in 2013!).
So the focus is not so much on the unknown date, as it is on living in a state of preparedness for the Lord's return. We won't have time to get ready at the trumpet sound, so we must be ready before that great and glorious moment when Jesus appears in the Eastern clouds.
Through Scripture we have been adequately warned. Have you heeded that warning? Are you prepared? Are you warning others?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, depending on the state of our hearts we view the Scripture about the return of Your Son as a warning or as a welcoming. We prepare our hearts by seeking You for the forgiveness of sins and inviting You to reign in our lives. We pray for those we love that they too will make spiritual preparations to be ready for the trumpet sound when the dead in Christ rise first and then we who remain will be caught up to meet Jesus in the skies. We have been warned, we are prepared, and we welcome with great anticipation the second coming of our Lord. We lift up our heads as our redemption draws near. Amen.
"Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care." (I Timothy 6:20). "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us" (2 Timothy 1:14). "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others" (2 Timothy 2:2). "Contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (Jude 3).
When I was in High School I participated in track and ran on a relay team. Our coach stressed the importance of passing the baton (the metal cylinder used in the relay). A critical part of an effective relay race was the passing of the baton and we would actually practice this maneuver over and over. In a relay race there is a small designated relay zone where the pass can take place, not before and not after. It was critically important that we didn't drop the baton during the pass. And I certainly recall an emphasis on the obvious – during my leg of the relay I was to carefully hold on to the baton and not let it slip from my grip!
In the two Biblical epistles to Timothy the apostle Paul was passing the torch (or baton if you will) of the faith to the succeeding generation. Although the direct recipient of these letters was Timothy, each believer in every generation does well to heed the charge in the daily Scripture portions. Today I place my name into this charge that Paul so solemnly gave to Timothy. Perhaps you will do so as well. It's interesting that in the Greek Paul adds further solemnity to this charge by placing the exclamation "O" before it (seen in the King James Version). Thus in my case the passage would read "O Stephen, guard what has been entrusted to your care."
Each generation has a responsibility in guarding the deposit of faith passed on by the preceding generation and in turn passing it unchanged to the succeeding one. That's at the very heart of what Biblical Christian faith and ministry is all about. In fact Paul set forth the pattern to Timothy, "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others" (2 Timothy 2:2). In a sense I am both receiving the baton and passing it on simultaneously.
As I study the Bible I'm still reaching back and receiving. I also benefit from many believers in past generations who have guarded the good deposit. And I'm passing it on as well. Brooksyne and I view this online writing ministry as a part of our passing on truth.
However I am considering the baton pass of truth during the pass zone which is my present generation and specifically my life. I consider this both individually and for the church at large. In my heart I sense that there are significant ways the modern, visible church is slipping in this regard and it brings grief to my spirit.
However I am convinced that there will always be a remnant church, faithfully holding to the truths of Holy Scripture till our Lord returns. Christ has stated that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church (Matthew 16:18). This true church may very well be hated by the world, for as it contends for the truth and the faith once for all entrusted to the saints, it will be labeled intolerant, mean-spirited, hateful and even dangerous. In fact it already is.
May the Lord help us to be faithful in holding onto the Living Word and not compromising its message through our speech and life. As we pass it on to the next generation in our present passing zone, may we do so without watering down the commands God sets forth in His Word. Let us not customize or interpret God's timeless truths to comfortably adjust our viewpoints to the trends of our society.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, the commandments that You give are to be impressed upon our hearts. When our acts of obedience come from the heart Your love motivates us to obey Your commands and Your holiness teaches us to align our desires with Your own. Help us to be extremely cautious about new teachings that are pleasing to the ear and popular with our present generation, but do not bear witness with our spirit. As we study Your Holy Word, from cover to cover, and meditate upon Your principles we will hold on to that which is of most importance and pass on to those who come behind the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints of all generations. Amen.
Selected portions of verses implemented into our daily prayer: Deuteronomy 6:6, Colossians 1:13,14
"Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water? While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass. Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider's web. He leans on his web, but it gives way; he clings to it, but it does not hold" (Job 8:11-15).
The other day I was doing some yard work along the side of our house and walked right into a big spider web. I even felt the bump of the spider as I quickly drew back and flailed about attempting to shake off the nearly invisible tangles of silk that clung to me. I really wasn't worried about getting tangled in the web or being eaten by the spider, but spider webs are yucky and creepy and I didn't want a spider bite, poisonous or not!
We have a row of sedum planted along the walkway leading up to our front door. Sedum is a perennial flowering plant that attracts bees like a magnet especially in late summer; also wasps, butterflies and other flying insects. On a hot sunny afternoon the entire row of these plants is swarming with flying critters.
Interestingly the spider also builds its home on the sedum. It makes its web and becomes another type of "magnet" that other flying creatures sure don't want to get tangled in!
Job is a remarkable book. Probably when most of us consider Job we recall the tremendous trial he endured, but there are so many gems of wisdom throughout the book. Today's portion is from a discourse by Bildad the Shuhite, one of Job's friends.
The Scripture begins with a timeless observation from nature: "Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water? While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass."
This is immediately followed by the statement in the daily text, "Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless."
A truth is then developed based on the observation of a spider's web: "What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider's web."
God's intended purpose for the web is very efficient for its inhabitant. Spend some time observing nature and you will see the tiny creatures resting comfortably for hours on end in their customized webs patiently awaiting their hapless prey. But it would be absolutely foolish for me, as a human, to count on a spider web to provide hope for my eternal destiny! Such absurd thinking is described by Bildad in V. 15: "He leans on his web, but it gives way; he clings to it, but it does not hold."
Job's friend illustrates what the majority of people do rather than put their hope, trust and reliance in the Lord. Today let us hide this important truth deep within our hearts: "Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord" (Psalm 31:23,24).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: God, You are the only source of eternal life to whom I can cling. I am confident that You will be with me to the end of my life here on this earth. I am grateful for the many people who bring me support, encouragement and companionship from day to day. They are a source of joy as they enrich my life daily. But as I grow older I'm recognizing that nothing stays the same and much of what I came to rely on is no longer accessible. Losses of people very dear to me and things once considered important no longer hold importance. I find great comfort as I cling to the words of the 73rd Psalm, "Whom have I in heaven but Thee, and there is none that I desire on earth beside Thee. My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).
Earlier this week we shared of a long term work friendship of Lloyd and Elvin. Today we would like to share of another special friendship. I met Don shortly after moving to Lancaster County in 2001 at one of the companies I served as a chaplain at that time. Don is an outgoing, friendly type and although we have both left the companies we worked for when we met and Don and his wife Carole moved to Colorado Springs we have stayed in contact. Don now works with the Navigators, a Christian discipling ministry.
Shortly after meeting Don I met a friend of Don's named Jimmy. Jimmy, who is similar in age to me lives by himself in a small apartment in right off Main Street in Mount Joy and has a disability known as Tourette Syndrome, as well as diabetes and several other health related issues. He was so sad when Don and Carole moved to Colorado.
Whenever we drive past his apartment and see Jimmy sitting on the porch as he often does we stop and greet him. In my personal ministry and encouragement to him I have stressed that he is an overcomer and Ester will holler out "Jimmy, what are you?" and he will tell us "An overcomer." Ester then jumps out and gives him a big hug.
The other day when we stopped he excitedly told us that Don and Carole were in town for a visit and he was flying back out to Colorado with them for a visit. What a kind gesture on their part and example of AGAPE love in action.
I've met people who aspire to someday do something great for God, but in the meantime just sit and wait. The daily verse and context give us a glimpse of the specific forms of service that matter to Christ. They're usually not really big things, but the accumulative impact of serious followers of Christ obeying His commands and this is making a tremendous impact on our world. What are you doing today for Christ?
How we as individuals respond to the least of these in the trenches of life is a great demonstration of our Christ-like character. I am heartened by examples of grace demonstrated to "the least of these." All over the world today both institutionally and individually (but mostly individually) true followers of Christ are actively showing compassion to a hurting, broken world.
I am convinced that one of the truest evidences of an authentic follower of Jesus Christ is how we treat "the least of these." One of the last lessons Christ taught before His death was on this subject. In Matthew 25 He uses representative examples of what we may call the "down and out", "losers", "unlovable", etc. According to Jesus how we respond to the "least of these" is a proof of our true discipleship and criteria for entrance into God's Kingdom. How we deal with the "least of these" determines whether we are a sheep or a goat.
Today we all may very well come in contact with people regarded as the "least of these". How will we respond?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Lord, help me to be sensitive to those around me who need my expression of love and care in Your Name.
"In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever" (Daniel 2:44).
September 11th will never be the same again for those of us living here in America. No matter how you format the date, it immediately brings to mind the anniversary date of the horror, the hate, and the vile wickedness of a diabolical religious system that was unleashed upon thousands of innocent lives on this day seven years ago.
Writing this devotional is a challenge:
Do I write a message of comfort, since I am sure pain still lingers for the thousands who lost loved ones? May God flood their souls with divine peace.
Do I use this as an opportunity to scream in print that these are the tactics of our ancient foe who still seeks to work us woe? Indeed, I can become so distressed at the blindness of scores of people who fail to see that this is fundamentally a spiritual conflict.
Do I challenge believers to be steadfast? Always!
But today I primarily want to share a timeless message of assurance. Let's go back in Scripture some 2,500 years ago and hear the Word of the Lord as we examine a rather obscure verse from the prophet Daniel.
Daniel lived during the period of the Babylonian captivity. As a youth he had seen the horrendous destruction of his country described in graphic detail by Jeremiah in his book of Lamentations. Surely, like we do today, he must have wondered, "Where is God in all of this?" Though unanswered questions surely filled Daniel's mind he stayed faithful to his God. Believers have always had to accept that some questions just won't be answered on this side of eternity. God calls us to live by faith as described in Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
In the second chapter of his book Daniel interpreted a dream that had tremendous prophetic insight into the future kingdoms from that point on. "In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever" (Daniel 2:44). "In the days of those kings" describes the Roman period. The kingdom which the "God of heaven will set up" is the Kingdom of Christ expressed in the first coming (This prophecy was made some 550 years before the incarnation.).
Note two descriptions of this glorious Kingdom in the daily text. It will "never be destroyed" and "it will itself endure forever." Sinking, shifting sand is an apt description of what we experience in the temporal kingdoms of this world. We saw that so graphically on 9/11. But the great God we serve is absolutely steadfast and His Kingdom will endure forever, for it has no end. Praise Him today and serve Him wholeheartedly! The words to the classic hymn, "Rejoice the Lord Is King", come to mind as we conclude today's message.
His kingdom cannot fail; He rules o'er earth and heaven.
The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus given.
Lift up your heart; lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say rejoice!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, with solemn hearts and painful memories we remember the extremely wicked events that took place on 9/11/01. Though we witnessed mayhem and saw evil at its worst, mercifully, we also witnessed acts of goodness at their best. Help us to spread the overflowing, enduring hope that does not diminish in the midst of evil, but instead it directs our attention to the unseen future kingdom, the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem where Your presence is with Your people for all eternity. Where You will wipe away every tear from our eyes and there will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain, because all the old ways are gone, and You will make all things new.
"They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (John 17:16).
Several weeks ago when I was up in New England I visited with Wayne, a friend who had spent several years enslaved to the ways of the world. He now takes a strong stand for Christ and everal months ago he received his ministerial credentials. He recently took a bold stand at work that led his employer to further respect him. Wayne, troubled by the provocative calendar photos in the men's room, found them to be a source of temptation.
He respectfully approached his boss and asked that the calendars be removed. He also pointed out that, since the restrooms were used by visitors, it was bad for the company's image. In this case the employer respected Wayne's stand and the calendars were removed. However Wayne has now endured much ridicule from the other employees!
Most of you are in some form of secular work and you do not find the workplace an environment compatible with your faith. Hopefully you have a spiritually supportive family, church fellowship and a daily commitment to spending time with God in Bible study and prayer. However at work it's often a different story. Scripturally we know that "our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). In the same verse we are told to "be self-controlled and alert."
Most will spend at least 40 hours each week at work (certainly many more hours than in the House of God!) This creates a great tension between your responsibilities in the secular world and your desire to live a godly life in obedience to the Word. Many college students receive these encouragement messages and we realize that the campus can also be a spiritual battleground.
The world is opposed to God and His ways. Swearing, mocking God, evil images, luring temptations, and sinful compromises abound. If you don't see them I would respectfully ask, "Are you are using spiritual discernment?" Many of you are also confronted with diversity training programs which are intended to "correct" all those traditional values you were taught. In these programs often "Good is called evil and evil is called good" (see Isaiah 5:20).
Daniel, along with his three Hebrew friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, provides a Biblical model of one who was confronted with the temptation to compromise but he stood firm in his convictions. Early in his life he made a commitment when he went through his first diversity training class. I memorized this verse many years ago as a young Christian."But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank" (Daniel 1:8). Notice he made the purpose in his heart. I urge you to learn God's ways and like Daniel make a purpose or resolve in your heart to remain firm. He demonstrates for us the great Biblical principle of separation.
In our daily verse Jesus acknowledged in His final great prayer for His followers that "we are not of this world." May God help each of us to live a godly life at all times and in every setting, including our days spent in the workplace and on the campus.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Father, I am resolved no longer to crave the world and cling to its alluring delights. Satan's delights bring only passing pleasure and then plunges me deeper into the cesspool of his incessant schemes. Father, through the power of Your indwelling Holy Spirit, I can fight against the roaring lion who wants to devour my faith and even my very life. I seek after things that are higher and nobler – things unobtainable from this world, but obtainable through my growing relationship with You. Amen.
Today's prayer is prompted in part by an old hymn titled "I am resolved"
“And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself” (Acts 27:3).
In the last several months I’ve developed a friendship with two men who have an interesting story. Lloyd is a toolmaker who is retiring this week after working in the very same place for 45 years. That’s pretty remarkable in itself in this transient age but he also leaves behind a friend, Elvin, who has worked with him the entire time (In fact Elvin has worked there 47 years but is not yet retiring.). Now I just wonder in this day and age what are the odds of working side by side with someone in the same place for 45 years! I suppose it’s safe to say they are old friends and based upon my observation they sure are.
Lloyd and Elvin both belong to an old order Mennonite group who use horse drawn transportation and bicycles. In fact Lloyd has ridden a bike to work his entire 45 year career and I have seen him ride his bike through the plant as well (The only other time I saw this was in a Boeing plant in Everett, Washington where they make the 747 Jumbo Jets.)! Since Lloyd lives 1.5 miles from his workplace I calculated that
he has dutifully pedaled his way to work approximately 33,750 miles!
I am enriched by the close friendship that Lloyd and Elvin enjoy and have extended to me since I began visiting their workplace as a chaplain last May. In October Lloyd is moving to upstate New York to be near his children and has invited my family to visit him in his new location.
Today I want to consider enduring friendships as one of the great treasures in life. Notice two phrases from our rather obscure daily text. In reading this long narrative portion about Paul’s captivity it’s so easy to miss them.
Paul is on his way to Rome as a prisoner. He’s appealed to Caesar. He’s surely somewhat discouraged and weary from travelling the stormy seas and being under surveillance the entire time. Uncertainty is his only glimpse into the near future.
The ship stops at Sidon where Julius “courteously entreated” Paul. This is the only time in the New Testament that we see the Greek word “philanthropos”, the root for our English word “philanthropy.” Julius, a hardened centurion assigned to guard Paul at all times, must have gained a respect for him since he gave him freedom to see his friends and later spared his life when others wanted to do away with Paul (Acts 27:43).
It’s sure great when people are kind to you isn’t it? The other day I stopped to pay a toll on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and greeted the toll collector as I paid the toll. I don’t recall being overly friendly but he enthusiastically thanked me for taking time to speak to him, telling me that most travelers never say a word or are rude to him. I hope my brief kindness refreshed him.
There is no mention elsewhere in Scripture that Paul was ever in Sidon before this, but he had some friends there. I wonder who they were and how had he met them? We’re not told. But they’re the kind of friends you want to have around you all throughout life’s journey. Their presence in our lives refresh us when difficulties and disappointments drain us of energy.
These friends had a part in Paul’s refreshing. The word “refresh” translated from the Greek is a word found only here in the entire New Testament. It has the sense of “kind attention”. That’s what Paul needed and that’s what these unnamed friends gave as they provided for his needs; physically, spiritually and emotionally.
That’s what I’ve quite often needed and have experienced through so many good friends, including many of you on this list.. Thank you. And I encourage you to pass it on to others today as well. There’s a lot of refreshing needed in our lives as we deal with daily challenges that can deplete us of a positive outlook! We all need caring and devoted friends to stand with us. May Lloyd and Elvin’s 45 years of friendship be an inspiration to all of us today!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, You have given me many treasures that cannot be bought with money and friendship is among them. I thank You for the special friends who brighten my outlook and challenge me to be a better person. Thank You for my caring friend who loves me and never gives up on me even when I feel like giving up on myself. For that dear friend who comes alongside me and helps carry the burdens that I bear, I am especially thankful. My life is enriched and my spirit is refreshed as I share my heart with a close friend who does not criticize but accepts my frailties; who prays for me and expresses love for me in ways that build me up and strengthen me in the trials of life. Father, You are the greatest and most trusting Friend that I will ever know so help me to draw near to You as You draw near to me. Amen.
"They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail" (Acts 5:18). "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).
Awhile back I saw a car with a number of bumper stickers pasted all over it. These cars get my attention since the owner is often strongly committed to a particular cause or viewpoint. I saw the familiar fish outline on the car. As I looked closely I thought I might find the IXTHUS expression connoting an ancient symbol for Christianity. But instead of IXTHUS it had Darwin in the middle of the fish. Other bumper stickers on the car flaunted expressions that mocked God and the Christian faith, boldly and unashamedly proclaiming the owner's particular humanist-based "faith".
Bumper stickers can be tacky but they also give us an opportunity to display a faith-based message to others. As a young Christian I remember a challenge to commitment seen on a bumper sticker, "If you were arrested for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?"
In the daily text the early disciples had been arrested and unquestionably the ruthless religious authorities had enough evidence to convict them. The apostles had been very public in their witness for the Lord, unashamed in the proclamation of their testimony.
Following their arrest the Lord miraculously intervened and they were delivered from their prison cell by an angel. "But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.’Go, stand in the temple courts,' he said, 'and tell the people the full message of this new life'" (Acts 5:19, 20). They could have easily sneaked out of town through the dark night and escaped the fury of the high priest and the Sanhedrin. "But at daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people" (5:21). They were not afraid or ashamed to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Today, let us who bear the name of Christ, without fear or shame, follow the disciples' example. I consider once again that old saying, "If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" I've never sought to be convicted of a crime, but I pray that others do accuse me of being a Christian. And if ever arrested for that accusation I pray there will be abundant and indisputable evidence for a conviction. That's an accusation and conviction that I would humbly accept. May God help me to never be ashamed to bear His name!
I'll tell the world that I'm a Christian,
I'm not ashamed His Name to bear.
I'll tell the world that I'm a Christian,
I'll take Him with me everywhere.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we pray for the courage and conviction to stand up for You and respond, "We choose to obey God rather than men!" when ordered by authority to contradict or rebel against Your commands. May we be found faithful in standing up for that which is right, rather than that which is popular. This will give us cause for rejoicing, like the apostles who left the Sanhedrin, "rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name of Christ."
(For an inspiring example of the apostles' uncompromising obedience to preaching the Gospel message read the entire chapter of Acts 5.)
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:1).
Last night members of our Small Group Bible Study, along with some invited guests, came over for a cook-out. We had a lovely evening, warm fellowship, and a great variety of homemade foods. We also had the unpleasant scent of a freshly fertilized field across the road but fortunately it was not overpowering! However, as we concluded our time together the heavy-duty liquid fertilizer trucks arrived, one after the other, and distributed tons of liquid animal waste on the fields all through the night.
Brooksyne and I are accustomed to walking outside within minutes of our awakening in the mornings, but the country air did not greet us with the usual fresh smell this morning. Rather the pungent aroma of newly fertilized fields wafted in our direction. We went back inside the house, turned the air on, and decided today is a nice day to stay inside. Last night Galen, a farmer friend of ours, gave an interesting perspective as the trucks were arriving. With a twinkle in his eye he said, “It smells like money to me!”
As we gathered for a group picture last night I recalled an announcement made when last year’s photo was taken. Mike, JoAnna, Ken, Nila and their newborn son, David, were sitting on our porch swing. Eyeing the photo subjects in my camera I exclaimed, “Wow we have five people on the swing.” Joanna cryptically informed me and others gathered around them, “No, actually there are six people on the swing.” After doing a quick mental recalculation and still seeing only five people, we finally caught onto her subtle announcement that she and Mike were expecting their first baby. Though baby Adoree’ was unseen by the physical eye she was still present in last year’s photo. In last night’s photo 6 month Adoree’ is quite visible.
I recalled last year’s instance during our photo take last night and mused whether we might have any surprise announcements this year. Jerel, a retired pastor, spoke up, “I have an announcement!” The group became silent as we waited for him to speak. With a straight face he announced, “I’m expecting…” He then paused as we all wondered what in the world he might mean. Then he concluded his partial sentence, “homemade ice-cream.” We all laughed as the ice-cream crankers returned to work and, sure enough, a few minutes later we all shared some delicious vanilla homemade ice-cream.
Jerel’s quip got me thinking. If I were to neglect finishing his sentence readers would be left to all sorts of imaginations and wrong interpretations, largely due to the “crazy” world we live in today. It seems that it’s that way with studying the Bible as well. It’s very popular to quote from the Bible. Politicians do it as do entertainers; at times making it “say” something to fit their agenda that is contrary to the intent of Holy Scripture. Sadly, there are also believers who misuse the Scripture to support their argument.
Hermeneutics is a big word that many won’t be familiar with having to do with the proper interpretation of Scripture. In Bible College this is a required course and a very important fundamental teaching for all who seek to be messengers of God’s Holy Word. A foundational rule in hermeneutics is the importance of context.
Today’s verse provides a classic illustration. I can correctly state that “The Bible says there is no God” and quote Psalm 14:1 to prove it. Of course I am taking the phrase out of context and making it mean something altogether different than intended by its author. The full verse states, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’”
Let us all seek to be diligent students and teachers of God’s Word and make every effort to rightly interpret it!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we don’t want to be numbered among the foolish who build their houses on the shifting sands of this insecure world. Instead we want to be among the wise who build our faith on Your timeless and eternal principles, including those that stretch us as they bring us into conformity to Your will for our lives. Nations are in uproar and kingdoms fall when humanity ignores or abuses Your Holy Scriptures. Help us to be people of integrity who approach the Scriptures with holy reverence and appropriate response as we seek to live for You. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
"Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness'" (2 Timothy 2:19).
All throughout Lancaster County there are many old stone mills, normally situated along streams for the water power. I took the photo above of the Mascot Roller Mill in Eastern Lancaster County along Mill Creek [To see photo, click here for more daily encouragement.]. When we first moved to this area in 2001 we lived around the corner from Risser's Mill, an impressive three story cut stone mill, erected nearly 200 years ago along Little Chiques Creek. It stood next to a covered bridge that an arsonist burned to the ground six years ago. Don Pickel and his wife presently own Risser's Mill, an inheritance Mrs. Pickel received from her family.
Six years ago Don gave us a personal tour of the mill which has been closed since 1940. He described the great effort made by the builders to see that the mill had a firm foundation with layers of huge stone going down far below the surface. As I recall, he told us that the foundation went as deep in the ground as the building stood above the ground. Brooksyne and I were astounded as we sized up this three story mill and considered the time and labor expended as laborers used primitive tools to chip away deeply into solid earth. These mills were built to last and, although few are still used now due to our current way of life, they stand strong to this day. Their longstanding resilience is attributed to their deep, strong foundations.
Today let us consider a wonderful occurrence of the word "nevertheless" in our daily verse. In the context Paul is confronting and warning against the counterfeit teaching of two men named Hymenaeus and Philetus. They had wandered from the truth, denied the resurrection and had destroyed the faith of some. The relentless attack on the genuine faith that Paul experienced continues unabated to this day. We face it from the scientific, media, educational, political, and even the religious establishment. On the personal level we daily face the flaming arrows of our enemy that seeks to intimidate and lead us astray.
The word "nevertheless" conveys the sense of "in spite of", "notwithstanding", or "despite anything to the contrary."
He begins the verse, "Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm." Praise God today fellow believer! Sink your spiritual teeth into the solid meaning of that phrase. This assurance is powerfully expressed musically in the great hymn "How Firm A Foundation." Many years ago I considered this verse as I developed a sub theme for this daily writing ministry. If you scroll down to the last statement on the email post or website you will find these words: "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation".
Paul writes that our solid foundation is in God. He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end and His solid foundation is "sealed with this inscription". In the original Greek this conveys a "mark of genuineness". This seal is placed on God's solid foundation which gives the believer courage, perspective, and discernment when the shifting sands of philosophical and theological wanderings from the genuine faith are being thrust at us.
First the inscription states, "The Lord knows those who are His." Have you placed your faith in Him? If so, you are His and that's really all that matters. I'm a genuine child of God this morning; He knows who I am and that I am His.
However there is a tendency to overlook the second part of the inscription which states, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." Those of us who are confessing Jesus to be our Savior must turn away from wickedness.
As I confess with my lips I must also be genuine in my actions. An evidence of genuine saving grace is that we are no longer conforming to the pattern of this world but we are being transformed into the image of God.
Thank God today for this solid foundation which ever stands firm, since Christ Jesus Himself is the chief cornerstone!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, thank You that when we came to faith through the precious blood of Your Son, Jesus, we became fellow citizens with Your people and members of Your household. Our faith is now built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as our chief cornerstone. It is through Him that our whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple bringing glory and honor to Your name. We no longer live for the world, but we invite Your Spirit to indwell us so that we are being transformed into Your image day by day. Amen.
"Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!" (Proverbs 6:6).
Today is Labor Day here in the US and although it may not be a holiday where all of our readers live, today's theme will be applicable to all. In the daily text Solomon is teaching the value of labor with a rather harsh rebuke to the sluggard.
I recall a teaching moment from my dad as a small child. We were out visiting a public place in the Kansas City area and there were large black ants on the sidewalk. My dad saw me step on one and corrected me explaining they were living as God intended and were not harming us in any way.
Edward O. Wilson is a professor at Harvard University and the world's foremost authority in myrmecology, which is the study of ants. I recall an article of his in Reader's Digest many years ago and I marvel that anyone would devote their lives to such a study. His 736-page book "The Ants" is the standard work on the little critter and he has since written a sequel titled "Journey to the Ants"!
King Solomon also found the ant an interesting point of observation and we find in this observation another timeless lesson from God's Word. Solomon said "go" and "consider". Well, you rarely have to "go" out of your way to see ants since regardless of where you may live, ants also inhabit nearby.
But taking the time to "consider" the ant's ways takes some effort. Solomon was sure good at that for we read that "he described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish" (1 Kings 4:33). Benjamin Franklin observed that "none preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing."
Join me in considering the ways of the ant today:
• The ant demonstrates teamwork. Rev. Mackay, a missionary to Uganda, Africa tells how one day he saw a colony of soldier ants suspend themselves by their bodies joined together. They were extending from the ground upward through the air to a piece of meat suspended from a branch of a tree, thus forming a sort of Jacob's ladder of themselves. Upon this ladder the feebler members of the ant colony climbed, and supplied their wants!
• The ant demonstrates diligence. They are busy in the work God created for them.
• The ant demonstrates preparation. "They store up their food in the summer" (Proverbs 30:25).
• The ant demonstrates strength. An ant lifts a load many, many times its own weight — I read that a man would have to lift a diesel locomotive and carry it on his back to compare with that of the ant!
• The ant demonstrates resourcefulness. A biologist tells how he watched an ant carrying a piece of straw and came to a crack in the earth that was too wide for it to cross. It stood for a time as though pondering the situation, then put the straw across the crack and walked over upon it!
Solomon says to "consider its ways and be wise." Have you watched any ants lately? Are not all these characteristics needed in our lives today as we seek to be wise in God's estimation?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, help us to be team workers who are diligent, prepared, strong, resourceful and wise in all our endeavors. These characteristics common to the ant are of great benefit to us as we follow Your daily leading in our lives. We thank You for the ability to work physically and to enjoy the reward of our labor. We're grateful to You for supplying all that we have need of. Amen.
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). "For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10). "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).
We enjoyed our brief visit to Newport Rhode Island where we often enjoyed taking day trips and our out of town guests when we lived in New England. It is a very popular vacation area and for many years was the summer getaway for the wealthy who built huge mansions as "summer cottages." Now many of the mansions are open as tourist sites and Brooksyne enjoys touring them (not Stephen).
An old song says, "A tent or a cottage, why should I care? They're building a palace for me over there." God is the Master Builder. "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible" (Hebrews 11:3). He's still at work building His church and transforming the individual lives of the millions who are daily turning to Him in faith and obedience.
He's also at work in preparing a place that people of faith through the generations have been anticipating. In the first daily text I rejoice in the line that states, "if it were not so, I would have told you." Jesus always tells us the truth and just what we need to know.
Today, we, like the great man of faith Abraham, "look forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." We only have glimpses of what this "city" will be like, but we can be assured it will be indescribably wonderful. "For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come" (Hebrews 13:14).
Today on the personal level some of you are dealing with what appears to be a lapse in the building program. At times it may even seem that God has abandoned His building project in your life. Your prayers seem to be unanswered. Issues in your life aren't getting resolved as you would like. There may be strife in your marriage and home. Some are dealing with a long-standing stronghold of pornography or other destructive addictions they're seeking to overcome. Others are dealing with lengthy career transitions that have thus far not worked out as they had anticipated.
What issue are you dealing with today? Don't give up. Hold to your faith! Here's a promise that we can all count on; "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion!" Fellow believer, wherever you live, whatever you're going through; stay faithful to the Mansion Builder, for the Mansion Builder is ever faithful to us. "Do not throw away your confidence, for it will be richly rewarded."
"Why should I worry, why should I fret,
Cause I've got a Mansion Builder who ain't through with me yet." *
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Lord Jesus thank you for the absolute truthfulness of your Word. We can rely upon your promises even when the temporal evidence we are experiencing suggests otherwise. Thank you for the promises in Scripture concerning our eternal home. Help us as we deal with what Your Word says are "our light and momentary troubles" and to recognize that they are "achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." Today "we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
(See 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 for further inspiration)
“They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy” (Psalm 65:8).
During my lifetime there have been nearly 20,000 sunsets but only a few I specifically recall. In the mid-nineties we visited with Hope (whose funeral I preached at yesterday), her late husband John and late sister Rachel on Martha’s Vineyard. At that time Rachel had a modest summer home on the island that had been in her family for several generations.
Hope told us that the sunset view from Menemsha Harbor was acclaimed as one of the most outstanding in the world. She also said that a good sunset view has not just water but a land element and the sunset view from the beach at Menemsha Harbor on the northwest side of the island had both. On a lovely late afternoon in July we joined many others at the beach for the display.
As the sun disappeared over the distant horizon everyone on the beach stood up, broke out in applause and some shouted, “Encore! Encore!” (We didn’t get one.) It was an astounding sight and memorable experience. Most were clapping for the sheer beauty they witnessed, but for my family and friends, it was another opportunity to praise the Lord for the awesome power of His mighty works.
For many years I have enjoyed watching sunrises and sunsets. In fact I have shared that often and the current ministry logo for our Daily Encouragement internet ministry is a sunrise photo over the Atlantic off Cape Cod.
As the sun rises I contemplate the activities that will occupy my day. As the sun sets I consider what was accomplished throughout the day. Wherever you live on this planet you have a sunrise and sunset but it’s not a distinct visible moment for all to view at the same time.
Today’s Scripture verse declares, “You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.” That sure is an interesting way to view a sunset; shouting for joy. Sunrise and sunset are signs reminding us of God’s greatness and faithfulness that all who dwell in the ends of the earth can see. This evening wherever you live, even to the ends of the earth, remember this verse when the sun sets and join with the sunset in praise to the indescribable God of the universe!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Brooksyne’s prayer: From the rising of the sun until the time that it sets I praise You, Almighty God! Your name is to be praised when the day is yet before me and as the day comes to an end. Your faithfulness reaches to the heavens, spreads throughout the earth, and is personally experienced in my life daily. Amen.
"Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith" (Hebrews 10:22).
Fanny Crosby is surely one of the most prolific hymn writers in the history of the church. I am sure most of our readers regardless of language, nationality or even musical taste have sung her hymns. In fact this past Sunday morning we sang I am Thine O Lord, one of her many well-known hymns. Other hymns you may recognize are All the Way My Savior Leads Me, Close to Thee, To God be The Glory, Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior, and so many others still sung in many churches.
Yesterday we stopped along I-95 in Bridgeport, Connecticut at the Mountain Grove Cemetery where Fanny Crosby is buried. The cemetery was designed by the famous circus founder PT Barnum. His monument is very near that of Fanny Crosby's.
On a small, very weathered stone at the foot of the grave that we assume to be the original tombstone we read these words, "Aunt Fanny...She hath done what she could." Although blinded shortly after her birth she faithfully served the Lord. She overcame her disability to leave a lasting impact for Christ. She once shared this remarkable outlook, "It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me."
Her main tombstone, which Brooksyne is standing beside in the photo above, has the words to one of her best known hymns,
"Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of the Spirit, washed in His blood."
The message from this hymn text is one that is such a blessing to hide deep in our hearts; a musical expression of praise and glory to God for His work of salvation in our lives. Crosby writes about the assurance Christ gives us of His redemptive work in our lives here on earth and a foretaste of the glorious rejoicing that will take place through all eternity.
What a great blessing this assurance is. Assurance, not a commonly used word apart from theology, comes from the word assure which in turn comes from the word, sure. It speaks of the certainty of our salvation.
In today's text from the book of Hebrews we read a wonderful phrase, the "full assurance of faith." This is surely a sound Biblical basis for Fanny Crosby's song. It's one of the greatest blessings of life to have a full assurance of faith. May the Lord fill your heart with blessed assurance today.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, as heirs of Your salvation, we have been purchased with the sacrificial blood of Your precious Son, Jesus. He gave His all that we might be saved from the eternal consequences of sin and have our names written in the Lamb's Book of Life. We have the blessed assurance that we are redeemed from sin and saved for eternity in heaven. Thank You for such wondrous love and abundant provision on our behalf. Amen.
"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints" (Psalm 116:15). "Therefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
Today's texts are great verses to memorize and hide deep in our hearts when we face the death of a loved one or our own eventual death. Today I want to share a tribute to a dear friend who passed away last week. Although few of you will know Hope I pray that this tribute might remind you of someone like her in your own life. If you would rather skip this portion, the exposition is at the bottom of today's message.
Hope Winchoba had been a part of the church we served in Taunton Massachusetts since she was a small child when the church was started in 1928. In fact she was in the very first service conducted. She and her late husband John (with whom she had been married nearly 65 years) lived on a small island in the Atlantic Ocean.
We visited with Hope several times since we moved from that area and once she came to Lancaster County to visit us. We spoke to her periodically on the phone through the years.
But most of our memories are from when we pastored in Taunton and regularly saw her and John. We had such a great time visiting with them as they were both very colorful people. John once insisted that I eat a live quahog clam we had dug up together in the bay. I did it, but decided right there and then that I prefer to eat my clams in chowder! We returned to their home and Hope made up a delicious clam chowder we enjoyed together.
I recall my last visit in their home before John died and the tender moment of kneeling with them and thanking God for their lives. We knew at this time that the time of his departure was near and spoke frankly with one another. A great peace enveloped that home and I left grateful for the privilege of pastoring such fine people. They had been unable to attend church for some time, due to John's weakness, but before I left he asked me to take his monthly financial contribution to the church. I was humbled by his faithful stewardship but he quickly reminded me, "It's the Lord's money." Pastors are to be examples of faithfulness to their congregation, but it's often members of the congregation who teach us by their faithful commitment to God's teachings. Hope went on to live another 9 years but she has now joined John and all the others who have gone before her.
The first daily verse shares the view of death from God's perspective. "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints." What a joy and assurance that all who know Jesus will be in His very presence at the time of death and that He reckons our death as precious.
Perhaps man's perspective is best expressed by the Apostle Paul who wrote, "to live is Christ and to die is gain." We'll miss Hope but we know she's in a far better place and that one day we will see her again. And so will all who have loved Jesus Christ and received His salvation.
In our second daily verse the Apostle Paul instructed the Thessalonian believers regarding the death of their loved ones. He gives Spirit-inspired teaching concerning the coming of the Lord and its relation to those who died prior to the Lord's return. He assures them (and us) that when we meet the Lord the dead in fact will rise first.
He ends this section with this phrase, "Therefore comfort one another with these words." What comfort and encouragement this teaching surely gave these early followers of Christ and all of us through the church age. And likewise today we can comfort and encourage one another with these same words of Holy Scripture.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, the comfort You provide us through the Scriptures is sort of like a safety net catching us as we tumble through life's ups and downs. You have not immunized us from the same experiences of those who have not placed their trust in You, but Your strength is perfected in our weakness. You not only provide grace and overcoming for our present needs, but You have prepared a place for us where the best is yet to come; where we no longer face separation, pain, or sin. Keep us faithful in our walk until that appointed day when You call us to our heavenly dwelling place. Amen.
For this week only, the Driver Wellness Inspiration blog will not be updated on this page. However, you can still read the content each day by clicking here.
We will return to our usual daily posting on this page Monday, August 25, 2008. Thank you.
"Generations come and generations go" (Ecclesiastes 1:4).
We are in Nebraska for our 33rd annual Steincross family reunion. Throughout my childhood we gathered at my grandparents' house in Harwood Missouri, but I don't remember calling it a reunion. Following their deaths in the early seventies their children established the annual family reunion. Brooksyne attended the very first one the summer before we were married. Now only my Aunt Frances, the youngest Steincross child, remains from that generation. We will celebrate her upcoming 85th birthday Saturday evening.
Fourteen of the sixteen cousins (my grandparents' grandchildren) are here. We are now all over 50 and of course there are many from the succeeding generations as they are expecting around 70 to be in attendance.
I found this picture when going through my mom's belongings after she passed away three years ago. My mom is at the lower left in the photo, the second youngest child. Aunt Frances is on the other side in the front row.
Mom was 12 years old at the time this photo was taken in 1933. My grandpa was 51, about the same same age as I am now. A farmer and the president of the only bank in tiny Harwood Missouri; he was a vibrant, colorful man. As a young man he traveled across the west on rails and climbed Pike's Peak one night. On each birthday well into his eighties he rode a bike to assert his youth. I assume I get some of my personality traits from him. I sure hope so! My grandmother was a quiet woman but my spiritual heritage can be traced back to her and a little white framed church. They had 65 years of marriage as I recall.
"Generations come and generations go." A multi-generational family reunion especially underscores this. This last winter my Uncle Jim (Aunt Frances' husband) passed away after 63 years of marriage. Of course he is especially on our hearts this year - he never missed one reunion over the years. Just three years ago my mom went to her last reunion here on earth.
I sat across from Aunt Frances last night at dinner and tried to glean information about my heritage, especially my grandmother's side since she grew up in an area in Iowa west of Des Moines where we had passed through on the way here. She was the daughter of a pioneer. I understand she was Pennsylvania Dutch which means her parents may have come from the area I now live in.
There's a popular ad series that has the line, "Life comes at you fast." Actually looking at the photo sure underscores that life not only comes at you fast but goes by very fast as well. We all need to regularly examine ourselves and do a thorough check to see how we are living our lives. Most certainly "Generations come and generations go." A question that we should all consider is "How am I living today in light of eternity?"
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Lord, in the looking glass of Your Word, may the choices I make this day honor You and also honor my family name. I choose a good name above riches, prestige or fame. I pray that I would reflect the good character that comes from following Christ to my present generation and that it would be passed on to the generations that follow, for the glory and honor of Your Holy Name. Amen.
"We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty" (2 Peter 1:16).
We had a great visit last night with the Miller family whom we became connected with through Daily Encouragement many years ago. They have visited our home twice and last night we had dinner with them here in the Peoria, Illinois area. Larry is an engineer with Caterpillar Equipment Company. Debbie is a home school mom with five daughters who are extremely talented and fully dedicated to the Lord. Their oldest daughter Katie is a professional photographer and travels internationally. She and her friend Minday took the photo above and manipulated it using Photoshop [To see photo, click here for more daily encouragement.].
Cleverly invented stories and creatively doctored photos like the one we featured today abound in every venue. I am increasingly skeptical as there is a proliferation of internet and email hoaxes. It doesn't take much to concoct a hoax and put up a web site or email it to scores of people. Then it's spread through forwarded email, which often directs the reader to "send this to everyone in your address book." Some have a certain believability about them; a "cleverly invented story." Others are so absolutely ludicrous that it strains any credibility of the one sending it. Many of you are smiling as you read this as you consider the junk that has come your way if you've been in email very long. Free tickets to Disney World, promised blessings and veiled curses if you don't forward on that spooky but spiritual sounding chain letter, inheritances passed onto you from strangers, bizarre stories, etc. etc.
But Peter declares, "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty" (2 Peter 1:16). What a tremendous assurance of the firm foundation our faith is grounded upon. Peter had some amazing eyewitness experiences with our Lord and he was determined that, after he departed this life, his hearers and readers would not forget the stories and essential teachings he shared (2 Peter 1:15). He admits to being repetitious about messages that his hearers were already familiar with, but he knew his time was near, and wanted to reinforce important truths that would keep them true to their faith in Christ.
When you sit in the pew Sunday after Sunday and hear your pastor repeat Biblical truths that you've heard him speak about many times maybe you can recall Peter's perspective. Perhaps the old hymn line should come to mind, "I love to tell the story to those who know it best, seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest." It's so important that we never grow weary of hearing the fundamental teachings of our faith even as we grow in spiritual wisdom and maturity. That's a powerful deterrent to the many cleverly invented stories we are subjected to year after year.
I enjoy the books written by Lee Strobel which emphasize the apologetics of the Christian faith. In his book, "The Case for Faith" he reminds us of the solid foundation our faith in God and His revelation rests upon. Our faith is not based on a cleverly invented story. Over the years I have had an ongoing interest in apologetics which is "a conscious, articulated defense of the claims of the Christian faith." Perhaps the first apologist I heard speak was Josh McDowell, while I was a high school student, who gave an excellent defense of the gospel. As I read the Apostle Peter's matter of fact reminder in the daily text I am so thankful for the firm basis of our faith.
The daily sub theme for this daily encouragement ministry declares; "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation." Today let us receive rich assurance as we consider these things and remain the true defenders of the "faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints."
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, because there have always been false prophets and teachers among us we want to stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around our waist. We seek spiritual discernment as we process that which we see, hear, and pass on to others. May we determine truth and error, not by the popularity of the message or messenger, but by the standards set forth in Your Holy Word by Your holy messengers. Help us to spread the good news of the true Gospel to all who seek truth, life, and desire to have purpose for their lives. Amen.
"But David found strength in the LORD his God" (1 Samuel 30:6).
Yesterday we visited some friends in Indianapolis and I had the opportunity to share the Word of God with the congregation at Victory Christian Center. Prior to the service I met with Pastor Floyd for prayer and noticed his large sword and shield. He explained that he keeps these in his office to remind him of the strength and encouragement we have in the Lord as we apply the armor of God listed in Ephesians 6. When Floyd faces discouragement (as do all pastors), these are visual reminders of God's armor that gives him renewed strength as he does battle with the enemy.
In 1 Samuel 30 King David and his men were away at battle. While they were gone their foes came in and laid the city of Ziklag in ashes, carrying away their wives and children. When the men returned they were overwhelmed with grief. The Scripture says they "wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep." It isn't hard to visualize the deep despair these warriors must have felt.
They also blamed David and were ready to stone him. In addition to the sorrow he felt from his own personal loss, now he faced his own men who wanted to strike him down, and this distressed him greatly. The circumstances couldn't get any worse! "But David found strength in the Lord his God" (v. 6) and sought direction from Him. I've always enjoyed this brief verse and find it applicable for all believers when facing distressing circumstances. It's a short verse to memorize and I believe, when we're weak in spirit, we do well to quote this verse prayerfully using our name in place of David's such as, "But Stephen found strength in the Lord his God."
The small conjunction word, "but" turns our focus from the very troubling circumstances David faced and redirects our attention to the Lord our God. I wonder what prompted this renewed strength to act decisively as the Lord led David in the remainder of the chapter. Was it a Scripture verse hidden deep in his heart? Was he reviewing in his mind previous experiences where God brought about miraculous deliverances from the enemy?
Like David we will inevitably encounter hard periods in life and will need renewed strength in the Lord our God. Let me suggest several means of finding this strength and encouragement:
1) Meditate on Bible passages and memorize key Scriptures that the Holy Spirit can bring to our recollection in time of need.
2) Make a lifelong goal of developing a network of prayer warriors and encouragers whom you may call upon during your time of need.
3) Like Floyd you may find certain visual reminders helpful. (When I go to my workshop I receive strength when I use my dad's tools.)
4) Inspirational music can be a very helpful source of strength.
5) Build a library of useful resources that reinforce Biblical answers for life's dilemmas.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. In ourselves we are weak and often distressed by the daunting trials of life. When they become our primary focus we are easily overtaken by doubt and helplessness. But when our primary focus is on worshiping the Lord Jesus who is our Provider, our Strength, our Sustainer, our Hope and our Soon Coming King our mourning turns into joy, our weakness into strength, and our hope is once again renewed. Thank You for who You are and the way You work in our lives this day. Amen.
"Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long?" (Lamentations 5:20).
This morning I was listening to our local news on the radio and heard a report concerning a highway fatality in our area near Gettysburg. It was a young family from Oklahoma traveling through Pennsylvania, presumably on vacation. The 37 year old mother was killed and two of her daughters were injured. The news report said it appears she was trying to avoid a deer, something I've done many times. I suppose this accident especially caught my attention since Brooksyne, along with several of my relatives, is from Oklahoma. I considered the very hard time this family is going through and surely the heavenward question of "why?" many are asking.
We watched an interview last night with Steven Curtis Chapman's family concerning the death of their daughter this last May. They very openly shared about their struggles regarding Maria's sudden tragic death and gave a powerful testimony of their enduring faith. Their son, Will, was driving when Maria was accidentally struck by the car. His older brother Caleb, looking on from inside the house, was at the scene practically immediately. He shared how he looked up to heaven in those unimaginable moments and cried out, "Why, why, why?"
We receive a lot of feedback in this ministry which at times reflects earnest questions and the sharing of deep hurts and probing questions, much like Caleb expressed. I often share the concept of our faith in Christ being like an anchor of hope, which is especially a blessing during times of profound trial.
The "why" questions are especially pertinent when it is our very own experience in trial. The most gifted minds of Bible students have grappled with it for centuries. One of the hardest parts of pastoral work is dealing with the "why" questions in the lives of those we serve. Actually it's one of the hardest parts of life isn't it? I've had several big ones, myself, and so have many of you. Now, in our chaplain work, Brooksyne and I regularly lend support to those in the workplace who are in the midst of a heavy trial essentially asking, "Why is God allowing this to happen to me???"
One, very, very incomplete "seeing through a glass dimly" answer is this: I am convinced that we will have such a radically transformed perspective on the other side that issues which deeply trouble us on this side will be viewed entirely differently.
The verse I have chosen as our daily text was written by one of the leading figures of the Bible. Jeremiah was a man of great faith, commissioned by God from his very conception to be a "prophet to the nations" (see Jeremiah 1:5). When he questions God, "Why do You always forget us? Why do You forsake us so long?" he merely speaks from his heart as he seems to waver between trusting and questioning. Interestingly, in the previous verse he makes a great statement of faith, acknowledging, "You, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation" (Lamentations 5:19). In certain circumstances I've found myself wavering, particularly in the very heat of a trial, but I, like Jeremiah, also acknowledge the sovereignty of God at the same time.
Philip Keller has said, "It takes some of us a lifetime to learn that Christ, our Good Shepherd, knows exactly what He is doing with us." Well, I for one am still in the school of learning. I'm trusting, but frankly I still explore the "why" questions, both pastorally and personally, from time to time. After I have wrestled with the questions surrounding the ordeal God brings me back around to the extremely important conclusion that He is sovereign. Layton Talbert says it so succinctly in his book, "Not by Chance" that "all things are sustained, directed and controlled by God."
When we embrace God's sovereignty we ask for more of His sustaining grace which leads to inner peace in the midst of difficult circumstances. Our heart's question of "why?" turns into a surrendered seeking of the question "what?" What is it, Lord, that You are trying to teach me in my journey of pain? How can I use it for Your glory and for my spiritual growth!
"Jesus, Jesus, How I trust Him.
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er.
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus,
O, for grace to trust Him more!"
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, Your grace and tender mercies are present in the midst of perplexing situations that develop in our lives and the lives of those whom we love. Your sovereign power working within us takes the bad things that Satan hurls at us and turns them into testimonies of praise and thanksgiving when we seek to glorify You in the midst of suffering. Only a God like You can help us not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good. As we share in Your sufferings, we also share in Your glory. Be glorified in our lives; in the good, in the bad, and in the mysterious circumstances of our lives. Amen.
Please note: Today we are heading out to the Midwest for a family reunion near Lincoln Nebraska and visiting friends all along the way. We hope to keep these daily encouragements up but realistically expect we will miss several days over the next couple of weeks. Here is our trip route for those of you who enjoy maps like me. We will update this as needed and share if we come across something interesting!
"No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). "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" (Hebrews 12:2).
Yesterday I went with my friend Jay Kopp on a field trip. Jay is taking a course in photography and asked me if I could arrange a visit with my Amish friends to do a photographic project of the farming implements and methods used in the past. The Amish provide great examples of living history.
We visited Eli, an older Amish dairy farmer, who lives on a large farm near the Strasburg Railroad. Being a train buff it's great to hear the steam whistle and see the plume of smoke as the train passes above the ridge over his farm. Jay and I walked back to the farm, which is set back on a long dirt lane.
I explained to Eli the photo project and he took us to his barn where he had a collection of interesting old farm equipment. He dug out the mouldboard plow that Jay is standing behind. I told Jay I had an idea for a message I wanted to share based on this plow as the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance today's first Scripture verse.
It takes a great deal of strength, concentration and perseverance to plow a field. Initially in order to get a straight row you must focus your eyes on a fixed distant object. After you have a straight row you then focus on the furrow or previous row as you continue plowing. Most importantly, you don't look back!
Many of you who know me personally have often heard me say farewell with one of two phrases; "Stay faithful" or "Keep your hand to the plow." I've done this for many, many years.
"Staying faithful!" What a quality. It's not dramatic. It's not sensational. But think with me for a few moments. Consider those who, over the long haul, have been a genuine and enduring blessing to you. Right at the top of the list of their good qualities is that of faithfulness, isn't it? I'll take faithfulness over flashiness any time. God said regarding Moses, "He is faithful in all my house." What a gratifying affirmation to receive from God Himself!
In Matthew's gospel Jesus gives us a glimpse of what we'll hear when we finish the race. It sure won't be "Great job, O thou flashy one." No, it will be "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:23). And in the book of Revelation we have a recognition of His "called, chosen and faithful followers" (17:14).
Indeed let us "stay faithful" and keep our hand to the plow today, not looking back but instead, "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Jesus, it is the desire of our heart to remain faithful to You. The world often uses the expression, "Be true to yourself" intending that people stand up for what they believe in, but those of the world, by and large, stand for causes and beliefs that often conflict with the holy Word of God. We are also subject to error and our emotions cannot be trusted, so with absolute resolve we choose to be true to You, rather than self. We join with others of the Christian faith who hold unswervingly to the hope we profess even as we spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Amen.
"Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature" (Romans 13:13,14).
Late yesterday afternoon I went on a long walk with a man who had come over to have an earnest conversation about some tough issues in his life. (He has given me permission to anonymously share this.) Early in his marriage he had gotten into gambling and then pornography. Thankfully he has found freedom concerning both of these issues but the trust factor in his marriage has been seriously wounded. He wants to see it healed and had asked for my advice. He and his wife are both experiencing the consequences of his sin; both immediate and residual.
I shared in yesterday's daily encouragement how I had preached a message on gambling this last Sunday in our church. In my prep work for the sermon I considered how, in my observation, preaching has changed in my lifetime. I believe many who presently stand behind the pulpit have much greater reservation about addressing sinful behavior than in the past.
I found myself struggling to address a specific activity like gambling that is popular, legal, and increasingly culturally acceptable. Would I be seen as "legalistic" and charged with, "not understanding grace"? Perhaps I might offend someone or create disharmony. After all, many have found ways to justify this behavior. Would I be seen as narrow-minded or intolerant? Both attitudes are considered grave violations in our time, since open-mindedness and tolerance are seen as two of the great virtues of modern man!
How the pendulum has swung even in my lifetime on this issue of preaching on sin. Many my age and older will recall when sin was regularly addressed from the pulpit boldly and forthrightly, much like the prophets of old. However now there's (in my observation) far less preaching on sin and a great reluctance among many preachers to address sin specifically, particularly sins that have become popular and socially acceptable, even in church circles. I have written a separate article about this (see below).
Once again, I come back to the conversation my friend and I had yesterday as we sat on a bench on the beautiful grounds of an historic church at Donegal Springs. His marriage has survived, but the need to reestablish trust in his marital relationship is an ongoing struggle. It is situations like this, that I regularly encounter, that reminds me of my high calling to preach the whole inspired counsel of God's Word; "teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."
The preaching of God's Word should not be diluted nor should "uncomfortable" passages be overlooked, based upon the culture of our day or because others may perceive the message as unloving. The loving message from ministers of the gospel is to do everything possible to prevent those "who have ears to hear" from indulging in sinful behavior that leads to loss and destruction.
This remains the Biblical call for all believers who want to follow hard after God. We must be sober minded and behave decently. Let us "not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature" but rather let us "clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we desire to clothe ourselves in Christ Jesus, whose Spirit resides within our hearts. We pray that our behavior would honor You in every way as we seek to behave decently as we live according to the pattern of Holy Scripture.
"Find out what pleases the Lord" (Ephesians 5:10).
I spoke in our church yesterday on the topic of gambling. My pastor asked me several months ago to deal with this topic while he was on vacation. Members of the church were asked to share topics they would be interested in hearing and this was one of their requests. In fact, the specific question was, "Is the lottery sinful?"
After the service Brooksyne, Ester, and I greeted the folks as they left the sanctuary and Bill approached me. With a twinkle in his eye he said, "After that sermon I sure won't be gambling; you can bet on it."
Gambling in its many forms is growing in acceptance today and, as is typical with all sin, lesser forms that were once prohibited tend to become more acceptable in all circles. The state lottery was started in Pennsylvania in 1971, thus many have grown up with this as an acceptable practice (according to state law). Now we are seeing the growth of casino gambling which is heavily promoted by our current governor. Commercials, radio jingles, junk mail, coffee cup holders, you name it...these various forms of gambling are now encouraged by our own government as a solution for the funding of "good causes."
I preached hard yesterday since all through my ministry I have seen firsthand the destructive elements of gambling and do so to this day. In the past week Brooksyne and I have dealt with those experiencing the terrible consequences of gambling.
Yesterday Brooksyne shared with our congregation a brief story about her grandfather, who was a compulsive gambler [To see her story, click here for more daily encouragement.]. I also weaved into my sermon several illustrations about my experiences in dealing with gamblers as a pastor and chaplain. My short answer is, "Yes, I certainly believe that the lottery and all forms of gambling are sinful, destructive, and our participation does not honor God."
The challenge in preparing the message is that, like many sins, there is not a specific Biblical prohibition about the lottery. But there are several Biblical texts that demonstrate God's attitude toward gambling.
I approached the message from the perspective of the daily verse, "find out what pleases the Lord." Several principles from Ephesians 5 Biblically inform us as to how we may please the Lord regarding this issue and it would certainly apply to many other topics as well:
1. We are called to be imitators of God. (V. 1)
2. There should not be a hint of evil in our behavior. (V. 2)
3. We are not to be deceived by empty words. (V. 6)
4. The Bible cautions against ungodly partnerships. (V. 7)
5. We are called to live as children of light. (V. 8)
6. We are to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness. (V. 11)
7. We are to be very careful, then, how we live—not as unwise but as wise. (V. 15)
The Apostle Paul writes of an ongoing need for the child of God to "find out what pleases the Lord." Today may we all deeply understand just how much our heavenly Father loves and cares for us. Let us freely submit to Him as obedient children earnestly seeking to find out what pleases Him.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, help us to consider the way we live our lives; not as children of the dark, but as children of the light. May the light of Your Holy Spirit guide us in all that we do, so that You are glorified and our spirit is edified. As we read and meditate upon Your Word we are able to see what pleases You, Amen.
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness" (Colossians 2:6,7).
Last night I visited with Marvin, my neighbor, who lives next to the field across the street from us. He now works in construction but for many years he farmed. We walked through the fields and talked about the corn. Yesterday a crop-dusting helicopter treated the corn fields which made for an interesting sight.
Today's photo is not usual for this site and most likely will not be considered attractive by most [To see photo, click here for more daily encouragement.]! It's a close-up of the root system in a corn stalk. The Creator designed corn with two root systems; an inner, primary root (seminal) and as the corn develops a network of brace roots (nodal) for stabilization. With downpours, heavy winds, and other adverse conditions it is vital that the slender stalk has this strong dual root system to survive till harvest.
Although we eat a few roots such as carrots, potatoes and radish, generally we give little thought to the root system. I certainly can't recall ever seeing them as a thing of beauty, but roots are absolutely vital to a plant's health.
Let's consider the word "rooted" from our daily text this morning. Paul draws on a familiar agricultural analogy. Perhaps he had in mind the teaching of our Lord, who warned of the deadly spiritual condition of rootlessness in the Parable of the Sower. Jesus said of the seed that fell on rocky places, (Matthew 13:21).
Roots are also a vital part of the believer's life. Our daily verse tells us we are to be "rooted and built up in Him." The Greek word for root is "rhizoo" and suggests stability, nourishment and life derived from contact with Christ ("in Him"). As a plant's roots sink deep into the rich soil for long term stability and nourishment, so too we should root our faith deep into sound Biblical doctrine and solid spiritual food that comes from knowing Christ. These well-nourished roots will keep us strong forever and forever.
In Christ we find life-giving soil and a sustaining foundation. However, we have the responsibility to implement the means of grace that God has ordained for our "rooting." We all need a good, solid, ever-growing root system that reaches deep into the spiritual soil for the nourishment and stability that God has graciously provided. This will render us both faithful and fruitful. Developing and maintaining a solid spiritual root system is an active, lifelong pursuit.
Are you rooted in Christ? Are your spiritual roots expanding deeper and broader? I thank God for the inexhaustible supply of spiritual nutrition and stability available to the believer who is "rooted" in Christ!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Brooksyne's prayer: Lord, we are so very grateful that our family roots are not the sole source of who we are nor does it dictate what we can accomplish. Our spiritual roots, because of our well-grounded faith in You, goes much deeper and spreads much broader. We are able to accomplish the impossible and overcome life's difficulties because our roots are connected to the Miracle Worker. May the water of Your Holy Spirit quench our thirst and the spiritual food from Your inspired Holy Word satisfy our hunger causing us to grow in spiritual maturity. We remain safe and securely rooted in You, Lord, though the winds and storms may shake us from time to time. It is in You that we live and move and have our being! Amen.
"Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take" (Jeremiah 31:21).
Yesterday we made chaplain visits throughout Lancaster County and finished with a visit to United Zion Nursing Home in Lititz to see our friends, Dave and Millie, who celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in April. For many years we fondly referred to them as our "pew neighbors" since they sat directly behind us in church. Dave has had a rough time the last several weeks but maintains his strong faith in God and a great sense of humor!
On the way home we passed a country church that sits on an interesting lot. As you approach the church from the west, you come to a fork in the road. We assume the original road went straight, directly past the front of the church. But at this point the "new" highway veers right. Someone in the church considered a thoughtful witness sign to place at this very small point which is both practical and spiritual. It merely asks, "Are You Sure You're on the Right Road?"
In smaller letters under the question there's a Scripture reference. I wonder how many have looked this up through the years! "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13,14).
We want to especially consider a phrase from Jeremiah today. It was originally pronounced to the Southern Kingdom some 2,600 years ago and remains a relevant reminder to all generations, "Take note of the highway, the road that you take" (Jeremiah 31:32).
It is a fact that we are all presently on the road to our eternal destination. God has placed us in the driver's seat to steer our lives in the direction of our choosing (free-will). Since there are many roads we may travel He equips us with the Bible roadmap that tells us what to expect when we choose a particular route.
One road is broad, well-travelled and seems very enticing. But since the futile end of this road extends beyond our initial view, Solomon warns travelers, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death" (Proverbs 14:12).
Jesus gives unambiguous directions to those who travel the narrow road when He declares, "I am the Way, the Truth, the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me" (John 14:6). It will not be through our good works, religious affiliation or other man-centered efforts, but those traveling on the Highway to Heaven will get there only through the saving blood of Jesus Christ!
Jeremiah instructs, "Set up road signs; put up guideposts." When we travel on an unfamiliar highway we appreciate periodic signs informing us that we're on the right road. Even on familiar routes we still value guideposts that assure us we're going the right way.
In my preaching I often quote from Hebrews 12:1 where the writer of Hebrews urges believers to confidently persevere in "the race marked out for us." We don't have to flip a coin or make a blind guess as to which direction we take but we can move forward in confidence.
On the spiritual highway road signs and guideposts are surely the directions given us in the Holy Scriptures, God's owner's manual. The Scriptures are an absolutely reliable map to direct our paths in the course of this life and to direct our hearts toward the life hereafter.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, this journey of faith began at Mile Marker One which was, for those who believe, the moment we personalized the tremendous sacrifice of Jesus' death on the cross. After we repented of our sins we began this faith journey and the milestones along the way have assured us that the route we're on leads to eternal life. We reject the philosophies that originate from this world and follow Your roadmap that keeps us on the highway of holiness. All the while we are ever watchful for the prowling enemy who attempts to steer us off course. Though sorrow and mourning have accompanied us on this journey, we will enter Zion rejoicing and singing as You crown us with everlasting joy! And the marvelous blessing is that the end of this earthly journey is really only the beginning of eternal bliss! Thank You, Jesus, for making it possible! Amen.
"So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12). "Make your ear attentive to wisdom; incline your heart to understanding" (Proverbs 2:2). Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding" (Proverbs 4:7).
We often speak or write about the outstanding sunset view we enjoy from our front yard. We have photos from various seasons although I find taking a sunset photo a real challenge.
Our present view at sunset is a dense field of 10 foot high corn with a couple of stone barns and tall silos in the background. The sun sets as a huge ball of orange fire glows above the corn field. The sun's rays light the tassels that top the corn stalks making them look like glistening icicles in the distance.
Brooksyne is still unable to take long walks along the trail so last night I walked with a friend as the sun was setting. It was a 90 degree day in Lancaster County and the sun was especially brilliant as it gradually disappeared from our view.
Each sunset is a reminder that God is drawing yet another day to a close. We often get up in the morning as the sun is rising in the east. Sunrise and Sunset are like a pair of daily "bookends" reminding us that the passing of our lives happens one day at a time.
We associate most of the Psalms with David but Moses wrote Psalm 90 and makes the petition found in our daily text: "So teach us to number our days." Indeed our days are numbered. As of today (July 30, 2008) my numbered days since my birth are 19,648.
All of us have an allotted number of days. These days are in God's hands. Certainly we have a responsibility in practicing safety and maintaining our health and can be very thankful for the role of modern medicine in prolonging life. But one day these allotted days will end for all of us.
Last week our daughter Ester had an impacted wisdom tooth extracted which brought back memories for Brooksyne and me as we went through that dreaded experience many years earlier. Wisdom teeth generally appear between the ages of 17 and 25 at a time of life that has been called the "Age of Wisdom." Thus they are referred to as wisdom teeth. Our "extra" teeth don't pop out as proof that we have become people of wisdom just because we have grown to adulthood. But as adults we should all have the desire to be growing in genuine wisdom.
According to the daily Scripture we are to number our days that we may present to God a heart of wisdom. We usually consider wisdom a faculty of the mind but today's text uses the term "heart of wisdom." We have been studying what this wisdom is as opposed to one's innate intellect or degree of education, and have determined that the "heart of wisdom" is an altogether different thing.
A dictionary definition of wisdom is "the knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action." As we ponder this subject we personally describe wisdom as the ability to see the sequential consequences of actions and this is largely a benefit of the life experience that comes as we age. Another helpful understanding of the word is "seeing and responding to life’s situations from God’s frame of reference." That's why we should seek the counsel of those who are older or more spiritually mature than ourselves in areas where we might need wisdom and guidance.
The "heart of wisdom" is living each day with the implementation of God's eternal principles as we accumulate and process information. Let us also incline our prayerful heart toward God and the Holy Scriptures so that He will guide us in the experiences of life with needed understanding that only He can provide. Let us do this today and everyday and truly present to God a heart of wisdom!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we earnestly seek You for wisdom regarding the daily circumstances of our lives. Help us to incline our hearts toward You for understanding all that You have to teach us in the lessons of life. During the quiet sessions when Your voice seems silent help us to trust You knowing that You work all things out for our good, for Your glory, and in Your time reference. Amen.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).
Last night we had a missionary couple over for dinner and fellowship. Bruce and Merly Bundy have served in Spain for over twenty years as church planters in Madrid. Spain is a notoriously challenging country for missions and we shared together about the inevitable discouragements of ministry as well as the tremendous blessing of impacting others for Christ and eternity.
Bruce reminded me of an incredible message I heard several months ago about the story of Mr. Genor, a man who faithfully witnessed in a simple way in Sydney, Australia for forty years. He saw no visible fruit from his spiritual labors, but learned only weeks before his death that scores of people's lives were changed through his faithful testimony (The *link to the story is below and will bless you tremendously.)
Those of us living for Christ are called to impact the world around us for His cause. Husbands and wives are to demonstrate unity in their love for one another. Parents are to raise their children in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ministers are to "preach the word". Yet we at times may wonder if we really are making any difference. Some do not have a marriage characterized by love and unity. Some have children that reject the Lord. There are ministers who faithfully "preach the Word", yet see little receptivity.
The perspective we must have is the future harvest promised in Galatians 6:9, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." But we do at times become weary in doing good, don't we? The apostle Paul knew the Galatian believers were growing weary and encouraged them to keep on keeping on for the future harvest. In our "instant gratitude" society we especially have difficulty waiting for "the proper time" for God's blessings to be revealed. Our mindset is more like a lot of commercials selling high priced items on credit, interest free, for the first year. They appeal to customers who have the attitude, "I want it and I want it now", rather than save up money for a future purchase.
At times our lives just don't seem to be making much difference from our visual perspective. But Paul reminds us that, "at the proper time we will reap a harvest." That "proper time" ("due season" in the KJV) will most assuredly come. Don't give up! Your life, lived for Christ, is making a difference. Our primary motivation for all that we do in the name of Christ must be based on our desire to obey Him. A competitive spirit, statistics, people's expectations or a desire to impress others can too easily become the driving power that misguides our actions.
But, as always, God works from the inside out. We can't impress Him but we can respond to His love for us. And our love for God must always be the motivation for all that we do. "Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."
He will bless us with an abundant harvest at His appointed hour as we stay faithful to Him.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, help us to be faithful in the big and small things You have called us to do, that You may be honored. Amen.
*The amazing story of Mr. Genor's (Jenner's) faithful witness for Christ. AudioText of story Being from Missouri (the Show-Me state) I tend to take incredible stories like this, however inspiring they may be, with a grain of salt, and apparently others have as well. However this man dug into the story and documented it. See here.
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ" (Philippians 3:7).
Brooksyne and I love the old hymns. We're spiritually indebted to hymn writers who have written heartfelt expressions of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God. We find ourselves often limited in our human language and unable to verbally express what we feel emotionally. Then we find the very expression of our hearts described in the text of a hymn, and by singing those words, we make it our own message to God.
We identify with Robert Robinson who in 1758 with blunt candor writes about the faulty human condition. Buried in the third verse of his famous hymn, "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" Robinson describes the agonizing pulling of his heart strings, "Prone to wander how I feel it, prone to leave the God I love."
I certainly identify with Robinson's proneness to wander and live for self rather than the God I love. Each time I sing this line I'm reminded of the two natures that are always waging war within: the sin nature vs. the spiritual nature. How can I defeat the sin that is crouching at the door of my heart? (Genesis 4:7). Who will rescue me from this intruding enemy?
Jesus, through His unending supply of grace, will give us strength to defeat the temptation to wander into enemy territory. Though there are times when Satan's luring temptations turn into tortuous warfare we will remain firm in our faith when we choose to bind our wandering hearts to the God we love.
The Law of Moses prescribed the wearing of phylacteries to serve as a constant reminder of God's Holy Word. These were small boxes containing slips of parchment on which were written portions of the Law. They were worn ostentatiously by the Jews on the head or left arm. In fact among the orthodox Jews they are still used to this day.
The closest I relate to the wearing of phylacteries was when I was a Bible College student. I, along with other Greek and Hebrew students, often walked around with a ring of index cards that had the Greek or Hebrew words we were learning. We would thumb through these cards repetitively while standing in the long cafeteria line. It was a good way to memorize the Greek language and an efficient way to use free time.
By the time of Jesus the usage of phylacteries had become a source of pride and a legalism to the Jews. In fact Jesus spoke negatively regarding them. There is no specific mention of the practice continuing in the New Testament Christian Church. However we would do well to remember the principle behind their usage: Don't forget the meaning behind the practice!
In the daily text Paul had been recounting his worldly credentials that were very impressive for his time (although they may seem foreign to us today). "If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless." These were impressive credentials in his day but he goes on with the daily verse, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."
What do you consider to be "gain" in your life today? The world presses us into its mold and gives the following answers: important position, academic credentials, big salary, abundance of things, big retirement account, sensual pleasures, exotic travel, etc.
But I want to hear from God's perspective and listen to His Word today concerning what real gain is. I want to hear the voice of our Lord who says, "Seek first the Kingdom of God", as well as "A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Paul describes the absolute change in his life's perspective in the daily text: "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." Peter, the old fisherman says, "Live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear." James weighs in with, "Don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?" John's cautions the believer, "Do not love the world or anything in the world." *
A double minded person is unstable and untrustworthy. Let us be resolute in our commitment to serve our God wholeheartedly, living for Him and not ourselves. His streams of mercy, never-ending, will supply us with the strength we need to keep this resolve.
Oh, to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be!
Let Thy grace, Lord, like a fetter, bind my wan-d'ring heart to Thee:
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love.
Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it; seal it for Thy courts above.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we choose not to live according to our sinful nature that will lead to a hopeless death, but we choose to live by Your Spirit that leads to a hope-filled life here on earth and for all eternity. Help us in our daily struggles that tempt us to wander from the heart of God. Keep our hearts in oneness with Yours. In the name of Your precious Son, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).
I was raised in Belton Missouri, a small town about 20 miles south of Kansas City. The very next town south of Belton is Peculiar which, to this day, remains a quaint little town on the outer edges of KC's sprawling suburbs.
Peculiar got its name in an interesting way. This is from the town's website: "The pioneer settlers decided their drowsy, maple-shaded hamlet ought to have a name. After several sessions in the general store they narrowed the choice to three names, but couldn't settle on any one. All three names were sent to the post office for consideration. All three were in use elsewhere. They decided to appeal directly to the postmaster general, agreeing to let him make the final decision. 'We don't care what name you give us,' they said, 'so long as it is sort of peculiar.' Probably with tongue in cheek the postmaster general wrote a long and courteous reply. He said he had given their predicament grave consideration. 'My conclusion' he wrote, 'is that in all the land it would be difficult to imagine a more distinctive, a more peculiar name than Peculiar.' And Peculiar it has remained ever since."
Brooksyne and I have memorized many Scripture verses because of dedicated songwriters who added melodies to the Scripture texts. Scripture songs establish a great foundation for the faith. Today's Scripture was one of those songs and we sung it to the exact wording of the KJV. Today we want to consider just a phrase from the text, "a peculiar people."
"Peculiar" is an interesting word not used as much now and perhaps the connotation has even changed. Today if we were to describe someone as "peculiar" it would probably be taken as an insult.
However it's a vitally important description of the Christian as used in the KJV. Other versions use this phrasing, "a people belonging to God" (NIV), "a people for God's own possession" (NASV), "His own special people" (NKJV).
Christians are a special people because God has purchased and preserved us for Himself. We are His possession now. We are distinct from the world and we are called to live our lives as people in the world but not of it. Jesus said concerning His disciples, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of it" (John 17:16).
We, as God's people, have been called into "His marvelous light" which is a stark contrast to this world full of darkness. We seek to keep a spiritual, eternal outlook in the midst of daily temporal demands. But when all is said and done we must confess that the scales often tip in favor of the physical, temporal priorities vs. the spiritual and eternal priorities. It's a continual caution to the believer.
So much of the physical and temporal obscures the marvelous light of Christ and results in the darkness of the world. Injustice, despair, and destruction abound in this present darkness.
God's dealings with humankind require an internal searchlight since we must first eradicate the darkness from within. The interesting thing about God's creation is that the answers mankind seeks for inner peace are not found in the physical realm. We must deal with the internal spiritual nature and by doing so our lives will "show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness." Yes, indeed, God's people are "peculiar" in contrast to the world!
Today let us rejoice that we are God's peculiar people and victoriously walk in His wonderful light. May our words as well as our actions truly declare His praises!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, as we deal with the temporal demands of this day, may the principles that guide us be of eternal origin. We seek not to blend in with the world but to be the salt of the earth. You have made us a peculiar people who are called to be the light of the world. May our light shine for all the world to see so that our good deeds bring praise to Your holy name. Amen.
"Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you" (Romans 16:6).
I saw "Mary" in action at a church gathering. A disabled person had fallen and in the process had also become very frightened. The scene was becoming somewhat chaotic as people were looking on while the uncomfortable drama unfolded. Due to a life-altering injury the man encountered many years ago he was unable to cope with the situation and needed assistance, both physically and emotionally. A "Mary" lovingly helped this individual to exercise self-restraint while maintaining his dignity.
Most who are familiar with the Bible will readily identify Hebrews 11 as the "Hall of Fame of Faith". This chapter mentions many of the famous characters of the Old Testament such as Noah, Abraham and Moses.
But Romans 16 is another Hall of Fame representing the scores of little known believers who have contributed to the advancement of God's Kingdom throughout the church age. Most of the names mentioned in this chapter (35 altogether) are not referred to anywhere else in Scripture. Yet each made an impact on Paul's life and upon many others as well.
Mention the name, Mary, in the Bible and one probably assumes a reference to the mother of our Lord or to Mary Magdalene. But today's brief Scripture verse is the only Mary mentioned in any of the epistles, a dedicated local believer in the Roman church. Her impact was such that Paul made a special greeting to her in his epistle, "Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you."
Her simple distinction? "She worked very hard for you." We are not told what she did, but the Roman believers knew very well. Perhaps she was on the fellowship committee or she rocked the crying babies to sleep. Those are sure two hard jobs in a healthy, active church! Maybe she stayed around after a church meal to scrub the dishes (way before the days of plastic ware or paper plates.) That chore had to be done back then as well.
Whatever she did, she worked very hard. The emphasis on "very" is purposeful. The KJV reads "bestowed much labor." Finally let us note the simple words "for you." What a blessing she must have been to the church in Rome as she diligently served others!
We've met a lot of people through the years like Mary. In fact some have actually been named Mary! What a tremendous blessing they are; ordinary people using ordinary gifts to build up Christ's extraordinary church. All over the world, unheralded and often underappreciated, they're still a major part of God's plan in getting the job done.
Take note of the "Marys" among you in your congregation. Speak a word of appreciation to them as you intentionally notice that which others might unintentionally miss. And if you happen to be a hard worker for Christ like Mary you will someday hear the words of greatest commendation from the Master Himself, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, as we diligently labor for You it is not to bring attention to ourselves, but it is to bring glory to Your name and further the kingdom of God. Help us to find our place of Christian service where we can develop our gifts and expend our labors for building up the body of Christ. Amen.
"And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins" (Romans 11:27). "Because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins" (Hebrews 10:4).
Brooksyne and I have given blood all through our marriage beginning our freshman year in Bible College in Springfield, Missouri (even before we got married). We usually give whole blood through the Red Cross which takes about a pint. However several years ago we donated a few times using a procedure known as "apheresis". In some way they separate the blood and in our case, as I recall, they took only the plasma and returned the rest back into our blood stream.
Since so many English words come from the Greek I was curious as to whether this word had any usage in the New Testament and sure enough the word comes from a Greek word "Aphaireo" which means "to take away" or "separate".
This word is used a number of times in the New Testament and two similar but contrasting truths are shown in the daily texts.
In Romans Paul is speaking of the covenant that God has with the Jewish people to "take away their sins." This is a foundational aspect of redemption since sin is mankind's biggest problem, separating us from a holy God. The Scriptures teach that Jesus Christ came to take away sin. "You know that He appeared in order to take away sins" (1 John 3:5). The age old hymn writer asks and then adamantly answers the essential question, "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!"
The writer of Hebrews expresses the impossibility of the blood of bulls and goats "to take away sin." When we make the effort to donate our blood we want it to be used to extend a person's physical life on this earth, one component in a person's restoration to good health. Several years ago I had surgery that required a blood transfusion and Ester has had several due to her heart surgeries. We are grateful for the people who made the effort and endured the temporal pain to donate blood that made a lasting difference in our health.
One thing's for sure though. This donated blood will not take away sin! It provides no spiritual healing, only physical. Only the blood of Jesus Christ is a once for all complete atonement that takes away the sins for all who believe. John the Baptist summed up the fundamental mission of Jesus Christ so well; "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide,
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide;
Whiter than snow you may be today.
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within.
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Jesus, we're so thankful for Your redeeming grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt. For where our sin increased, Your grace increased all the more. Your refuge for our sin-filled souls took place at the cross of Calvary where You shed Your precious blood so that we might find forgiveness for our sins. This salvation is marvelous; it is matchless, and it is infinitely greater than the animal blood sacrifice that took away sins for only a season. Your redeeming blood sacrifice frees us from the penalty of sin in this life and for all eternity. Thank You for freely shedding Your blood on our behalf. Amen.
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12).
I want to share today about one of the great blessings of rural living. In many parts of our area throughout the growing season there are produce stands boasting an abundance of fresh, locally grown produce. Often it's just an old farm wagon loaded with corn, tomatoes, cucumbers and a variety of all that's locally grown.
A farmer up the road brought a wagon load of sweet corn to sell at the end of his lane. As I passed by his grandchildren were enthusiastically waving at cars as people drove by, seeking to draw in customers. They didn't have to do much convincing to draw me in!
We are so blessed by these roadside stands where we can conveniently select nutritious foods for our health and enjoyment. Not only are we getting fresh, delicious locally grown produce, but it reminds us of how the world would work if everyone practiced the golden rule. I realize the farmer put a great deal of time, expense, and hard labor into planting and harvesting the corn. The Bible says "the laborer is worthy of his hire" and the farmer deserves payment. The self service stand depends upon the honor system; people will pay for what they take and they won't take the money others have left!
Consideration is the practice of the golden rule in the small details of life, beginning in the home and extending to all relationships. What if the billions of personal interactions that take place all over the globe today were truly characterized by this rule? Well that would certainly bring about world peace but in reality that just isn't going to happen until the return of the Prince of Peace.
But by God's transforming grace we can do something in our little corner of the world. Today in our speech and actions let us keep this attitude foremost in our hearts as we, "In humility consider others better than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3).
We live in a very fallen world where fewer and fewer practice the Golden Rule. The daily text has commonly been called The Golden Rule but due to Biblical illiteracy many would not even know what we mean when we speak of the Golden Rule; "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." We, as followers of Christ, light up the world when we individually and corporately practice the golden rule. Today let us all carry out "Golden Rule Living".
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, You have placed Your children in a world where people push and shove to be first. Because of their self-importance they clamor for recognition and will stop at nothing until they get what they want in life, even if it means hurting others in the process. But You’ve called us to view life from a perspective that considers others as important as ourselves. We are to have a humble attitude that puts You first, others second, and ourselves last in everything we do. In our humanity this is impossible, but as we are being transformed into the likeness of Your Son, Jesus, we become more like Him. Our love and consideration for others grows and we apply the golden rule to our lives where we do to others as we would have them do to us. May this relationship rule guide us as we make decisions that affect others and ourselves. Help us to have the mind of Christ in all that we do. Amen.
"But the Lord said to me, Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you, declares the Lord" (Jeremiah 1:7).
In the summer months our pastor invites members of the congregation to submit topics they would like him to preach about. In response to one submission he prepared a gripping message he titled, "When God Calls" and shared it with the congregation yesterday morning. Pastor Bob's text was from Jeremiah 1 where Jeremiah tells of God's call upon his life; "Before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations" (1:5).
Pastor described this calling from God as a "divine tap on the shoulder." Following the sermon Jerel Book (a retired pastor), Stephen, and I each shared our experience of being called of God to minister in a full time vocational role. God used a number of people and circumstances to influence my calling that were more like a "divine tapping on my heart" over a number of years. I share them today with our Daily Encouragement readers somewhat like an inspirational itemized list:
I grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma where our family of seven went to church three times a week, revival services, camp meetings or anytime the church door was open. I had a godly grandfather, Elbert Sherrell, from the mountains of northwest Arkansas who had a vibrant walk with Jesus. He prayed an impassioned prayer for each of his children and grandchildren by name every day.
I attended Youth Camp at the young age of 14 and my life was never the same after that. I had a divine encounter with Jesus that changed my life and from that point on I absorbed myself in anything that would draw me closer to Him.
I had the blessing of dedicated Sunday School teachers and an encouraging Youth leader couple, Edith and Cordell Cochran. They were full blood Indians who had a singing ministry and formed a youth choir. They would pick my sister and me up from our home and we'd travel with them to sing in revival services all over the state of Oklahoma, especially the Indian churches.
As I mentioned early on my parents were committed church goers but problems at home were not dealt with and only worsened. By the time I was in high school Mom and Dad backslid so I went to church on my own. My folks did not get their hearts right with God until 24 years later, only a few years before God took them home (they both had cancer in their 60's).
It was at this time, as a teenager, that I went to church on my own and realized that only God could help me through the difficulties of my home life. God used the many hours I spent at the altar praying. Godly leaders and Christian friends prayed with me as I sought healing for my family and direction for my life.
His Scripture became alive to me. The Bible became the most important book in my life. A very influential Scripture that I had memorized in Sunday School spoke to me often regarding my call: "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify Your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
Christian music was a major influence on my life; both hymns and contemporary music. Bill Gaither's style of music was quite contemporary at the time. (When I mentioned this point yesterday at church I heard a soft chuckle among the youth.) During the early convalescence from my broken ankle, Ken Pierce, a good friend, brought over seven Bill Gaither homecoming DVDs for me to watch. As I listened to many of the songs popular at the time of my calling I was spiritually refreshed. I was reminded of how much God used Christian music to grow my faith and lead me in ministry.
Being involved in Christian service was a major factor in my calling. On Sunday afternoons I went to Sherwood Manor Nursing Home along with our youth leaders to hold church services for them. It was at one of these services where I preached my first sermon. It was the 23rd Psalm (one of the few passages I was familiar with, having memorized it in Sunday School.) Following the service I would wheel the residents back to their rooms and sit and visit with them. Though I was only a teen at the time I've continued to minister in nursing homes most of my adult life.
I became very active in my Christian witness at school and work. I saw people's lives change as a result and this especially affected my call. I could see no higher calling than to reach people for Jesus. There was a burning in my heart similar to Cleopas and the other disciple of Christ on the road to Emmaus when they said: "Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32).
That burning did not go away and I trust it never will. It has been the fire of the Holy Spirit that has kept me in active ministry for Jesus since the time of my divine calling. I had so much to learn in preparing for a lifetime of ministry so I chose to attend Bible College where I would grow in my faith and mature in my minsterial calling. God has been so good and faithful to me over the years. He has filled me with a deep abiding joy that comes from an obedient response to His calling in my life.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber (mostly Brooksyne today)
Daily Prayer: Father, as You formed us in the womb, You set us apart to honor and glorify You. It is a choice each of us must make to listen to Your voice and respond to Your leading. Align our hearts with Your will for our lives so that we will live productive godly lives that make a difference in the world around us and in our own hearts. Amen.
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).
Yesterday we attended a funeral for our friend Grady Carter, whom we came to know when we served in an interim pastoral role in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania two years ago. Grady was a very colorful fellow and an avid sportsman. Following one of his successful hunting trips he gave us a huge venison pot roast that barely fit in our Dutch oven. We still recall how tender the venison was and the flavorful juice that made tasty gravy for our mashed potatoes.
In recent years Grady had studied eternal truths with much more seriousness, particularly as he fought cancer the last few months and the end was growing near. He was a gun collector with an extensive knowledge of firearms. One particular day he was taking inventory of his collection and he quickly rattled off the model #'s and data unique to that particular gun. His pastor was present and commented, "I'm really impressed with your knowledge about guns." His response was, "I only wish I knew as much about the Scriptures as I do about guns." I'm sure many of us can identify with Grady's honesty in admitting that our interest in temporal things often overrides our interest in spiritual truths.
Pastor Higgins solemnly conducted the service and read with great meaning from several pertinent verses of Scripture from Romans 8. I was refreshed once again as I heard these Scriptures read aloud. They gripped my heart and seemed especially appropriate for the occasion.
Let's examine a timeless truth from God's Word today. Paul is writing to the Roman believers about life through the Spirit in the earlier part of chapter eight. Then he begins to consider the difficulties and weaknesses that believers experience in this life, but reminds us that God is working out everything for our good. Paul begins to detail the adverse circumstances that a believer will likely endure and then he suddenly comes to a crescendo in his thought. Capsulizing the adverse circumstances in the phrase, "in all these things" he is indicating anything that can go wrong in life.
Wondrously, however, in all these things "we are more than conquerors." This translates the single Greek word "hupernikomen", which can only be found here in the entire NT. It literally means we are "hyper-overcomers" or "preeminently victorious". I found this description so edifying as I studied this text. "Hupernikomen" indicates that we are winning a most glorious victory; the kind of victory that turns a negative into a positive. That which we may have resented now gives us reason to rejoice!
This is accomplished "through Him who loved us." God's amazing love is the very foundation of this victory and Paul reveals the depth of His sacrificial love in 8:32, "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" Paul repeats the phrase "all things" three times in vv. 28-37 for added emphasis. It's a reminder that there is no hardship we face, presently or in the future, that we can't conquer, through our loving God who gives us "all things."
Hide this truth deep in your heart. You may have struggles in this life, but God's eternal Word declares that the ability to work through them has already been taken care of. If there is a crisis you face this hour, begin to personalize today's Scripture by declaring aloud, "I am more than a conqueror through Jesus who loves me." Repeat it often so the troubling circumstances are no longer captivating our minds, but God's Word is captiving our hearts and minds. The circumstances of your crisis will ultimately surrender to the victory Jesus has for you "in all these things."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, spiritual blessings come from You in the midst of Satan's attacks and because of this essential truth we know that if You are for us, who can be against us! There is no formidable foe that cannot be conquered as the power of Your Holy Spirit enables us to remain faithful and ever growing in our devotion to You. Remind us that as we share in Your sufferings we also share in Your glory. In all areas of trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, and danger we are more than conquerors through You who loves us abundantly. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, nor anything else in all of Your creation will be able to separate us from Your love that has been revealed to us through Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. We rejoice with our family of believers and we thank You for the paths of abundance You lay out before us as we walk hand in hand with You who helps us in all things. Amen.
“Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him” (Genesis 35:29).
A small church in Marietta, PA displays A small church in Marietta, PA displays a sign that asks, “Where will you be 100 years from now?” A more familiar expression of this type is, “Where will you spend eternity?” But to me the 100 year question packs a very powerful punch which led me to do some serious thinking. Eternity is an incomprehensible time measurement, but 100 years is a measurement of time that I can comprehend. I find it helpful to look back 100 years and perhaps you can do the same in your own family timeline.
I consider my mother’s father, (my PawPaw), whom I knew and loved dearly. He breathed his last when I was sixteen. 100 years ago in 1908 he was a young man with many years of life ahead. He was adventuresome, riding the rails across the west. He talked about his exciting adventure of climbing Pike’s Peak at night along the cog railway while he was still young and strong.
By 1908 he had settled down, married, and began raising his family. He had a farm in southwest Missouri and was also president of the small town bank in Harwood, Missouri. He was a great joy to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren before his eventual death at nearly 90 years of age. In his lifetime he read of the first manned flight by the Wright brothers and nearly seventy years later saw the footage of a man on the moon.
But there came that time when my PawPaw, being old and full of years, was gathered to his people. He was then buried on a windswept hill west of tiny Schell City, Missouri where my parents are also buried.
So, where I will be 100 years from now is not some esoteric question, since I personally knew someone who lived one hundred years ago. And many of you do as well.
There are basically four different responses to this vital question, “Where will I be 100 years from now”:
1) Perhaps with medical advances I will be living at 153 years of age!
2) The secular response is that I am merely a physical entity and when I die that’s it. As a mere physical being I will rot in the ground. In this view there’s no spirit or soul to live on and certainly no future resurrection of the body.
3) The common dominant view is that everyone (except the notoriously evil) goes to a very pleasant place at death. This view is based on sentiment, not Scripture and is often expressed by even the most ardent secularist at the death of a loved one. It seems to me that humans have an innate sense that there is something more after death and this view basically asserts “the good in life probably outweighs the bad and things work out all right in the end.” However this view has no basis in Scripture.
4) That the Holy Scriptures truthfully informs of a coming judgment with two very distinct options at death depending on our response to Christ during our present lifetime.
I clearly and unashamedly hold to the fourth option, although it’s not absolutely impossible that I may be alive 100 years from now. But it’s very unlikely!
The daily text is just a simple expression of the passing of a man (Isaac) who lived nearly 4000 years ago. He was 180 years old and full of years. The powerful phrase “gathered to his people” is first used at the death of Abraham (Gen. 25: and is repeated throughout the Scriptures to the death of Moses (Deuteronomy 32:50). One day you and I will most certainly be “gathered to our people.”
I want to be prepared to join the people of God throughout the ages, including those in my own generation. I encourage each of you today to commit your life to Christ. Express your faith in His redemption plan, confess, and repent of your sins, and choose this day to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
Be encouraged and prepared today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, there are so many questions that we must personally answer in our short life on earth. The majority is easily answered and requires only the common sense with which we were born. But there are other life-long questions that require deep thought and intense searching from one’s heart. Help us to plan for our eternal future in a place we have never seen. Help us to live each day by faith, not just for the immediate future but most especially for the eternal future, where there is no more night. Amen.
"The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it" (Genesis 3:12).
During our first fifteen years of marriage we were foster parents to many children from our own country and several from overseas. On our trip to Northern Pennsylvania this last weekend we saw Chrissy, along with her husband and three sons.
Chrissy was our foster child who lived with us during her young years, from ages 5-7. Here she is trying to comfort our troubled dog Enoch, who had just gotten in a tussle with a porcupine and doesn't look too happy [To see photo, Click here for more daily encouragement.]. It was a nasty and painful job to pull the quills out of his mouth! He had several porcupine encounters over the years.
We recall a humorous way Chrissy would confuse words or explanations when she was first learning their meanings. When she did something by accident, she would take on a defensive posture and quickly blurt out, "I did it on purpose" rather than correctly stating "I didn't do it on purpose."
Eventually she learned the correct expression which helped to clarify the matter for all concerned. We all look for ways or expressions that will quickly excuse us from negative consequences. Years ago Ester was pretending to be our waitress and wrote down our food order. As she brought out our meal she dropped a main food item on the floor and, before we could even say a word, she immediately cried out, "It's not my fault!"
Brooksyne and I looked at each other and burst out laughing as we asked each other, "Then whose fault is it?" Making excuses or blaming others for our own mistakes has a long history doesn't it?
Adam offered the very first excuse shortly after his first transgression. God's straightforward question to Adam following his transgression was, "Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" Adam replied, "The woman you put here with me - she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it."
I'm particularly intrigued by the first phrase in Adam's reply, "The woman you put here with me." Now certainly he's blaming his wife Eve whom he rather bluntly calls "the woman". And of course she was the first to partake of the forbidden fruit, but he was with her and, without hesitation, he also took of the fruit and ate it.
In an attempt to shift the blame Adam words his defense carefully. He shifts the blame not only toward Eve but also toward God. He uses careful wording when he refers to his wife as, "the woman You put here with me." Indeed God's first special gift to Adam at Creation was his companion-helpmeet. Now Adam manages to blame both her and God for his willing act of disobedience! He makes the very first excuse in human history.
The world we live in today mirrors Adam's attitude of making excuses for just about everything under the sun, whether it's outright rebellion or an inappropriate response to the injustices from which one might suffer.
Taking responsibility is at the very heart of our relationship with God. A fundamental component of restoration is not denial of the sin, but taking responsibility for it and then confessing it to God. David, when finally coming to repentance concerning his sin with Bathsheba, cried out, "I have sinned against the Lord." That's essentially how we get restored when we make our initial "sinner's prayer". And as we grow in our walk with the Lord confession is a wonderful antidote to excuse making. Let us be quicker to make confession than we are to make excuses. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Today let us live our lives responsibly and stop making excuses. That only prolongs or exasperates the growing problem. Whether we fail or fall God has graciously made a provision for our restoration and it begins with confession not excuses. That's good news!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, as we confess our sins we thank You that You are faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Help us to be honest enough to admit our sin, welcome Your cleansing, and invite the Holy Spirit to help us courageously deal with personal consequences from our sinful defiance. You are a gracious Father who does not cast us down in our failures, but You uphold us with Your gracious and loving hand. Amen.
"As He looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'I tell you the truth,' He said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on'" (Luke 21:1-4).
Our daily text records the only specific giver that Jesus commended in Scripture. The big givers had come through the line. I imagine they crinkled their bills or clattered their coins for maximum effect. I can see them looking toward Jesus as they dropped in their offering expecting a thumbs up or approving nod.
Man's way is to commend the big givers. But Jesus said nothing until the poor widow came through. He went right to the heart of the matter in stating that, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others." What does He mean? Had He failed grade school math? Of course not. He explains Himself, but it simply runs counter to our type of reasoning. Most would beg to differ with Erich Fromm who wrote, "Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives much."
In man's reasoning "more" means the size of the check, not the degree of the sacrifice. God doesn't primarily look at the size of the offering but at the heart of the giver. Man tends to commend the famous athlete, the celebrity who builds a playground, or the wealthy businessman who gives a large gift to the project.
But I believe the Kingdom of God is primarily being advanced by scores of people who are much like the widow. They probably won't get a building named after them or make the cover of a magazine. But I believe they're the ones Jesus still commends. The main commendation we should all long for is to hear the words of our Master, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, help us to obey Your principles in the distribution of our income. May we give quietly and sacrificially with a generous spirit. Help us to use our resources soberly and distribute cheerfully from that which You have entrusted to us. We seek Your commendation and not the recognition of others in advancing the kingdom of God. Amen.
"Then Nebuchadnezzar said, 'Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants! They trusted in Him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God'" (Daniel 3:28).
This weekend our family made a trip to northern Pennsylvania and saw many friends in that area where we pastored for nearly sixteen years. I had the opportunity to preach in the church we established in St. Marys in the morning service and in Mt. Jewett later that evening.
On the way up we stopped at a restaurant called the "Bread of Life" in McAlisterville, PA. This restaurant is unashamedly Christian themed with a reference to John 6:35 on the front of the menu. Christian furnishings tastefully decorate the walls and a friendly owner greeted the customers while they came and went. As we opened our menus we chuckled as we read the many food items based on Biblical names or themes. This included three types of sandwiches: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego!
That was neat because of the message I was sharing the next day about these courageous young men whose story is recorded in the book of Daniel. Their testimony is an extraordinary example of uncompromising allegiance to Almighty God in the face of the relentless enemy.
While in exile they were given the Babylonian names, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. I once shared a message about these three young men while several Bible College students and graduates were in attendance so I asked, "Does anyone know their Hebrew names?" Without hesitation nine year old Garrison raised his hand and with a knowing smile confidently responded, "Rack, Shak and Bennie." Now if you have children or grandchildren you're probably laughing as you might recognize these are their nicknames based on a popular Veggie Tales video. I can understand why a child (or others) might guess these were the Hebrews names! But in actuality their names were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Daniel 1:11).
The account of these men of faith is surely one of the greatest stories of deliverance in the Bible. These three young men demonstrate to believers of all ages the incredible power of faith and obedience. They got into serious trouble because they refused to compromise a core commandment of God in bowing down to King Nebuchadnezzer's golden image that stood over 9 stories high.
Interestingly God chooses to miraculously deliver these men, but their deliverance was not without a great deal of suspense. They were subjected to the fury of the king as his attitude changed toward them. It wasn't enough that they were going to be thrown into the hot fire, but now the fire was heated seven times hotter than usual. There could be no quick escape as the strongest of soldiers was ordered to bind them. Then, before their very eyes, they watched these strong soldiers die from the blazing flames that they were about to be thrown into. Most importantly they were not delivered from the hot fiery furnace but they were preserved through it. Not a hair on their head was singed, their robes were unscorched, their bodies unharmed and there was no smell of fire on them. Wow, that's a dramatic and miraculous deliverance!
The daily verse is actually a statement made by the secular King Nebuchadnezzar, after he personally witnessed their miraculous deliverance. They had earned his respect.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego demonstrate four qualities so needed by genuine followers of Christ today. (These were the main points to my message.)
• Uncompromising Convictions (Daniel 1).
• Unwavering Commitment (Daniel 3:12).
• Unswerving Courage (Daniel 3:16, 17).
• Unshakable Confidence (Daniel 3:18).
They trusted the living God, defying the wicked command of the secular king, fully knowing the stated consequences. They were willing to give up their lives for this conviction. I believe true followers of Christ will increasingly need these particular characteristics as the world's system grows increasingly hostile to Christ, His followers, and the standards of the Bible. Can this growing disdain and hostility be denied?
I urge you this day to live by core convictions that you will not violate, so that when the time of testing comes, you, like these three young men will stand firm in your faith. Elton Trueblood has written, "Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation." If you're in the suspenseful stage of the Lord's deliverance, don't be alarmed but stand firm. For He has promised, "Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, the dynamic story of the three Hebrew men has been a favorite story of Your miraculous deliverance for all ages and throughout all generations. Their unyielding devotion to You is a tremendous example to those of us who call You our Father. You are not only our Father who watches over us but also our Deliverer in times of trouble. Faith that cannot be tested is faith that cannot be trusted, so it is in times of fiery testing that we prove Your power and You prove our allegiance to You. Help us to be willing to give up our lives rather than serve or worship any god except the one true God. Amen.
“As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42).
Yesterday we came home hot and tired after a long day on the road. Brooksyne continues to have restless nights and deals with some pain associated with her broken ankle. Yesterday, as she worked with her crutches and wheelchair at several companies we visited, she became very weary by late afternoon. She didn’t know that Ester had called me excited about a surprise she had for us when we got home. She made me promise, “Now don’t tell Mom!”
Mary Sweigart, a neighbor and good friend, stopped over in the late morning and told Ester she would like to prepare a meal for us. Ester made chocolate cake for the dessert while Mary prepared our impressive dinner from groceries in her kitchen along with several items from our fridge and freezer. Mary is a diligent worker, well-known in our parts for her fine cooking, flower arranging, and her compassionate heart. She prepared the fine meal, served it to us, and then joined us as we ate together. We were blessed by her generous heart, the delicious food, and warm fellowship we enjoyed!
Following the meal we shared about Mary and Martha who were sisters in the Bible. (Interestingly, our friend Mary also has a twin sister named Martha.) The sisters in the Bible had personality distinctions and their minor riff makes for an interesting study that leads the earnest believer to self-examination.
Both Mary and Martha had important duties in making the Lord Jesus feel welcomed in their home. Actually it was Martha’s gift of hospitality that made it possible for Mary to have presence with Jesus since she is the one who opened her home to Him in the first place. Martha was tending to physical needs while Mary was tending to spiritual needs. Both were important but when one duty rivaled the importance of the other, it was then that Jesus addressed the attitude of the sister’s hearts.
I easily identify with Martha’s attitude in the daily Scripture portion. I spend way too much time in the “kitchen”* and am easily distracted by the stuff of life in the material, visible realm. Distractions constantly lull me away from “what is better.” I really imagine many of you can identify with me. We commonly prioritize visible accomplishments over inward attitudes of the heart. This can be seen in an obituary where titles, accomplishments, and interests of the deceased may be listed, but the person’s attitude toward life may not even be mentioned.
As I study this portion of Scripture I am especially intrigued with the phrase “Mary has chosen what is better.” She made a willful, purposeful choice to sit at the Lord’s feet, listening intently to His every word. She likely dealt with distractions since I can imagine Martha was clanging pots in the kitchen just a little extra loud to get Mary’s attention as she was surely muttering under her breath. But Mary chose to shut her mind to the world and open her heart to Jesus as He spent tender moments in her presence.
“What is better” is sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to what He has to say. It’s focusing on the spiritual, non-visible realm. It’s like another Mary, who following the birth of her son, Jesus, “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” It includes reading, studying, meditating and memorizing the Bible along with praise, worship and prayer. What we store up in our hearts spills out to those around us making an eternal difference. It goes beyond impressing people to inspiring persons to meet Jesus on a personal level. When we spend time with our Lord we experience the fulfillment and blessing that is at the very heart of living the abundant life.
But at least for me the “kitchen” constantly beckons and the distractions return.
“The Heart of Worship” is a song that reminds me of where my focus needs to be, although I realistically accept that distractions will continually beckon. I am so thankful for God’s patience and grace. He has time and time again called me back to the heart of worship and He constantly reminds me that this race on earth is really all about Him!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Jesus, You know the very intention of all that I say and do. As I invite You to examine my heart, I lay before You the people and pursuits that drive me further away from a heart of worship. You have not removed me bodily from this world, but You have raised me up spiritually to abide in Your presence even as I carry out my daily duties. As Your presence graciously overshadows me it is there that Your love and faithfulness sustains me and gives me a true heart of worship. Even as a vehicle needs fuel to properly function, I need prayer to uphold and equip me for the day that lies ahead. Amen.
* Certainly I am speaking of the “kitchen” in a representative sense for the things that distract and take us away from the good part. As I ponder this subject here are some cautions:
1) Certainly some may be less easily distracted than others and some more spiritually focused, but I have seen this become a dangerous source of pride.
2) I certainly don’t believe that Jesus is teaching that all kitchen work is wrong. We really need to consider a balance in Biblical teaching and other Scripture teaches the importance and value of work.
3) We need to graciously recognize we have different callings from God, and not esteem one above the other or feel that others must feel as passionately about our cause as we do. This leads to arguments, jealousy, and resentment rather than expanding the kingdom of God.
4) Some distractions are God-ordained ministry opportunities.
"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from Me" (Ezekiel 33:7).
We live within a ten mile radius of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power plant where there was a rather infamous accident in March 1979. All throughout our area we have TMI warning sirens and they are periodically tested to ensure they work properly. Today there will be a test at 12:15. Of course they need to warn us concerning the siren test lest there be a massive panic all throughout our very populated area. Each year we get a very detailed instruction pamphlet that tells us what to do if there was a real emergency and the evacuation procedures to follow.
Warnings are for our good though we may not necessarily like them. We might even find them unnecessary or annoying. In fact yesterday when I told Ester, "Be careful" she responded with, "That really gets annoying, Dad." Now that she's 19 years old she's heard it thousands of times, but because of my love and concern for her it just comes out before I even realize it.
When we hear repeated spiritual warnings we can give attention or grow annoyed at the message directed to us. Today's text is a powerful portion of Holy Scripture about a watchman who is called to give warnings from God. We still very much need these types of obedient watchmen today who faithfully proclaim God's Word.
The watchman, Ezekiel, served our Lord during a time of great transition. God's people had been taken captive to Babylon but He hadn't forgotten them and still had a plan for their lives (corporately and individually). A fellow prophet, Jeremiah, had already pointed this out in a very familiar passage (Jeremiah 29:11). He served just prior to the Babylonian exile and Ezekiel spoke God's truth to the people in Babylon during the exile. His prophecies are sometimes quite figurative, and can be hard to understand, but he had a powerful message for all who will listen! It's for those who will read and listen to his message today as well.
In today's verse we find expressed the very heart of Ezekiel's mission from God. The word "watchman" is used both literally and figuratively in the Old Testament. Literally it has the sense of a lookout, often on the city wall. It means to "lean forward, to peer into the distance."
In the figurative sense it conveys one who has the bigger picture, a bigger perspective (particularly God's). God had called Ezekiel to be a watchman and a part of the watchman's message was to give warning.
There are many circumstances in which people do not like warnings. (An ancient Jewish tradition asserts that Ezekiel was slain by his own people, those he tried to warn.) The essence of the message of the false prophets Ezekiel confronted was their message of "peace, when there is no peace" (Ezekiel 13:10). According to the apostle Paul this will also be a message of end time error preceding the coming of our Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
Today I call on each of you to live as "watchmen" in our day. Provide to those around you the perspective of God, which will certainly include a serious warning of God's impending judgment. But it will also include a message of hope for those who turn to God (chapters 37-48). Hear the voice of the Lord and be His "faithful watchman" whose message to the world is filled with both warning and hope!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, thank You for Your repeated warnings in Scripture that informs, instructs and protects us from the evil one. Help us not to ignore your warnings or procrastinate in our obedience to Your commands. Embolden our spiritual leaders to be fearless watchmen who speak out Your truths, even when they're not popular or politically expedient. May we be receptive to Your Word and obedient in our response. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105).
Stephen and Brooksyne have reversed roles today. Brooksyne is the writer and Stephen is the editor in the following message:
Seven weeks ago today I began a very unfamiliar journey that brought about major changes in my life; from mobility to immobility, independence to dependence, from brokenness to healing. When I broke my ankle on May 7th it completely changed my ability to get up, stand up, and walk without the assistance of crutches or a wheelchair. It has brought about major changes in my life and that of my family as well.
This morning when the birds awakened me with their lovely songs at 5:30 am, I was thrilled to realize that I no longer have a cast molded to my left leg, ankle, and foot. It was so easy to lift my leg over the bed and refreshing to feel the natural air in place of a hardened cast. Yesterday I it removed and Dr. Lyons said he would trust me to proceed with caution so that I don't even have to wear a brace or air cast! I am still not allowed to bear any weight on the leg or foot for three more weeks, but I am on the way to independence once again. Yippeeee!!
In the course of my seven week journey I was fitted with four splints (plaster casts with a slight opening to allow for swelling) and then finally my fiberglass cast that I've worn for the past four weeks. Of all the casts my favorite one was the fiberglass cast featured in the photo today (yes, I did give permission for Stephen to feature this one for illustration purposes). It was much lighter than the previous four plaster casts which made it much easier to bear the cumbersome weight while using crutches. But the thing I liked most about it was that it was a "Glow in the Dark" cast!
The first night I got up in our dark bedroom and expected to turn on the light, but when I looked down at my cast I was pleasantly surprised to see that my casted leg actually glowed with light – it was luminescent. Stephen, Ester and I had a lot of fun looking at it in a darkened room. They said, "It looks like a bodiless cast walking in the dark." But more importantly it became a functional help to me as it slightly lit the path for me as I scooted along with my crutches in the darkened bedroom or hallway.
That got me to thinking. When darkness surrounds us the Lord Jesus is our light and He lights the path before us. The cast I wore for four weeks certainly was not bright enough to light the entire room, but its glow did cast enough light for me to take one step at a time carefully. In a psalm of praise after fleeing from King Saul's rage David wrote, "You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light" (2 Samuel 22:29).
David continued to flee the rampage of Saul's violent temper and unharnessed jealousy for quite some time. The overall darkness was not lifted, but he had escaped the most recent flare up of his enemy and he devoted time to giving thanks for His deliverance.
Much like David we rejoice when we experience victory after the assault of our enemy, the devil. He is vigilant in his pursuit of entrapping the believer. Charles Spurgeon wrote concerning this enemy: "The great tyrant has not forgotten you, and he designs your capture and re-enslavement."
Satan wants to surround our lives with darkness so that we will be immobilized or stumble over the objects he strategically places in our path, such as discouragement, strife or fear. But Jesus goes before us and illuminates our path, one step at a time, making us aware of what looms in the darkness. We're cautious as we follow in His steps knowing that getting ahead of Him will plunge us into darkened and dangerous territory. But even if we should get off course or fall behind we have the blessed assurance that "though we stumble, we will not fall, for the Lord upholds us with His hand" (Psalm 37:24).
"God never gives guidance for two steps at a time. I must take one step, and then I get light for the next. This keeps the heart in abiding dependence upon God" (C.H. Mackintosh). Keep holding onto His hand, dear brothers and sisters, and follow in His lightened path, one step at a time.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen and Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, there are many paths from which we can choose to walk. But I choose to walk the illumined path You have laid out for me, for it is the righteous path that leads to eternal life. It may take me through valleys that are overshadowed by doubt, discouragement, danger, or difficulty, but You uphold me with Your hand as You lead me one step at a time. Thank You for Your daily provision! Amen.
"Peter and the other apostles replied: 'We must obey God rather than men!'” Acts 5:29.
Whenever we travel out of town we leave our dog, Roxie, with a family in our neighborhood. They have two dogs of their own and are usually training a third one to be a Seeing Eye dog. Roxie always enjoys it when we pull up in their driveway and drop her off prior to our trips. I think she feels it's sort of like visiting extended family; both human and canine. Yesterday when Roxie's caregiver stopped by on her bike, she and Brooksyne sat outside visiting under the shade tree until sunset. It was a beautiful evening.
In the course of their conversation our friend shared about a concept in the training of Seeing Eye dogs that is intended for the safety of the owner. Dogs are trained to obey the owner but are also trained to disobey if it’s for the owner's safety. For example the owner may step up to a curb and be prepared to cross a road. Hearing no vehicles the owner instructs the dog to proceed. However if the dog senses danger he or she is trained to step in front of the owner, and prohibit the dangerous crossing. This is known as "intelligent disobedience".
I found this concept very interesting and quickly began to consider a spiritual analogy. The Scripture teaches us that we are to submit to our governing rulers (Romans 13). This is essential for order in society. However this is not intended to be a mindless submission.
Peter and the other disciples demonstrated "intelligent disobedience" in our daily text. They were being instructed to violate a command of God and their critical decision was, "We must obey God rather than men!" I recently read of a pastor in Canada who is undergoing persecution for faithfully proclaiming the truths of God's Word which stands contrary to the secular political climate of that country, and many countries, for that matter.
We are also commanded to obey our spiritual leaders (Hebrews 13:17). As a pastor for 25 years I had the role of pastoral leadership while at the same time I accounted/submitted to a spiritual board (I still am accountable in my present ministry). I believe a church functions well when there is a submission to authority. So much church conflict rises up over relatively minor or petty issues. I consider the two major conflicts in the churches where I was the pastor and feel in retrospect the struggle was really over these minor issues, although at the time the matter seemed overwhelming and unending.
But there are also huge issues that confront the church body; at times there is a departure from "the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (Jude 3). I bring this point up with caution but I feel that "intelligent disobedience" also has a place in the spiritual realm.
Recently a friend shared with me concerning his church where the pastoral leadership had taken a decidedly unbiblical direction. A powerful, persuasive pastor can misuse his authority and tragically lead a church in the wrong direction. This pastor had feigned faithfulness to the Bible until he had a solid hold on the church and then began teaching false doctrine. It was a very difficult time for the dedicated lay leadership to hold steady as this popular pastor's unbiblical views were revealed. With the Lord's help the godly leadership was able to keep the church on a Biblical track, although it was not without a great deal of painful conflict.
Today I urge you to first and foremost seek to remain faithful to Christ and the Holy Scriptures. Submit to human authority, as this pleases God. But submit first and foremost to Your highest authority, and when there is a clash, always place divine authority over human authority.
May we, like Peter and the apostles, with great conviction declare, "We must obey God rather than men." May we know when to be "intelligently disobedient." And finally may God give us the sufficient grace to deal with the consequence of such an important decision.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, You have placed authority figures in our lives from birth to our final days on earth. Some bless us greatly while others challenge us fiercely. In areas where You have given us the privilege of being an authority figure may we be responsible role models, for we know it is not just the talk that people hear, but the walk that people see. As each of us are called to submit to our family, spiritual, employee, and governmental leaders may we do so with cheerfulness so that we are a blessing rather than a grievous burden. But when those to whom we submit conflict with our supreme authority we pray for conviction and courage to stand for righteousness in obedience to Your commands. We pray for this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, amen.
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12).
I once witnessed a contractor verbally berate a young man who worked for him as he was teaching him the trade. Later I talked to the young man briefly and he was near tears from the abusive treatment and his confidence was nearly zilch. I placed my arm around his shoulder and sought to encourage him. The particularly sad thing is that the contractor claimed to be a Christian.
I looked the young worker right in the eye and asked, "What is the golden rule?" He immediately answered, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." He got my point. It's a sad aspect of fallen human nature that so often we do unto others as has been done unto us. I have particularly heard of this phenomenon in regard to both child and spousal abuse.
A real mark of Christian character change is breaking this cycle. I have seen it. A child raised in an abusive home is transformed into a godly husband and father, treating his wife and children with love and kindness. An employee who spent years under a nasty supervisor ascends to a supervisory position and treats his employees with kindness and respect.
What about you today? Most of you, at least to some degree, have known or experienced some type of abuse or unfair treatment. Is that how you want to be treated? How are you treating others? May the transforming power of Christ impact each of our lives this day and may we conscientiously do unto others as we would have them do unto us!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we need the prompting of Your Holy Spirit to keep us in check regarding our conduct toward others. May we not dismiss our improper behavior by blaming it on our upbringing or make up other excuses. Instead we take responsibility for our behavior as we want to glorify you and be a blessing to others. Would You help us to love people as we want to be loved. Help us to give the benefit of the doubt as we want others to give us. Help us to be quick to forgive and slow to anger. May we treat others in the same way that we ourselves want to be treated. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8).
What a joy to meditate on God's Word and receive a divine perspective early in the morning as we prepare for the day at hand. One of the great blessings we have is that God has shown us all through Scripture what He reckons as good and how He wants us to live.
Micah was a prophet who served our Lord during the time of the conquest of the Northern Kingdom by the Assyrians. Like prophets before him, and those who followed he told the people truths they did not want to hear. He courageously denounced the pagan religious practices of his own people. They worshipped other gods in direct violation of the first commandment.
However they did not necessarily quit believing in and worshipping the one true God; instead they divided their allegiance between Almighty God and the pagan gods. Their accepted form of worship was bringing their sacrifices and offerings to the temple. They had compartmentalized religion and failed to acknowledge the relationship between "religious practice" and the activity of daily life.
Micah, in our daily verse, powerfully reminds them (and us) that God's interest is not merely the act of worship in the Temple (or the church for us). For most this would include our attendance, our praise, our ministry, our offerings and so forth. These certainly have an important place in our worship practice but, God is also supremely concerned with the proper attitude of our hearts which brings about faithful obedience.
Each of the three specific calls to obedience in the daily text are abundantly taught and demonstrated elsewhere in Scripture. I have found that this is a powerful verse to commit to memory and I use it as a guide in my prayer life. In fact early in my Christian life I sang this song set to music, which was a great aid in memorizing this portion of Scripture. The Holy Spirit can bring that wonderful, yet at times very uncomfortable, sense of conviction through His Word.
Today, won't you examine your life in light of this timeless verse?
Are you acting justly?
Do you love mercy?
Are you walking humbly with your God?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, help us not to ignore or reject Your messengers who are faithful to the Holy Word. Though the warnings they convey through Scripture may bring about needed conviction help us to take the necessary steps to correct our doctrine, attitude, or lifestyle so that we please You in all we do. May we be people who act justly, overflow with mercy, and humbly choose to follow You. Amen.
“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done” (Romans 1:28).
I took the above photo at our home Bible Study last week [To see photo, Click here for more daily encouragement.]. I stood up and took the photo while my fellow brothers and sisters were unaware and I am blessed by observing their attention to the Scriptures.
It’s a scene that still takes place regularly all over the world. It may be in a local church as the pastor stands behind the sacred pulpit and faithfully provides exposition of God’s Word while the people listen with attentive hearts and minds. It may be in a home or small group Bible study such as ours. It may be within the family devotions or it may be in your own individual Bible study that you give full attention to God’s Holy Word.
Next week we anticipate visiting with Bill and Lucy Mosebarger and their family in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. They were the last couple I married as the pastor in their church in December 1992. Early in their marriage they established a custom of family Bible reading and devotions. I recently asked Bill if they still maintained this spiritual discipline and was heartened when he replied, “Yes.” He and Lucy are making a diligent effort to see that their family receives and retains the knowledge of God.
Today’s text is a sobering verse from a powerful book. Of course the whole Bible is powerful but Romans provides a particular depth in understanding the human condition and scope of redemption. In seeking to understand and discern the current world situation and the immense falling away from godly standards I have been doing a lot of pondering from this verse. It explains a lot.
There are those who diligently seek and find it immensely worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God. They study the Scriptures and seek to live by them. They realize the supreme call to the simple Proverb that states “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Retaining the knowledge of God is a lifelong pursuit.
But many, really most, have chosen to walk the heavily trampled “broad path” and do not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God. The substitutes for the knowledge of God abound materially, philosophically, educationally, and in the spiritual realm as well. These substitutes are billed as “the real thing” and any other outlook is ridiculed or viewed as “behind the times.”
But there is a grave consequence in failing to retain the knowledge of God. “He gave them over to a depraved mind.” A depraved mind affects one’s ability to make right judgments, a mind so clouded by sin that it is no longer able to make reliable moral judgments. At this stage man has lost the desire and the ability to think clearly. He has lost his right mind and doesn’t even know it. The result is a world that has left God out of the picture entirely. It is a society with all restraints removed; a culture devoid of all sense of right and wrong, where every man chooses what is “right in his own eyes.”
A depraved mind leads to depraved actions, “to do what ought not to be done.” In so many areas we see a shrugging off of God’s laws and mankind doing what ought not to be done. Unless there is a massive return to God’s ways (revival) this will only worsen.
We call on the faithful remnant to earnestly seek the Lord. Let us be diligent in our retaining of the knowledge of God! May our godly knowledge be the filter through which all other information is approved or reproved.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we want to be a people whose hearts and minds are One with Yours. Through our diligent study and application of Your Living Word our thoughts and attitudes are formed. Keep us faithful to the Truth of Your knowledge. We stand in firm opposition to the world’s substitutes; the acceptance and celebration of what You describe as sin. The world may dress it up, even make it appealing, and cover up the disastrous results it brings on the individual, his or her family and society at large. The world is not our authority, but Your Word is! Help us to read, retain and regard Your knowledge as our pattern for life. Amen.
“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him” (Jeremiah 17:7).
Several years ago we went to a family reunion in Colorado and while we were out that way we visited several notable tourist sites throughout the state. We drove to the Royal Gorge where the world’s highest suspension bridge crosses over. I parked the van on the west side of the canyon although we were heading east. We slowly approached the bridge on foot and, with a knot in my stomach, proceeded to walk across. My fear is not really heights but being near or looking out over any edge. Well, as you already know, I made it across safely and we visited the various attractions on the east side.
We rode the world’s steepest incline railway down into the canyon and back up, and crossed the gorge in the world’s longest aerial tram suspended by what appeared to be a thin wire. My confidence was rising! By the time I walked back across the bridge toward the van I could finally look over the edge. But I still had my biggest challenge; driving the van across the bridge. I could either do that or backtrack about fifty miles.
I put my trust in a lot of brilliant engineering, quality materials, competent construction, diligent maintenance, conscientious inspections, and ultimately in God. My confidence grew as I saw many others going on before me safely. I carefully drove across and was so grateful to be back on solid ground on the other side!
Our daily text was written by Jeremiah in the historical context of the Southern Kingdom’s final years. God’s judgment was imminent and Jeremiah was one of the faithful prophets proclaiming this unpopular truth. But the terrible message of judgment also had within it a tremendous message of hope: “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.”
When we look around and consider all the things that are blessings in our lives we may fail to think of our trust in the Lord as a blessing. People outside the faith would consider their possessions, health, and perhaps other people as blessings in their lives. Those of us who believe and follow Jesus Christ would certainly consider these to be blessings, but we would put the tremendous dimension of our salvation in Christ at the top of the list in addition to every blessing associated with that. Of course that would make the list infinitely long! In fact God has “blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). We will continue to calculate our blessings in this life and all throughout eternity!
What a tremendous blessing it is to place our trust in the Living God. The line from an old hymn declares, “Those who trust Him whol-ly find Him whol-ly true.” Even as my trust in the reliability of the bridge was not an unproven trust, how much more so is the trust I have placed in my Lord and His Word. His claims can be tested and have been by millions throughout the ages. Indeed, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.”
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, the great blessing in trusting You is the confidence we walk in as we look to You for everything that we have need of. Jeremiah draws the contrast of those who depend on humans for strength and have stopped trusting in You. They don’t even know about the good things that You can give. They are like a bush in a desert that grows in a land where no one lives, due to the heat and bad soil. But we who have placed our trust in You have found You to be faithful. Instead of cringing fear we walk in confident faith because it is not in ourselves that we trust but in the Living God who is trustworthy in all areas of our life. Now, give us grace to trust You even more, in the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
"Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with Him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying" (Luke 8:41,42a).
This weekend we recognize and honor fathers here in America on a day we call "Father's Day". What a blessing it is to have experienced a father's love. My dad's been gone almost ten years now but recollections of his love abound in my memory bank.
Many reading this have an assurance of their earthly father's love, but I am very aware that not everyone does. But we can all have a deep assurance of our Heavenly Father's love!
Harriet Beecher Stowe, famous for her novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin", was the daughter of a famous pastor, Lyman Beecher, in the 1800's. She dedicated her life wholly to Christ at the tender age of 14, after listening to her father preach one Sunday morning. "As soon as my father came home and was seated in his study," she recalled, "I went up to him and fell in his arms, saying, "Father, I have given myself to Jesus, and He has taken me."...I never shall forget the expression on his face as he looked down into my earnest childish eyes…"Is that so?" he said, holding me silent to his heart as I felt his hot tears fall on my head.
Godly fathers care deeply for their child's physical health but most especially for their spiritual health. The Sunday afternoon that Harriet wrapped her arms around her father and told of her surrender to Christ, his response as her loving, concerned dad surpassed even that of his role as her pastor. There is no doubt that Mr. Beecher had prayed for this day to be a reality in the life of his precious daughter.
Jairus is one of my favorite dads mentioned in the Bible. He's not well known and is only referenced in Mark and Luke with this story. Although he had a leadership role in the synagogue his role as a loving dad took prominence in the brief story written about him. I don't know how many children he had, but he had just one daughter, a twelve year old, and she was dying. He powerfully demonstrates a father's love.
Help was desperately needed and Jairus, likely overcoming religious pride and prejudice due to his position, went to the right Person. The story has several elements essential to fathering, but let's consider just one: Jairus was desperate to get help for his daughter. He came to the Master and "fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with Him to come to his house."
Our world is sick and dying; sin and wickedness abounds. Our children are at the edge of a slippery precipice. They're flooded with appeals to "Jump!"
The same desperation observed in Jairus pleading with Jesus, on behalf of his daughter, needs to be demonstrated by caring fathers today. His daughter was dying physically and Jairus needed Christ to intercede. Today our children face a spiritual onslaught from the one whom Jesus said, "comes only to steal and kill and destroy."We desperately need Christ to intercede for the hearts of our children.
Dads, today, let's follow the example of Jairus. Let us love our children deeply. Critical problems demand a serious response. Let's boldly stand up, persevere, and fight the spiritual battle for the lives of our children and grandchildren!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Brooksyne's prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me so much that You willingly gave Your one and only Son to die for me. The price Jesus paid for my sin was the greatest demonstration of love possible. Help me as a parent to be motivated by Christ's unwavering devotion toward me as I love my children unconditionally and completely. When I'm discouraged and feel like giving up help me to trust You even more, not dwelling on the undesirable behavior of my child, but rather looking to You the Miracle Worker! Just when I think there is no hope, You do the impossible. Keep me earnest in prayer and faithful in hope for my children. In the powerful name of Jesus, amen.
"Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you" (Genesis 26:3).
Our daughter, Ester, has an opportunity to attend Malaga Camp in Newfield, New Jersey next week. We've been talking it up for weeks, but she is reluctant about leaving home to stay in an unfamiliar setting. Though she's 19, due to her unstable medical history in addition to her special needs, most camp settings were not suitable for her during her young years.
When we learned about HandiCamp, along with its spiritual emphasis in a setting conducive to Ester's level of learning, we were excited to get her signed up. Shortly afterward two young ladies who work with the camp paid a visit to Ester in our home. They brought photo albums with pictures of previous campers and talked to her about the many activities offered at HandiCamp. Brooksyne and I were so pleased that representatives of this Christian camping ministry would pay a personal visit to reassure new campers that they'll enjoy this new experience away from their familiar settings. It was their way of saying, "God will be with you in this new adventure."
It's reassuring to hear others say to us in the midst of a challenge or in the midst of any new experience, "God will be with you." And it is even more reassuring to hear the voice of the Lord speak to our hearts with His comforting promise, "I will be with You."
Isaac was the very first person recorded in the Bible that heard these words from God, "I will be with you." They came at a critical time when Isaac was contemplating a visit to Egypt where there was food available. There was a severe famine in Canaan and the Lord appeared to Isaac and directed him, "Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you." He also reminded Isaac of His earlier promise to Abraham that He would make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Throughout life we find great assurance in the promise of God's steadfast, abiding presence and this is especially appreciated during life's inevitable transitions. Some of you undoubtedly are going through such a transition today. It may be a graduation, a career move or new residency, an illness or even the death of a loved one. For some it's a new baby, for others it's the "empty nest. And yet others are feeling that God wants you to stay put right where you are and trust Him to help you endure the struggles you presently face.
Throughout the Old Testament God also gave these words of assurance to Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon and Solomon. However one Old Testament reference that I especially find reassuring is not a promise to an individual, but to all of God's people (Isaiah 43:2). "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you."
Jesus promised His disciples before His physical ascension to heaven: "I am with you always even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). The writer of Hebrews has a promise that I memorized early as a believer. He quotes a compilation of several Old Testament verses as He encourages the early believers who were enduring much affliction. "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5,6).
Whatever challenge you face today, remember that He goes before you and prepares the way. Be confident as you stand on His promise: "I will be with you."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we're so thankful that we don't have to step out on our own and rely on our connections, wisdom, giftings, or experience. Whatever challenge we face can be met by remembering Your promise, "I will be with you." Just as David, youthful and wearing no protective armor, confidently faced the giant with a sling You reassured him, "I will be with you." Whatever enemy we face, if we are suited in Your spiritual armor, we can be confident of Your promise to us as well: "I will be with You." What blessing and comfort these words bring to our hearts this day. Amen.
“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up” (Proverbs 12:25).
Have you personally experienced the first part of today’s verse? That is; an “anxious heart” which “weighs a man down.” Of course I know what your answer is to that question. Someone once defined worry as “a small trickle of fear that meanders through the mind, cutting a channel into which all other thoughts flow.”
The perspective of trust is at the very heart of being a child of God. It’s great to be a child of God today! My sins are forgiven and the God of the universe beckons me to call Him “Father.” I have an assurance that He cares for me and His promise is that He will never leave me nor forsake me. Wow, if I just keep that bright perspective the troubling “things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”
But I still find myself identifying with the first phrase in the daily verse. An inner battle rages between trust and worry. Trust dispels worry, but much like the popup figures in an arcade shooting gallery, worry tends to keep popping back up!
The anxieties of this life really do weigh one down. Sometimes it seems they really press on the heart and one can literally feel the weight (the KJV says it “maketh it stoop”). I’m sure most of you know what I mean. And I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you reading this message are experiencing a heavy anxious heart even now.
Thank God for the power of a kind word! I have so often been the recipient of such words. An earnest “I’m praying for you”, a caring “How’s your health?”, or a sincere “I really appreciate you.” Words like these really cheer the heart up and in each of the above examples I can recall a specific instance that I continue to draw energy from. The word for “cheer” is literally derived from a Hebrew word meaning to “brighten up.”
I hope you receive some kind words today and dispense some kind words yourself, as you fulfill the Biblical principle of sowing what you desire to reap.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, the cares of this world often press in on us and weigh our hearts down. It’s not your desire that we carry a heavy load because You are the Burden Bearer. You use the difficult circumstances of our lives to bring glory to Yourself as You bring spiritual maturity into our relationship with You. Our faith is strengthened and our understanding deepened as You take the evil that Satan hurls at us and turn it into glorious occasion for Your power to be released and deliverance to take place. You are the same God who led us into battle that will also lead us to victory in Jesus name, amen.
"You have wearied the LORD with your words" (Malachi 2:17a).
In the wedding we attended on Sunday afternoon we saw the groom's baby nephew, Malachi, for the first time. Brooksyne and I discussed that we couldn't recall hearing this ancient prophet's name being used for a modern name in our lifetime. Some Bible names are common like Stephen, John, James and for girls Mary, Elizabeth and Rachel. In our area the Amish and old order Mennonites tend to use names not as frequently used such as Isaiah whom I met last week.
Malachi means "chosen one, God's helper" and he served God about 100 years after the end of the Babylonian exile (about 440 years before Christ came). The temple had been rebuilt and the walls of the city were now secure after the cooperative team effort during Nehemiah's leadership. The people had experienced two separate moves of God's Spirit several years earlier in both Ezra's and Nehemiah's lifetime. These times of revival were marked by repentance, reforms, and a renewed attentiveness to God's Word. My, don't we need that kind of revival today!
But now the people had lapsed back into indifference and needed the stirring voice of a prophet of God. I am sure thankful for such voices today that remind me of what really matters!
I recall my pastor speaking from Ephesians on our glorious inheritance in Christ and in the middle of his sermon he spontaneously led the congregation in singing an old chorus, "Heaven Is a Wonderful Place." Such moments of the Spirit's moving refreshes us by dissolving indifference as it chips away at the hardness that creeps into our lives over time. Our prayer should always be: "Lord, keep reminding me of what really matters for eternity!!!"
Malachi uses a very interesting writing style that consists of an indictment from God against the people, "You have wearied the LORD with your words." This was followed by a question from the people, "How have we wearied Him?" God's response is so interesting, "By saying, 'All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and He is pleased with them'."
The people wearied God with these words. These very words (and certainly the sentiment of these words) are so common today in the moral confusion that abounds. Isaiah 5:20 states, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."
Now let's be clear; God never tires of listening to sincere prayers from a seeking heart. He delights in our words of praise and never wearies in taking care of His children. But teachings like, "All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and He is pleased with them" most certainly wearies Him.
I don't want to weary God with my words. Today let us earnestly be conscientious of this charge from our Lord God who has said, "I the LORD do not change" (Malachi 3:6).
In what ways do our words "weary" God?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we pray for a sincere heart that is sensitive to Biblical truths as they apply to our lives. We struggle with forgetfulness and indifference – twin enemies of a living vibrant relationship with You Father, we invite You to arrange the circumstances of our lives that will keep us patiently looking to You and asking for Your divine guidance. We earnestly seek You for spiritual revival. Revival for messengers who feed our indifference in favor of modern accepted philosophies of this world rather than the life-changing truths of the Gospel. Revival for those who sit in the church pews week after week who hear the life-changing truths of Your Word but leave unyielded to the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Revive both the messenger and listener so that our lives are a demonstration of the reality of a vibrant walk with Your Son, Jesus, our living Savior and Lord. Amen.
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
The other day I was in a Costco Warehouse Club in Lancaster when a man, looking a bit confused, approached me carrying two large bunches of roses. (I had forgotten to remove my chaplaincy badge and he apparently thought I worked for the store.) He told me he wanted 49 roses. I told him I didn’t work for the store but would try to help him so I counted out the roses in the arrangement and came up with only 24 in each. Apparently he was hopeful that at least one bunch would have 25 roses making a total of 49 roses.
Then he shared the reason for his persistence: the next day was his 49th wedding anniversary. He wanted to demonstrate his love for his wife by giving her a rose for every year of their marriage! By then Brooksyne had joined us and together we tried to persuade the man that his wife would most likely understand his loving intentions even if he was one rose shy of the actual count. He was still undecided when we parted company.
Jesus used both illustrations and demonstrations in His teaching ministry, but the supreme demonstration of His love involved His very own death on the cross. The daily verse should cause us to stand in awe of what God has done. In all the events of life that concern us today from our unique personal problems to the international, let us see with spiritual eyes the supreme demonstration of God’s own love for us.
Yesterday I spoke at Faith Community in the Lehigh Valley (which is about 100 miles northeast of where we live.) I spoke on the supreme demonstration of God’s love and we had Communion Service as we remembered the death of Jesus Christ.
I preached from Romans 5:8 and used an old kitchen tool we purchased shortly after we got married called a “Victoria Strainer”, in which I crushed the fresh grapes right before the congregation teaching on Christ’s death as I did so. Of course, the demonstration was a visual reminder that, like the fruit of the vine, Jesus was crushed for our iniquities. We then partook of the freshly squeezed grape juice for the communion service.
The underlying Greek word that is translated “demonstrate” in Romans 5:8 is “sunistasin” which is in the present indicative active. This connotes a sense that God’s demonstration of love is ever a present event, although Christ’s literal death on the cross was a “once for all” atoning sacrifice, “Christ died for us.” The demonstration of His love is present, but the sacrificial death of Christ is final and complete!
The atoning death of Christ on the cross is the supreme demonstration of God’s love resulting in:
•Our redemption from sin
•Our reconciliation to God
•Our restoration to wholeness
Today let us rejoice in the ultimate demonstration of His supreme love.
Be encouraged today!
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, how marvelous is Your love. So many things in life are unobtainable, just beyond our grasp, but You make Your love available to everyone who calls on the name of the Lord. Your love and tender care mends the broken heart; it cleanses the sin-filled heart, and it encompasses the empty heart. How utterly amazing that Christ would pour out His sinless, extravagant love on the vilest of sinners who truly believe. Your demonstration of love is witnessed foremost in Your death on the cross which redeems us from sin, reconciles us to the Father, and restores us to wholeness through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith" (1 Peter 5:8,9a).
About 30 years ago the creative songwriter Keith Green, who spurred on Brooksyne's and my Christian growth, penned the thought provoking words to a song as though they were written by the devil himself. The song, "No One Believes in Me Anymore" has a line that goes like this: "I put some truth in every lie, to tickle itching ears." These words ring scripturally true and are so easily observed in our age. Merely consider the many lies we are exposed to and the efforts to tickle itching ears. In contrast to this I hear the ancient word of our Lord in a prayer to His Father, "Thy Word is truth" (John 17:17).
Our daily texts may seem a bit unusual to bring a brief word of encouragement. However the Bible forthrightly acknowledges the existence of our adversary, the devil. The Bible also provides the spiritual strength and needed tools to overcome the scheming plots of our enemy. Martin Luther exposed the devil's job description as our ancient foe who seeks to work us woe.
In the first daily text this "ancient foe" is presented as a liar. Jesus is speaking to those who opposed Him, specifically the Pharisees. His words were very strong and greatly offended the proud Pharisees. In fact the chapter ends with an attempt to stone Jesus. This encounter is a stark demonstration of the Spirit of Truth and Light opposing the spirit of falsehood and darkness.
In the second text this ancient foe is presented as a lion. Lions are mentioned frequently in the Bible and lived in Palestine, although they have since disappeared. The last one was killed near Megiddo in the thirteenth century according to my Bible dictionary. In the Bible the image of a lion is used both positively and negatively.
Positively we read of Christ who is presented as the Lion of Judah seated at the right hand of the Father on the throne!
Negatively we picture the lions devouring David's flock of sheep and the fearsome den where Daniel spent the night (I believe a peaceful one). And of course we picture the devouring lion in our second daily text.
Peter forthrightly identifies him as our enemy. He stands opposed to the "abundant life" Almighty God wants to give us. He has been honing his deceitful craft ever since his first successful scheme in the Garden of Eden.
The phrase, "prowls around like a roaring lion", describes the devil's method. It's interesting that Peter would call our attention to this detail. If you've ever been to a zoo you can picture this prowling action. It seems the lion walks about in a sly, quiet, haughty and deliberate manner before pouncing on the intended target.
He's "looking for someone to devour." This was written some 2,000 years ago. It was 500 years ago that Luther wrote "But still our ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe." And it's the truth for our own generation as well!
Let's remember this sobering truth, not with an attitude of terror, but of caution and preparedness. This text and others give us the tools to overcome our enemy: self-control, alertness, resistance, and standing firm in the faith. Join us in standing against this roaring liar today and be resolute in staying faithful to the Lion of Judah.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, as we live in the Light of Your Word the devil's venomous plots are exposed. We are not caught by surprise but rather we are filled with Your Spirit which prepares us to be on the offense rather than the defense. We walk in truth and confidence as we stand strong on the day of evil. As we wear the full armor You have provided, for our protection, we can fight against the devil's evil tricks. Our fight is not against flesh and blood but against the powers of this world's darkness and the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. So we pray in the spirit continuously asking for Your discernment strength, and guidance. We also pray for our brothers and sisters that together we will stand firm against the enemy of our souls. Amen.
"So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning" (Ruth 1:22).
Yesterday I shared concerning our friends, Jesse and Anna Ruth, and their new baby they named Naomi Grace. It is common to hear the Amish call their children by both their first and middle names so the combination of the names Naomi and Grace is lovely to the ears, but the names are also packed with great Biblical meaning. Naomi, from the Hebrew language means "beautiful, pleasant, delightful." Grace, from the Latin, means "favor, blessing." This beautiful name prompted a message about the new baby's namesake, the Naomi of Scripture.
Those who regularly read this series know that I enjoy using illustrations from the farming area in which I live. I have learned that there is a predictability regarding the times of each harvest from year to year with the next major harvest in our area being barley. I noticed yesterday that the barley is turning a beautiful yellow indicating harvest is near. In the next several weeks we will see the combines working the fields all throughout our region. It's a beautiful sight to see and hear the machine slowly working back and forth across the fields.
I want to learn today from the occasion of another barley harvest which took place about 3,200 years ago. I spoke to my farming friend Darrel this morning and shared what I intended to write. We briefly discussed the vast difference in harvesting methods from that age to our own.
It's interesting to note how many times the Bible reminds us to consider our roots. History was very important in the life of the Jewish people. Great New Testament sermons like Peter's (Acts 2) and Stephen's (Acts 7) are rooted in history; the record of God's providential work in space and time.
The simple, easily overlooked, detail in the daily text places the lives of two ordinary women, Naomi and Ruth, beset by heartache squarely in history, in the context of a specific place "Bethlehem" and a specific time "when the barley was harvested". Naomi's husband had died along with her two sons in Moab, a distant land devoted to other gods. Her heart was broken as she returned to Bethlehem with Ruth her daughter-in-law who had decided to join her. When they arrived and she was recognized by the women of Bethlehem she plainly told them, "Call me Mara" (which means "bitter"). Thankfully the name didn't stick and in a wonderful way God worked things out for both Naomi and Ruth.
Some of you have lingering heartache which has resulted in bitterness today. We all have experiences where it seems life has just not been fair, some far more than others. Our experience is not at all unique to our lifetime and surely, all through the ages, people have dealt with this. Brooksyne received a meaningful Get Well card from one of our faithful Australian readers who wrote the following thought she had read in "Our Daily Bread" devotional, "One of God's purposes in pain is to brand the image of Jesus in our hearts."
Let us learn from history and rejoice as we see how the unchangeable God worked His plan out in these two ordinary women. A wonderful New Testament verse that many of us have memorized expresses this truth: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). Rest in deep assurance today that this is absolutely true!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, You have great purpose for our lives and for the legacy we leave for those who follow. In our journey there are bitter waters from which we drink and there are sweet fragrances that fill our nostrils. Through it all You work to bring the good out of bad circumstances, all the while reminding us of our calling to live according to Your purpose. May we be trusting in the hard times and faithful all the time. Amen.
“And He has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others” (Exodus 35:34).
Mr. Simmons was my wood shop teacher at Truman High School in Independence, Missouri. I enjoyed wood shop and still have a bookcase that I made from his class. I can still see Mr. Simmons moving from machine to machine as he taught the students how to properly operate them adding a special emphasis on safety. He had an ability to teach others. I also remember Mr. Simmons because he was a Christian and allowed a group of students to use his room to gather for prayer before school started.
All through my life I have been blessed by those who are knowledgeable and have a wide variety of skills with the ability to teach others. However the noun “teacher” in my view does not necessarily convey having the ability to teach. I have had many untrained teachers who have taught me very well and frankly I have had several certified “teachers” who did not!
Today’s verse is set during the construction of the tabernacle under Moses’ leadership. God had gifted many skilled workers who participated in this project. However our verse describes a special gift held by two of them. A bit of explanation of pronouns is needed here due to the limited context I have used. “He” refers to our God, the One who ultimately gives this ability. The reference to “him” is a fellow by the name of Bezalel, who was the principal designer and general contractor in the project. These men were imparted with a wonderful and much needed gift: “the ability to teach others.”
Now the specific skills they had to teach were technical and likely they managed as well, but what a fine job they did. At the conclusion of the project we find this word of acclamation: “The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them” (Exodus 39:42, 43). I especially note the phrase “just as” indicating full obedience. Consider the role that the obedience of Bezalel and Oholiab had in this outcome. Their teaching was a vital link in the chain of the project’s success and also in transmitting information that can be duplicated or honed in a different setting for a different project.
For many of you I ask that you consider your calling to teach. I know that a good number of you who receive this devotional teach God’s Word in some capacity. For many it is the students in your Sunday school class. It may be to a group of prisoners, like Rick Masciantonio, who has done this weekly for nearly fifteen years. I think of Darrel Martin, a dedicated young man, who carefully prepares lesson materials each Sunday morning for the young teens of our church. I consider a dear couple who for many years has conducted services in several nursing homes in North Carolina. For still others it’s that small, faithful remnant you have Bible study with at work. And for so many others you have opportunity to influence people for Jesus as you diligently apply your gift for teaching in a secular setting!
Paul urged Timothy, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2). You and I are included in this verse. We are many generations removed from the original statement, but we are indebted to the countless spiritual Bezalels and Oholiabs who have faithfully taught us and those before us, using the ability and “heart to teach” given by God.
Keep passing God’s truth on today, my brothers and sisters, in whatever capacity God has called you. One day we will also hear a word of acclamation from our Lord Himself as He speaks forth these familiar words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, help us to be teachable even as we teach others; whether it is Your holy truths, life’s skills, or a particular occupation. Grant patience, clarity, and purpose in the way we conduct ourselves and in the way we are perceived by those we instruct. May the spirit in which we teach honor You and contribute to a wholesome learning environment. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
Gene and Doris Wenger are a couple whose faces and names are very familiar throughout Lancaster County though they're most often found working behind the scenes in a hot kitchen. They're especially known in these parts for getting behind good causes – often giving of their labor and supplies to help support the charitable cause.
For many years they've run a meat shop in a nearby town that is most famous for its ham loaf. It's a Lancaster County delicacy that was introduced to us shortly after moving to this area seven years ago. The shape and texture of hamloaf is much like meat loaf but it's made up of ground up ham and Gene's secret seasonings. In our parts it's simply referred to or labeled as "Gene Wenger's famous ham loaf."
About twenty five years ago Gene was designated the "Pennsylvania Pork King" and that designation figures prominently on his packaging, such as the seal shown above on the brand new packaging for his ham loaf patties. When I see him I like to tease him good naturedly and say, "I'm glad that I know a king."
Well, that's a great declaration not many can make – "I know a King." Many refer to Elvis Presley as "the king" and there are a few who actually know one of the earthly monarchs. But all of us may personally know the King of kings! We may, like the Psalmist, declare to Him in song and through prayer: "You are my King." Our King is altogether unlike the earthly kings. We, like the early church, declare: "There is another king, One called Jesus" (Acts 17:7).
Our King reigns eternally over the entire universe. As the great hymn states: "Let every kindred, every tribe on this terrestrial ball, to Him all majesty ascribe and crown Him Lord of all."
Our King is omnipotent (all-powerful). What a contrast to any earthly potentate. All other power is limited. A proud King Herod in Acts 12 failed to renounce the praise directed toward him following his public address to the people. They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." He was immediately struck down, eaten by worms and died!
Our King desires to have a personal relationship with each of His subjects. Not all of you reading this will be able to personally know our friend Gene Wenger, although many in the western Lancaster County area already do. And most all of us would not be allowed to approach or address an earthly king, but our King extends His invitation to all of His creation through the Holy Scriptures, "Come unto me."
Today let us rejoice that the Lord our God is King!
Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing, and triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
His kingdom cannot fail, He rules o'er earth and heav'n;
The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus giv'n.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! *
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Being the child of an earthly king brings earthly privilege and human pride while being a child of the Heavenly King gives me a life of spiritual privilege and fills me with great humility. Thank You, Jesus, that through Your great redemptive love, I am considered a child of the King of kings. Though now I live as an exile from heaven, at the Father's appointed hour, I will enjoy all the privileges afforded a child of the Heavenly King. But until that great transition takes place I thank You that I can approach Your welcoming throne of grace with confidence and find grace needed for every request I bring while traveling here on earth. I'm so glad You are my God and my King!
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7).
Years ago it was common to hear Scripture put to a musical tune, making it very natural to memorize Scripture without a great deal of effort. That’s how Brooksyne and I learned the Scripture text today and I would guess that many of you sang this Jewish tune as well in years past. We especially recall Freda, a very enthusiastic lady who just loved this song. The last time we saw her she still had great joy and zeal for the Lord, now in her 70’s. Praise the Lord for joyful and faithful saints! (Romans 12:11)
The daily verse is a great reminder of where the source of our trust should be. We do not put our trust in horses and chariots today. At first glance the Scripture phrase may make no sense to us at all in our present culture. The featured photo of the mare and her colt was taken on an Amish farm in Bird-in-Hand [Click on link below for more daily encouragement to see photo]. Although horses are certainly a more practical and utilitarian part of Amish life than for the average household, even the Amish do not put their complete trust in horses. Several years ago we had an Amish friend whose horse died and I recall his expression of trust in God even at the time of such financial, functional, and personal loss.
The daily verse is speaking militarily. Chariots and horses were a major component of military strength at that time. Of course today’s military vehicles used throughout the world far surpass the finest of chariots and horses of David’s day. Much strategic planning goes into training soldiers to utilize and rely on their vehicles for defense and combat against the enemy. Their security is reliant on their vehicle much like the Bible warriors depended on their chariots and horses.
Here in the US we have been in the midst of a long drawn out heated political campaign for our next president even though the election is not until November. So many place their trust in political leaders who clamor for votes spouting promises they can never fulfill. Candidates can even have a messiah-like following but hope does not come from politicians. Militarily many trust in the latest weaponry to assure us of safety and security, but really, nothing man does can protect us from evil men intent on bringing terror. Economically many trust in the latest report from Wall Street or the Commerce Department, but real financial security is a pipe dream. Medically it may be the latest wonder drug or medical procedure, but we know there are many situations beyond the wisdom or control of even the very best medical facility.
Our ultimate trust should always be in the Lord our God. He alone is “Mighty To Save.” Yet failure to trust God is so often at the very heart of our problems. We place our trust in Jesus to be saved from our sins yet we must live daily in a trustful attitude to experience the abundant, fulfilling life He has for us.
Paul prayed for the Romans, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
Are you living in trust today? Some of you have a problem that’s robbing you of the peace and joy that Christ provides. The words of a great old hymn tell us how to experience God’s perfect peace: “They who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true. Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest. Finding as He promised, perfect peace and rest.” Turn your doubts and fears into absolute trust so that you may experience His abundance today!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Jesus, the day to day circumstances in our lives are so uncertain. The solutions to our problems can be very perplexing and seem beyond our grasp. You don’t expect us to have all the right answers or to fully understand all that concerns us, but You do want us to trust You, as we hold on to Your unchanging hand. Jesus, we have trusted You over and over throughout the circumstances of our lives, and today we pray for grace to trust You even more. Amen.
"For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water" (Revelation 7:17).
We have a small fish pond in a flower garden setting behind our house. We've photographed many of our visitors with the colorful flowers and pond in the background. The previous owner had put it in and at the present time we have two small goldfish that seem to enjoy living at our place.
One of the challenges in maintaining a small fish pond is keeping the water clear.The algae are persistent and, if you don't stay with it, it soon turns the pond into a thick soupy green which is not at all appealing. I pump the water through a filter and ultraviolet light. Several days ago I changed the configuration in order to get more water movement and now the filtered water discharges back into the pond at a rather forceful rate. So far this has improved the clarity and the fish seem to like it, being drawn to the specific churning spot where the water pours into the pond directly from the filter.
It was then that Brooksyne and I observed a neat sight. We saw the small 4 inch goldfish jump out of the pond straight up into the stream of water nearly a foot from the pond surface! Initially the stream was discharged close to the side of the pond and I was afraid the fish would jump all the way out so I moved the stream out further into the pond. The little fish just seem to exhilarate in the churning water as the stream enters. I suppose they like the movement or perhaps the oxygenation. I wish I could capture the scene in a photo but, of course, they're just too quick and I don’t have the patience that good photographers need for such a shot.
As we watched the fish an old hymn came to mind that I rarely hear anymore called "Springs of Living Water." In fact as I hear the words of the song play in my mind I think of Pastor Howard and the little church I went to as a young Christian back in Independence, Missouri.
The daily Scripture verse gives us a glimpse of heaven.
The Lamb (Jesus Christ) is at the center of the throne. This part of the verse really blesses me in my study. I don't recall noticing it before. The Lamb who died for our sins on the center cross is now at the center of the throne!
He is the Eternal Shepherd. The first reference to God being our Shepherd is in Genesis where Jacob blesses his son, Joseph, with this testimony: "May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my Shepherd all my life to this day…" (48:15). It's a consistent theme through Scripture ending with the daily verse.
He leads to springs of living water. Although this is a scene in heaven the living water is available right now to all who believe. Jesus taught, "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him" (John 7:38).
Even as our goldfish seem to enjoy the living water from the stream flowing into our garden pond, so we will be refreshed and reinvigorated as we stay focused on the One at the center of the throne. Let us remain in the stream of God's living water and keep the Eternal Shepherd at the center of our attention!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, I confess that there are times when my spirit becomes stagnant after I veer off course and am pulled into the murky waters. Draw me to the cleansing fountain of Your saving blood which flows from the cross of Calvary. It is there that springs of living water quench my thirst and invigorate my spirit so that I am refreshed in the Holy Spirit and renewed in my resolve to follow You all the days of my life.
“But the righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4).
Have you found yourself earnestly seeking God about a weighty matter over an extended period of time and yet it seems that He is silent. I recall a line from a song that Brooksyne used to sing that honestly expresses, “sometimes we wonder why.” Whether it be on our own personal level or concerning the state of the world we certainly do have questions, some of those unanswered till the other side.
Our daily verse is from the prophet Habakkuk, who served God by providing comfort and hope during one of the darkest periods of Judah’s history; a time during which she suffered the deserved punishment for her sins. Judah had just experienced the exhilaration of the glorious days of King Josiah, marked by freedom, prosperity, and a great religious revival. The Assyrians, once the scourge of the Middle East, were phasing out as a world power. In their place, however, stood the Babylonians, (whom Habakkuk calls the Chaldeans, named for the region from which their rulers came.) The Babylonian armies were led by the ambitious Nebuchadnezzar, who would soon succeed his father as king.
Habakkuk asked God questions and God eventually answered. He revealed that He was at work sending the Chaldeans as the instrument of His judgment (1:5-11). The prophet shrank from such an idea and posed another question which essentially asks: “Lord, how can you use someone more sinful than we are to punish us?” (1:12-17).
When the answer was not forthcoming immediately, he took his stand in the watchtower to wait for it. It was worth the wait: “See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright– but the righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). God contrasts the proud and ungodly whose lives are not upright with the righteous who in the end will emerge victorious. Here the term “faith” has the sense of faithfulness or conviction that results in action.
Habakkuk, in his experience of waiting, bluntly asked the Lord, “How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but You do not listen?” When God finally answered, it certainly wasn’t the answer Habakkuk expected or longed for.
You see, the Israelites had a “recurring cycle of sin, sorrow, supplication, salvation, and then sin again. The continuous repetition of this cycle obviously weakened the people’s love for God and respect for His authority.”* The godly remnant would emerge victorious as the wicked would undergo punishment. The Babylonians would eventually receive their just punishment in God’s timing.
Some 650 years later this phrase was taken by Paul as a central element in his theology (Romans 1:17 & Galatians 3:11). Some 1500 years after Paul’s writings this passage came alive for an Augustinian monk named Martin Luther, setting off the Protestant Reformation, one of history’s greatest and most significant religious upheavals. Thus a so-called “Minor” prophet had a major influence on those who followed him!
Today we are all enriched and indebted to a relatively obscure but faithful man who served God. Are you living by faith today? Is your hope and confidence completely in the Lord? In over 2600 years the equation has not changed. Actually the equation was fundamentally clear to Adam and Eve but willfully broken in the garden. It was also very clearly understood by Abraham in Genesis 15:6: “Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” The righteous continue to live by faith, during the good times but also during times of judgment!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we know that without a fresh manifestation of Your Holy Spirit power in our lives, our faith will not prevail when evil abounds in our day. Just as Habakkuk pleaded for You to manifest Yourself to Him, we also pray for renewal in our spirit so that we remain a faithful remnant fully committed to You. We choose to rejoice in the Lord our God who enables us to hold tightly to our godly faith in the midst of enemy invasion. We pray for deliverance and sustaining power so that we emerge victorious during the battle. Amen.
"I am Your servant; give me discernment that I may understand Your statutes" (Psalm 119:125).
Among the issues our daughter, Ester, has to overcome is hearing loss. We are told her hearing loss is a result of medication she received as a baby for her heart condition that was later determined to cause hearing problems when given to infants. She has profound hearing loss in the high frequency range which means, although she hears volume at a normal level, she misses a part of the range that is necessary to understand properly. Thus, her speech can become unclear at times.
I really came to understand this when we consulted with an audiologist at Children's Hospital in Boston several years ago. She explained that certain speech sounds in the upper frequencies are confused with other sounds to her. For instance we may say "they", but she might hear it as "day". You can imagine how confusing this can be in certain instances! She wore hear aids as a child but they were of only minimal help. Thankfully, as she's gotten older, she is able to process more and more due to lip reading, gestures, context and her ability to read. But it is among the issues that has slowed her development.
There is certainly a spiritual parallel to this physical condition.
Psalm 119 is well-known as the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses. What is not quite as familiar is that each verse, in one way or another, has a reference to God's Word; His laws and statutes, etc. I believe the various Scriptural expressions are used synonymously and all reveal the heart's desire of the writer; to live according to God's revelation.
Another interesting feature in this long Psalm is that it consists of 22 parts, according to the number of the letters in the Hebrew alphabet, with the names of which these letters stand for between each part. Each part consists of eight verses, all of which begin with the same letter in the Hebrew: thus, for instance, the first eight verses begin with the letter a, "aleph," and the second eight verses begin with the letter b, "beth," and so on throughout; hence the Masorah calls this Psalm the Great Alphabet. *
In today's Scripture the Psalmist prays in humility: "I am your servant." I find blessing in the Psalmist's humble approach to God. We must always remember who's in control; Who is the Master and who is the servant.
The nature of his request is so needed by those who live by faith today. "Give me discernment that I may understand your statutes." The Hebrew word for discernment means "to separate mentally." We need to be clear-minded in properly discerning God's Word.
The specific request is to "understand Your statutes." God's statutes; His laws and precepts are good and we need to understand them clearly.
We are barraged with information. The "information superhighway" provides an abundance of information that can be helpful but also much that can confuse or sidetrack the more important message. Not only life-giving truths but disastrous errors also crowd the superhighway.
We do well to often repeat the Psalmist's prayer; "Give me discernment that I may understand Your statutes." May we not only read about God's statutes but understand their meaning and then implement them into our lives.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, I ask for discernment that I may understand Your statutes. I pray for understanding that I might know how to implement these truths into my life. I also pray that I will grow to love and embrace Your laws so that it becomes a natural outflow of my commitment to following You. Amen.
“I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 89:1). “One generation will commend Your works to another” (Psalm 145:4).
In the USA today we celebrate Memorial Day. Its origin dates back to the period following our Civil War in the 1860’s and was primarily a remembrance of those who died in that war and other previous wars. But it has expanded to be a day when many tend to remember all who have gone before us. Later today I’ll push Brooksyne in the wheelchair up the road to Kraybill Cemetery where fresh flowers will decorate the graves as loved ones remember and honor their deceased family and friends.
Certainly today we will be remembering those in our own family, as Brooksyne and I have each seen our parents pass on to their eternal reward over the last ten years. Last year Brooksyne’s sister died reminding us of the quick progression of life and how that our own transition is growing closer as the years quickly pass.
Today we will also be remembering those who have impacted us on our journey of faith but are now with the Lord. Allow me to honor them with a partial list using their first names only: Joe, Tracy, Beulah, Karin Joy, Ines, John, Gene, Bill, Earl, Al & Thata, my very first pastor as a Christian, Bro. Howard and many, many others. Why don’t you take a moment to personally reflect by making a similar list and remembering those people who’ve touched your life?
Yesterday we had a special time in our church service where four generations of the Martin family helped lead us in a couple of older children’s choruses. Four generations faithfully serving Christ is a very inspirational sight, but the additional blessing of each of these families attending the same church brought spiritual refreshing as well. It’s rare these days that the grandparent(s) in their 80’s would have grown up singing the same songs that are taught to our children today such as “Deep & Wide” and “He’s Got the Whole world in His Hand.”
Moses, in his final message prior to his death, hearkens the people to “Consider the generations long past.” A powerful oral history had been maintained about the creation and origin of their national identity (children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.) That was about 3,500 years ago and I believe his words are still very appropriate for the people of God. We need to remember those who have gone to be with the Lord before and during our lifetime.
The writer of Hebrews speaks of these men and women as “a great cloud of witnesses.” They indeed witness and testify to the power of faith and of the faithfulness of God. This great cloud is surely comprised of all the Biblical greats that are mentioned in Hebrews 11 and others in the Bible period.
But I believe it also includes all those throughout the ages of the church who have died in faith; people such as great men and women of church history like Evangelist D.L Moody and Songwriter Fannie Crosby. Today, I am thankful for the impact in my generation of nationally (and perhaps internationally) known people like D. James Kennedy, Bill Bright and Larry Burkett, who have in recent years gone on to their reward.
It surely also includes the many, many throughout the ages who have lived their lives for Christ in relative obscurity, serving Him faithfully in their work settings, homes, churches, and communities. They loved their family, sought to raise their children right, worked hard, served as Sunday School teachers, janitors, prayer leaders, nursery workers and in other ways. These are the people whom I have personally known and observed over time. I believe God has ordained that we are to live in close community with those whom He has placed in our lives, giving and receiving. Our friend, Doris High, has a thought-provoking saying on her blog: “There is no way of belonging to Jesus Christ except by belonging gladly and irrevocably to the glorious ragbag of saints who make up the Church!”
I’m certain that You have a number of people to remember today who are with the Lord. If they’re now in the great cloud of heavenly witnesses thank God for them! And let us all continue to sing of the mercies of the LORD forever. With our mouths and with our lives let us make known His faithfulness to all generations!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we give thanks for the men and women of great valor who have given their lives for our freedoms over the centuries. We also give thanks for those who have impacted our spiritual lives as we seek to live faithfully for You; the Biblical saints, the early church fathers, the martyrs of the faith, the evangelists, preachers, and teachers of Your Holy Word, our family members who showed us the way and we thank You for those extraordinary believers who not only lived for You but lived as an example of faith to those of us who were watching and learning along the way. Above all, we thank You for the person of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life to our eternal Home in heaven. Amen.
“You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:11).
Since Brooksyne’s ankle injury two weeks ago we’ve been missing our customary walks together. (So has our dog Roxie!) On a couple occasions Ester and I pushed her in the wheelchair alongside our country road but it doesn’t compare to walking on an old well-worn path. But the uneven terrain is not suitable for a wheelchair, especially for one with a tender ankle.
Today’s photo [click link below for more daily encouragement to see photo] is my favorite part of our walking path across from our house, an old road between tree lines with farm fields on each side. It’s actually a long abandoned public road still deeded to the township that ends right across from our house where a church meeting house once stood. It can still seen on maps as “Meeting House Run Road”. Presently it’s accessible only with a tractor or four-wheel drive vehicle and that’s just fine with us since we enjoy the solitude of the quiet country setting!
Roxie really loves this part of the walk and often gets very distracted with all the smells of critters buried in the ground or she chases squirrels up the trees. She runs rabbits ragged as she sets about chasing them in and out of burrows, rock piles, and other accessible hiding places.
Scripture in numerous places speaks of the “path of life” with today’s passage being the first. It’s from a Psalm of David, written some 3,000 years ago. In addressing God he asserts, “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”
God continues to make known the path of life to those who earnestly seek Him. Today the path of life is the road less travelled since many by default follow the broad road where the majority travel.
There are several references to the path of life in the Proverbs such as “He is on the path of life who heeds instruction” and “The path of life leads upward for the wise.”
But the final reference to the “path of life” in Scripture may surprise you. Peter quotes several verses from Psalm 16 in his sermon on the day of Pentecost concluding with the daily verse, “You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence” (Acts 2:28). He makes it clear that ultimately in this Psalm David was referring to Jesus Christ as the path of life! Of course Jesus Himself tells us, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
I thank God for making known to me the path of life through the person of Jesus Christ, His Son! What a great joy and blessing to follow Him. And that’s something we all can do regardless of where we live. Please join us!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, I consider today the path of life laid out for those who are wise. It certainly isn’t the shortest, most traveled, or least difficult trail. There are times when the incline may be so steep it forces me on all fours, but that’s a posture in which I’m most humbled. It forces me to kneel down before You, the Lord my Maker. Your strength is perfect when my strength is fleeting. It is a place where I realize it is no longer my strength but it is in Your perfect strength that I walk. It is no longer my plan but Your perfect plan that I follow. It is no longer my wisdom but Your perfect wisdom that instructs me. You give perfect direction and adequate strength to walk the upward path that leads to life everlasting. Thank You that I will never walk the path of life alone, for You lead the way as You make my feet like hind’s feet on high places. Amen.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
I enjoy hearing testimonies of faith in Christ. Some are dramatic and full of suspense such as one who has overcome tremendous adversity in the process of finding Christ. Others may have less “colorful” pre-conversion stories, but all of us who have placed our faith in Christ have a powerful testimony in one way or another. For every conversion is a miracle of the new birth we have in Christ Jesus.
You may have a story that focuses on God’s delivering grace while others have stories that focus more on God’s preserving grace. God’s preserving grace is especially seen in those who were spared the ravages of a sin-filled life because they came to faith at an early age.Galatians 6:7ff speaks of the harvest that comes from what we plant.If we have planted to satisfy our sinful selves it will bring us ruin, but if we plant to please the Spirit we receive eternal life from the Spirit.
Yesterday a friend of mine, Ed Herr, shared his testimony with a group of businessmen here in Lancaster County, PA. Since Ed was raised in a godly home and came to the Lord as a child his testimony reflects the preserving grace of God’s work in his life.But he told a pre-conversion story that reveals both the power of conviction and the lasting impact godly parents have in a young child’s life.
Ed’s mother had requested that he go to the corner grocery store on his bike for some groceries and gave him a detailed list of the items she wanted.So Ed went to the store and the couple who owned the store filled the order based on the grocery list as he waited. Well little Eddie really liked Peanut Butter Cups so, while the order was being filled and the store owners were out of sight, he stashed a couple of them for himself. The store owners then brought Ed the bag of groceries his mother had ordered.
Preparing for his trip home he placed the two peanut butter cups on top of the bag and cleverly devised a plan. He would park his bike, take out the two peanut butter cups and set them aside, and then take the groceries into the house for his mom. He would come back later to enjoy the candy while no one was watching.
Well, his plan was thwarted as his mother, in a hurry for an item needed for the evening meal, met him as he drove up. She took the bag from him before he could remove the candy.He quickly devised “plan B.”
When Mom came out and inquired about the two peanut butter cups he said, “Since I’m helping you out I thought I deserved them so I just added them to the order.” But Mom reached into the bag for the receipt and of course the peanut butter cups weren’t listed. (He was caught in the act of both stealing and lying! It was the same sinful plot that Adam and Eve fell for.)
Ed’s mother insisted that he immediately go back and tell both the store owner and his wife what he had done and ask their forgiveness.Ed is my age but this infraction was a formative moment in his life as he experienced earnest conviction of sin and, in a short time, he trusted Christ for salvation.
In the daily text the Apostle Paul describes the wonderful transformation that Christ brings, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).When a person turns to Christ a wonderful transformation takes place. In one sense it’s instantaneous, but in another sense it’s a life-long process.
Romans 12:2 instructs: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." In 2 Corinthians 3:18 we read about the process of “being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory.”
Paul himself experienced this same life-transforming conversion on the road to Damascus and went on to be the greatest missionary in the history of the church. Slave trader John Newton experienced a dramatic conversion to Christ and went on to write “Amazing Grace”. Nixon’s hatchet man, Chuck Colson, experienced this change and went on to found “Prison Fellowship” and continues to have a fruitful ministry for Christ.
And the list of changed lives goes on and on and is being added to every day. Are you on this list? Today consider your life. Have you accepted Jesus Christ into your life by asking Him to be your Lord and Savior? Have you sought Him for forgiveness of your sins? If so, then you are a child of God!
Christ continues to change lives today and He is either changing yours or waiting for you to call on His Name so your life can be changed. Please do so today!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, as Your new creation we have crucified our sinful selves and found new life through Your indwelling Holy Spirit. We have given up our old selfish desires and sin no longer masters our thoughts and actions. We deny our sinful nature so that Your will may be accomplished in our lives as we reflect Your glory day by day. Your deliverance power gives us the strength we need to deal with the ongoing temptation to yield to our old sinful nature. In our power struggle between good and evil we gratefully proclaim: “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world." Amen.
“Your brother has come, “he replied, “and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound” (Luke 15:27).
I believe most familiar with the English language understand the meaning of the phrase, “safe and sound.” It’s likely that this common phrase originated from its use here in the daily text in the King James Bible, which was translated nearly 400 years ago. Of course the phrase refers to the return of the prodigal son in this instance. It’s interesting that all the standard Bible translations I typically study from use this exact phrase.
One night I returned from an out of town trip very late and quietly went to bed where Brooksyne was sleeping soundly. As I snuggled up beside her around 3:00AM she mumbled in her half awake voice, “Safe and sound?” I wasn’t quite ready to nod off so I thought on the expression for awhile and, with a little tweaking, came up with a slightly different expression. I began to rejoice in my spirit that I am truly “saved and sound.” It was a nice peace-filled thought that flooded my heart before finally falling asleep.
I’m saved. What indescribable peace comes deep to the soul when a believer has the assurance of salvation. Many years ago I memorized this selection from Scripture: “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:3-7). The words of the hymn, “Saved”, come to mind: ”I’m saved by His power divine, I’m saved to new life sublime, life now is sweet and my joy is complete for I’m saved, saved, saved!” Praise God I’m saved!
I’m sound. OK, I admit some of you reading this may think, “Well, that’s not for you to say.” Others, based upon their world outlook might not see me sound at all! My greatest aspiration though is to be sound in God’s reckoning, not man’s and that is altogether different! The apostle Paul wrote, “Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away” (1 Corinthians 2:6).
I’m committed to:
“Having a sound mind” - “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
“Holding fast to sound teaching” - “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13).
“Enduring sound doctrine” - “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:3).
“Being sound in the faith” - “Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” (Titus 1:13).
The word translated “sound” means to “to have sound health, to be well in body; to be uncorrupt (true in doctrine): — be in health, be safe and sound, be whole(-some).
It’s interesting to me that this word is used only twelve times in the Scriptures and nine of them are in the Pastoral Epistles. It’s interesting also that the expression “safe and sound” in our daily text translates the same identical word in the Greek.
Let us thank God that we are saved and sound!
How marvelous, how wonderful and my song shall ever be,
How marvelous, how wonderful is my Savior’s love for me!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, nothing brings abiding peace more than knowing that we are saved from the penalty of sin and that we are firmly grounded in Your holy precepts. It makes us feel safe in a struggling world that continues to search for knowledge from all the wrong sources. We are sound in our outlook when we align our understanding and convictions with the teachings of Christ, His disciples and the prophets of old. We speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor from the authority of this world that changes from year to year. Our wisdom is based upon our knowledge and understanding of You, our eternal Father, the One who changes not. In You we are saved and we are sound. Praise Your matchless, holy name. Amen.
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18).
Christianity is often maligned and ridiculed in many parts of our world, certainly including here in the US. The secular media and arts often mock our faith in Jesus Christ. Blaspheme my Lord, call it “art”, and you just might get a huge government grant. Sadly, many of the programs on the “Christian” TV stations are not representative of what I believe or practice as a follower of Christ. But genuine disciples of Christ are planted all over the world today living out their faith in relative obscurity, usually seen only by God and those in their small area of influence.
Jerel Book is a retired pastor who attends our rural church. He and his wife, Fran, also attend the same small Bible Study group as Brooksyne and I. We received a call from our small group co-leader letting us know they wanted to help the Weber family with some meals during Brooksyne’s surgery and recovery. Saturday night the Books stopped by, along with their son Mike, and brought us a delicious lasagna meal.
Jerel and Fran have both had some severe physical setbacks the last several years but are trusting God for each day of good health. They both use canes to get around and yet they walked up both flights of stairs to Brooksyne’s recovery room (formerly, our bedroom) and spent some time visiting. Mike, who is a faithful deacon in our church, then prayed for Brooksyne and our family. We were strengthened and encouraged by these dear folks and others who have stopped in as well!
Now there’s not one reader who would have any idea this happened unless I told you. There weren’t any TV cameras zooming in on our little room and the paparazzi has zero interest in our family. What happened in our home early Saturday evening happened scores of times at that very moment all over the world. Acts of compassion are continually happening as we “bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Genuine disciples lovingly serving others in the name of Jesus Christ is modeled in the Bible and carried out in the lives of believers day after day. In many cases these are brothers and sisters who reach out to others in Christian compassion but have never personally met the recipients of their kind acts or generous gifts.
Before Jesus went to the Cross he gave a lengthy teaching recorded in John’s gospel that includes chapter 14. In our first daily text He teaches a distinguishing mark of the true disciple: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Coming out of Bible College this verse and a small booklet titled “The Mark Of The Christian” by Francis Schaeffer heavily influenced my understanding of Christianity. As many believers already know, the word “love” in this verse comes from the Greek word “agape” which speaks of an “in spite of” type of love. Brooksyne and I were so impressed with this Greek word that we named the church we established in St. Marys, Pennsylvania “AGAPE” in 1977. It took a few years for the community to learn that the name of our church was not speaking of “agape” as in “mouth open” but as in “the love of Christ.”
The second daily text somewhat intrigues me, for surely there is an appropriate use for verbally expressing love. I believe John is saying, “let us not love with words or tongue”only, for there is plenty of talk about love and merely saying it is not enough. Genuine disciples expressing genuine love need to back their verbal expressions with loving actions in accordance to God’s Word. Today let us indeed love one another in words and in deed as we demonstrate genuine discipleship!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, may we be people who are quick to notice the ways in which we can be of special blessing to others. It seems quite easy when it comes to those whom we befriend. We often recognize their need before they express it and find genuine fulfillment in being Your hand extended to them. But You challenge us to go even further in making ourselves available to our enemies with whom it is not natural to provide for their needs. In expressing agape love to those around us we love in spite of what we see or have experienced. May all that we do, on behalf of others, be an expression of Your divine touch in the form of Christian service. It is in Your strength and compassion that we can do that which is unnatural to our human nature, but natural to our redeemed spirit. Amen.
"When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3). "He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand" (Psalm 40:2b).
A sign in front of a stately stone farmhouse here in Lancaster County proclaims this simple, assuring truth: "When your world is shaking run to the Rock."
Our area is dotted with old stone farmhouses and bank barns, many of them dating back to the 1700's. They are very well built and have stood the test of time, weathering many a storm. Of great concern to the construction team was building on a solid foundation. They built these structures to last for many generations. To draw a comparison, a building constructed today would need to last till 2270 and beyond!
When we first moved to Lancaster County seven years ago we lived near Risser Mill, an old stone mill similar to the one pictured above. I recall Don Pickell, descendant of the original builder and the present owner of the mill, taking Brooksyne and me on a personal tour at that time. We were amazed when he told us the original builders had dug down 17 feet for the foundation!
Our world is certainly shaking. We realize as we prepare this message that many of you are being shaken with trials and burdens. In our chaplain work we regularly share with troubled souls and of course with Brooksyne's recent ankle break we are experiencing a temporal shaking in our own family!
But the focus of today's message is the basic foundational shaking on the societal level as we see the continued rejection of God and His ways in so many elements of our society. Especially on my heart today is the institution of marriage, which is being battered and redefined at a dizzying rate.
The God-ordained institution of marriage was established at Creation before the Fall and is foundational to society. Jesus reinforces the creation mandate when He taught: "At the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate" (Matthew 19:4-6).
In the great old hymn "The Solid Rock" the phrase, "All other ground is sinking sand" is repeated twice in the refrain. At times the "other ground" can be appealing and may even appear steady and firm, for Satan is a master deceiver. But seen in its proper context it really does seem like sinking sound. The reality is that all other ground, apart from the solid foundation of Christ and His Word, is sinking sand whether or not I perceive it to be so or I am experiencing it as such. Truly, Christ alone is the Solid Rock!
In the first verse the Psalmist asks a probing question: "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" He then describes a place of security that can only be found in God: "He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." We need to be reminded of our position in Christ and the unchanging stability we have as we cling to His promises and uphold His truths.
Today, I urge you to continue to faithfully serve the Lord. Our immutable God continues to set our feet on the rock so that we have a firm place to stand. As we live out our lives under the lordship of Jesus Christ, and in obedience to His Word, may we have this deep-settled assurance; He is establishing our way and keeping our path firm and secure!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Brooksyne's prayer: Lord, it is so helpful and encouraging to read of Your miraculous intervention time after time in the life of the Psalmist and other warriors of the faith throughout the Bible. We parallel their experiences to our own knowing that You provide deliverance from the alluring entrapments that cause us to sink in life's mire. The foundations of this world are temporal and often conflict with the firm foundation of Your Holy Word. We do not want to be pulled down by the sinking foundations of this world, but instead we want to be lifted up by Your timeless truths.
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (Matthew 6:31,32).
“Worry is the darkroom where negatives are developed.”
Worry is the result of failing to practice active faith in God’s constant care over us. Our faith must be active and constant, for when there’s a lapse worry can wrap its tentacles around our heart. And we know that can lead to negativity and fear.
The source of worry for our Lord’s initial hearers in the Sermon on the Mount are objects familiar to us: food, drink, and clothing. However the issue was not “What shall we eat or drink or wear?” in the sense of choosing between a variety of abundant food choices or what style of clothing to wear from many choices in a large wardrobe.
No, much of the world has no idea of what it’s like to have a large wardrobe or an abundant food pantry. Jesus is speaking of basic necessities, not luxuries. Thus He is speaking of legitimate concerns His initial hearers had. But much of our anxiety is prompted from the desire that things should happen as we wish and for our pleasure and comfort rather than fundamentally as God wills for our growth and maturity.
Worry leads to fear and doubt, but trust leads to peace and confidence. “Worry” translates a Greek word (merimnao) that has the sense of turning over and over in the mind, or being divided. It seems to me that the division in our minds that precedes worry is fundamentally this: “Will God take care of my needs or will He be negligent in His promises?”
But Jesus said that our heavenly Father knows what we need and the Apostle Paul wrote: “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Is that true or not?
Is God ever exasperated? Does He ever throw up His hands at a situation and proclaim: “O my, what am I going to do now?” Of course not! He’s always in complete control even though we, in our finite understanding, are not always able to comprehend His ways or timing. When I read of events such as the huge earthquake in China and the scores of deaths and suffering souls I pray and really wonder how it all works out.
But faith ultimately requires that we trust God and wait to see how it will all work out for good. And we just may not understand until we get to heaven.
What are you worried about today? What is robbing you of “the peace that passeth all understanding”? Oswald Chambers wrote: “Worry is an indication that we think God cannot look after us.” Today, let us rest in the assurance that it’s His nature to love and care for His own, ultimately expressed in His provision of salvation. “The LORD is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made” (Psalm 145:13).
“So why should I worry?
Why should I fret?
‘Cause I’ve got a Mansion Builder
Who ain’t through with me yet.” *
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, You are the Great Provider who meets all our needs. We turn to worry when we consider ourselves to be the source of our provisions rather than Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth. There is nothing we lack when we commit our ways to You and ask You to provide for our needs. You know what we have need of before we ask it, but You are pleased that we acknowledge You to be our Heavenly Benefactor who provides all our natural, physical, and spiritual resources. When our hearts are secure in You, we have no fear and, in the end, we will look in triumph on our foes. That’s because we serve a caring and generous God who faithfully watches over us especially during times of testing. Amen.
* “Mansion Builder” by Anne Herring. This song was sung by a group called “The Second Chapter of Acts” and takes us back to our early days in the faith!
"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first" (Matthew 19:29,30).
An interesting event of Lancaster County is the benefit auction held annually for many Christian schools in our area. Though we usually attend the one that's just up the street from us we were unable to do so on Saturday due to Brooksyne's recent accident. But we watched the cars go by as many folks attend and support this worthy cause every year. Our rural lane has its greatest usage during the yearly Kraybill School Auction. Items in the auction are generally donated by local businesses and auctioned off to the highest bidder to benefit the school. Auctioneers are generally very colorful people, who apart from their distinctive "call", use humor to keep things moving.
During a sale I attended an auctioneer was trying to auction off a package from a local car wash and it wasn't moving very well. He broke the silence by telling a story: "Now I heard of a fella that didn't wanna wash his car because he reckoned the dirt was all that was holding it together." Following a few seconds of laughter the car wash package then sold at a good price!
It occurred to me that there is a spiritual lesson here. I have met people reluctant to come to Christ for fear that their only identity is the "dirt." Perhaps they feel that it is the only thing holding them together. An example of this is a heroin addict whose familiarity of addiction is like dirt gripping them from the freedom that Christ wants to give. This is also true of people associations. Many of us have heard the mocking line: "I don't care if I go to hell. I'll have plenty of friends to keep me company."
The daily Scripture portion has long intrigued me though I don't believe I ever preached from it. It describes a price for following Christ that very few reading this have ever had to pay. Yet throughout history and even in our modern day many have made such a sacrifice. (Consider the tremendous price paid by converts to Christ from the Islam religion.)
The point of the verse is not that we will necessarily have to leave that which we cherish so much on this earth but, comparatively speaking if we are called to do so, it will definitely be worth the price.
So today I urge you to place your faith in Christ and hold firmly to the Word of God. Whatever temporal vices you might choose to hold you together pales in comparison to the eternal benefits of following Christ. I end with the Apostle Paul's powerful perspective: "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, forgive us when we seek after temporal solutions to meet the deep yearnings of our heart. Your eternal solution was to send Jesus, Your Son, to give us life – a life that is no longer empty or imprisoned by sin's chains. Thank You for Jesus who came that we might have abundant life through His substitutionary death on our behalf. Nothing on earth and no person dear to our hearts deserves our allegiance more than our Savior. Thank You for coming; thank You for giving and thank You for saving us from ourselves. Amen.
"Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12). "Her children arise and call her blessed" (Proverbs 31:28).
"Mother's Day" will be celebrated here in the United States on Sunday. This is a day when our country acknowledges the sacrificial contributions mothers make in the lives of their children. The theme of honoring our mothers also resonates in the pulpits across our land on Sunday. I am not aware if other countries have such a day designated but wherever you live, today's message is pertinent. I hope each mother reading this will be honored by the expression of the daily verses; her children rise up and call her "blessed."
My Mom was gloriously promoted to heaven in November 2005 and Brooksyne's in October 2002, so we both write from that perspective. Today in this message we want to rise up and call our mothers "blessed."
The command to honor our father and mother is a timeless one. I believe it is applicable all through childhood. We quoted Ephesians 6:1 often during Ester's childhood years: "Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." But honor toward our parents is applicable after we reach adulthood and the attitude of this command still pertains even though our parents may now be deceased.
Today I urge each reader to rise up and call your mother blessed and to express honor toward her in your words and in your actions. For most of our readers this comes very naturally out of your gratitude for a loving and caring mother. But some of you have great pain from your upbringing and your relationship is far less than God's ideal. Perhaps even now there is an underlying heartache in your present relationship with your mother. But God's command to honor our father and mother has no exclusionary clause. I'm confident that He will give you the necessary grace to convey that honor, starting with the very fact that God breathed life into you as He knit you together in your mother's womb.
If your parents are living be sure to express your love and appreciation to them. Honor expressed toward them serves as a solid foundational base for all human honor.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, each spring as we see tiny featherless fledglings pressed against their mothers in the hollow of their family nest, we're reminded of the human love children experience from their parents' safekeeping. We thank You for the love and care You extend to us through the preordained parents who've cared for us from birth to independence. Thank You for their model of love, sacrifice, duty, protection, and many other virtuous qualities needed to properly raise their families. Their example greatly influenced the way we raise our own children.
We also pray for those whose relationship with their parent is a role reversal where they must act as the parent when their own parent behaves as a needy or defiant child. May Your multiplied mercies sustain these caregivers in their ongoing difficult role so that, above all, You are honored and they find deep peace in the midst of the turmoil. Thank You, Father, for our human family, our spiritual family, and for our heavenly family that awaits our arrival. In the name of Christ Jesus Your Son we pray, amen.
"Choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15).
Thirty-two years ago today Brooksyne and I stood before the altar in a little church in the Indian town of Sapulpa Oklahoma and pledged our love to each other in holy marriage. It's worked out very well and for that we are most grateful. Also on this date 29 years ago I was ordained to gospel ministry in York, PA.
Thank God by His grace I have stayed faithful to my wife and she to me and both of us in our call to serve Jesus Christ. We've had our disappointments, tears and sorrows. Like anyone running the spiritual race we've had trials (see news flash below for an update). In our 25 years of pastoral ministry we've been bitten a few times by the sheep. But we've also met lots and lots of people along the way who have blessed us greatly, including quite a few who are on this "Daily Encouragement" list.
When our family prays together we often conclude by reciting the daily verse. Joshua first uttered these words some 3,300 years ago after leading God's people into the Promised Land. His final sermon was a challenge to faithfulness and included this solemn affirmation of his own faith. "Choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
I am struck by the significance of the words "this day" in the text. Certainly on the one hand it conveys a momentous decision to serve the Lord such as that decision made the day we were born again.
However in another sense it's an ongoing, regular, habitual choice to "this day" serve the Lord. After all, Joshua had chosen to follow the Lord many years before he made this call to the people. He surely wasn't making the choice for the first time!
I believe it's that way in our walk with the Lord and our walk with our spouse. Thirty-two years ago I made a public declaration of my love and commitment to Brooksyne as my "lawfully wedded wife". That was a big day for me. But daily since then (all 11,689 days) we have committed our love to one another and to the Lord. And by God's grace we will continue to do so until He calls us home. We welcome you all to join us this day.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: This is our prayer today and I encourage you to make it yours as well!
Come and fill our home with Your presence,
You alone are worthy of our rev'rence.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
We will serve the Lord.
Lord we vow to live holy, bowing our knees to You only.
“But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety” (Philippians 2:25-28).
Many years ago Stephen encouraged our congregation to make contact with the person who most influenced us in our spiritual walk. I considered my Sunday School teacher, Agatha Wise, from Tulsa, OK whom I hadn’t seen since I was a child. She had taught me during my Elementary years with great enthusiasm. Every Sunday she was well prepared, a great story teller, and her love for Jesus was evident in and outside of the classroom.
I called expecting to talk to a woman of great faith who was flourishing in the ways of the Lord. But instead she told me that she had been caring for her bedridden mother for a number of years and had gotten out of the practice of going to church. She still had faith but was not currently experiencing a vibrant walk with God.
Initially I was quite devastated by the conversation as I had always thought her to be a spiritual giant. As I recall, I prayed with her over the phone and followed up with a card of encouragement. In my personal devotions I asked God to renew her walk with Him. I saw her a few years later when I visited my folks in Tulsa. She told me that she had started back to church and was once again refreshed in her spiritual journey. I’m glad that I was able to encourage her in the ways of the Lord as she had encouraged me many times as a child. I realized from that experience that there are times when we are called to spiritually influence those who, in the past, have influenced us.
Paul had established the Philippian church and had a rather rough time while there, being beaten and imprisoned during his short ministry tenure. He was then essentially run out of town; however he made an impact. (God’s Word does not return void and any labor for the Lord is not in vain.) He wrote to encourage these young believers while he himself was imprisoned. Do you sense his earnestness in the daily text? Scroll back to the text and re-read it to get a fuller sense of the Biblical message today.
The Philippian believers were so troubled by Paul’s imprisonment that they sent their dear friend, Epaphroditis, to care for his needs. Paul was very appreciative and indicates his sincere love for Epaphroditis by writing that he would have had sorrow upon sorrow if Epaphroditus had died from his near death experience. He is anxious to send Epaphroditus back to his own people “so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.”
In our present world so much of what we do is motivated by the following attitudes: “What’s in it for me?” “How do I get ahead?” “You scratch my back; I’ll scratch yours.” Paul, Epaphroditis, and the Philippian believers’ attitude is in stark contrast to the mindset of our own generation. Paul’s eagerness to care for the needs of the Philippian believers exceeded his own personal needs to have a comforting, believing friend by his side in a prison cell where he was surrounded by discomfort and godlessness.
There are many who have made a spiritual impact on our lives, so much so, that our lives are greatly improved because of it. It has resulted in our making a spiritual impact on others as well. But perhaps we may also need to make a circular impact by giving back to those who initially invested in our lives. If possible let’s tend to their needs (spiritual, emotional, physical, or otherwise). It may be that they have a need and God has commissioned you to meet it.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, help us to look not only to our own interests but also to the interest of others. May our attitude be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who being equal to You, did not consider this unique privilege to be more important than taking on human flesh to meet our spiritual needs. May we follow Christ’s supreme example of meeting the needs of others when You have commissioned us to do so. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, we pray, amen.
"But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception" (Hosea 10:13).
F. E. Smith was a capable lawyer with a quick wit. He cross-examined a young man who was claiming damages for an arm injury caused by the negligence of a bus driver.
"Will you please show us how high you can lift your arm now as a result of the accident?" asked Smith. The young man slowly raised his arm to shoulder level, his face distorted with pain. "Thank you," said Smith. "And now, could you show us how high you could lift it before the accident?" The young man eagerly shot his arm up above his head. He lost the case!
Several weeks ago I sent a message with a photo of our neighbor's peacock and Tom, a friend from Arizona, sent me a stunning albino peacock photo... He thought I would enjoy it and wrote: "From everything I could find it's a real photo."
I know what he means. New photo and video techniques can doctor photos and videos in astoundingly realistic ways. A satire on a political figure can be ever so realistic. Some can mimic voices that sound so authentic the ear cannot tell the difference.
I noticed today's Scripture text several weeks ago when I shared a message from the verse preceding it: "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you" (Hosea 10:12).
This verse is immediately followed with the daily text and seems to present a contrast: "But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception." I was very intrigued by its timely message and at the time knew it was something I wanted to eventually write on. This passage concerns the northern Kingdom just prior to its destruction by the Assyrians about 2700 years ago.
Notice the parallelism in these two verses:
God's will is that His children: Sow for themselves righteousness.
But instead: They planted (sowed) wickedness.
God's will is that His children: Reap the fruit of unfailing love.
But instead: They reaped evil.
But it's the final phrase that particularly grips my attention: "You have eaten the fruit of deception."
Deception is misrepresentation and misleading falsehood and it abounds like never before. I firmly believe deception will increase as mankind continues to mock and shrug off God's commands. One of the final warnings from Jesus to His disciples was: "Let no one deceive you." Paul has a solemn warning concerning deception in Colossians 2:8: "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ."
Today we need to be on our guard against the many forms of deception that we encounter, particularly spiritual deception that can lead us astray.
I believe this requires several disciplines:
• A personal relationship with Christ.
• A firm and growing knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make us wise unto salvation.
• A sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.
• A solid foundational knowledge in church history and theology.
• An accountability to others in the body of Christ, particularly our elders.
• A discerning wariness of the "new".*
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, I pray that You will help me to sow for myself righteousness, so that I will reap the fruit of Your unfailing love. Break up the unplowed ground of my heart that is stony and hard so that I acknowledge my sins, receive Your forgiveness, and look to You for guidance. May I thoroughly discern the vain philosophies and empty deception that pervades our society. I want to seek Your will above man's agenda so that You shower Your blessings upon me. Amen.
"But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23)
David Fisher is a sports chaplain and fellow encourager friend of ours from Canada. Several years ago we met after he stopped by our home and joined us for dinner. He was here for a game when the Toronto Blue Jays played Baltimore. Today I want to share an illustrative experience that David sent us regarding a visit to a Canadian Drive Thru restaurant:
Recently I was with several family members and we stopped for a coffee at Canada's favorite watering hole, "Tim Hortons". We didn't go into the coffee shop; we went through the famous Drive Thru.
We paused to give the attendant our order and waited for what seemed like an eternity, but nobody was coming on the intercom to take our order. One of us began to murmur and complain using phrases like: "They are awfully slow here." "I've had trouble here before." "There's nobody else in line." "What's the problem?" I added that I had experienced a few "slow" attendants at this particular Tims. The driver was getting very exasperated.
It was then that I observed and realized, much to our chagrin that we had stopped at the menu board, not at the place with the microphone and speaker where you place your order. We were "barking up the wrong tree" so to speak. We drove ahead a few feet, placed our order and were on our way in moments. Great service and quick, once we got to the right spot!"
The above illustration indicates that there was some misunderstanding among David's family members. They had drawn the wrong conclusion regarding where to place their order. I have to admit I've made the same mistake at drive through windows, but caught on just a bit quicker than his party! We can so easily draw the wrong conclusions and make faulty assumptions in life.
Chapter 32 of Numbers has some interesting thoughts about misunderstandings and assumptions in human relationships. Let's consider the historical background: the new generation of Israelites is camped east of the Jordan. Leaders from the tribes of Reuben and Gad made a request to Moses to settle and consider as their inheritance the lands east of the Jordan, which were suitable for livestock. Moses initially misunderstood their request, assuming they were attempting to dodge their responsibilities in the conquest of Canaan.
However, the leaders further clarified their proposal indicating that they would indeed be sending their fighting men to assist the other tribes and pledging that they would not return until the conquest was complete. Moses' tone changed with the clarification and he accepted their proposal, but reminded them of the consequences of failing to keep their word in our daily verse. Tracking through the history of the conquest we see they did indeed keep their word and were commended by Joshua for their faithfulness in Joshua 22.
There's a lot of good teaching in this chapter but let me just focus on the initial faulty assumption and reaction by Moses. I believe it typifies situations that occur frequently in life which leads to strife-filled relationships in the home, church, work and elsewhere. When the tribal leaders approached Moses he drew the wrong conclusion, assuming they were not going to do their part. (Perhaps the tribal leaders also erred in not being clearer in their initial proposal.)
Have you ever been like Moses and come to the wrong conclusion? I sure have. Communication and clarification can do a lot to bring healing and understanding in relationships. May God help us today to listen to one another and clarify as needed. And be careful with assumptions, you just may be "barking up the wrong tree!"
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, help us to be slow to speak, quick to listen, and eager to give the benefit of the doubt to others. We often jump to conclusions that are erroneous due to our own preconceived ideas or based on our past experiences. Give each of us an understanding heart and discerning spirit in our relations with others we intersect with on our daily paths. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
"After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah" (2 Chronicles 32:1).
I consider a friend of mine whom I've known for many years. Throughout his life he sought to serve God faithfully but in the last several years he has been dealing with a severe trial of lasting consequences. I speak to him periodically and hope to visit him soon but rejoice that he is staying faithful to the Lord through the trial. When he shared his story with me it was one of those stories that makes me shake my head and wonder, "Why?"
We often kid about Hezekiah being a book in the Bible (it isn't). Hezekiah was one of Judah’s greatest kings. When he became king the nation was in great apostasy (falling away from God's ways). His father Ahaz "had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD." Yet in spite of this example Hezekiah chose to follow the Lord.
2 Chronicles 29-31 records the major reforms made during Hezekiah’s time of leadership, ending with this statement: "This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD His God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered" (2 Chronicles 31:20, 21). That's a neat summary but the text doesn't stop there.
The statement in our daily verse immediately follows this and illustrates a powerful spiritual principle: “After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah.”
That principle is this: A time of greater testing often follows obedience and blessing. The remainder of chapter 32 records Hezekiah’s response to this invasion.
We desire to live our lives with a clear, sensible cause and effect relationship regarding what we face. But it doesn’t always work that way, does it? Hezekiah was faithfully serving God at the time of the enemy’s attack.
Today many of you are dealing with difficult situations in your life. You’ve sought to honor God and faithfully serve Him and you too may wonder, “Why?”
Many of these questions will not be answered till we get to the other side but here's a Scripture to meditate upon: "The Lord disciplines those He loves" (Hebrews 12:6). He is with us in the midst of His discipline and He provides soothing medicine for our wounded hearts through His Holy Scriptures. Rejoice in God’s faithfulness and steadfast love in the midst of His discipline!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we are but clay in Your hands. May You break down the hardened walls of our heart and reshape us into a useful vessel that is fully yielded to Your workmanship. As we are crafted by the Master Potter, painful as it may be, let our confidence be founded upon the Rock of Ages rather than the shifting sands of our circumstances. May we be faithful and obedient so that You pour out Your glory and honor through us, Your yielded vessels. In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray, amen.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).
Last night I watched a few minutes of a broadcasted committee hearing held in our state capitol in Harrisburg. A group was presenting their case for a very sensible moral position, one which would have not been an issue less than 10 years ago. The lead spokesperson was a mild-mannered lady who thoughtfully and graciously presented her case.
One of the state senators, a vile man who is "retiring" due to his involvement with corruption, lashed out at her in a vicious and cynical verbal attack that I found extremely difficult to watch. I felt for this lady and scores of others who seek to do good in a culture that is in a deep and rapid moral decline. It's easy to become discouraged and weary under these circumstances.
Today is "National Day of Prayer" here in the USA. Daily Encouragement is sent to believers in many different countries all around the world and is written for the spiritual edification of all true believers regardless of where they live. I am unaware if other countries have official national days of prayer, but I hope that they do. I genuinely believe this is a very important day in our country where God has providentially ordained that I should live out my life here on this earth.
Organized efforts for prayer are held in large and small communities throughout the U.S. Here in Lancaster County we have a very well organized and focused prayer task force. The event began last night with a countywide youth rally and all through today there will be Bible reading and intercessory prayer at a large city park. Of course many communities have events as well all through the county and country.
Is it worth it? I'm sure I am not the only one who turns that question over in my mind at times. After all, the moral and spiritual state of our country continues to decline.
I believe the daily verse, although not specifically related to prayer addresses this question: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9). In prayer (as in other acts of obedience to God) we are "sowing" in a manner ordained by the Lord.
When we pray earnestly to the true God of heaven, through His Son Jesus Christ in faith and humility we are "doing good." Prayer does not always result in an immediate harvest but we have a wonderful promise that "we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." This harvest (reaping) will take place in the "proper time" ordained by God.
The "we" in the text are the people of God. The harvest is ultimately spiritual and eternal. The moral decline may very well continue and judgment will most certainly come. The people of God in past generations saw their countries experience God's judgment as a result of their sins. Consider the godly remnant who lived at the time of the fall of Jerusalem during the time of Jeremiah. They lived through horrendous conditions yet in this very context Jeremiah declared "Great is Thy faithfulness."
So let me encourage you today, wherever you live, to continue to call out to the one true God. Whatever your circumstances, however serious your situation, regardless of how long you've waited; keep believing and obeying. Keep praying, for we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we ask you to be merciful to our land because You are a loving, forgiving God. You have called on us, Your children, to be a people of prayer and devotion. We pray for our land to repent of neglect and defiance of Your commands. We come against the powers of darkness that seek to extinguish the light of Your salvation that brings help and hope to weary souls in this life and secures their eternal place in heaven. Help us not to grow weary in our intercession, for we want to be faithful in prayer so that, at a future date, we will witness the harvest of souls. We pray for Your will to be accomplished in the name of Jesus, amen.
“A time to weep and a time to laugh” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).
The other day as Brooksyne and I were traveling to a company where we serve as chaplains we came across a most unusual site. We’ve seen a number of Amish “trucks” over the years (a buggy with an open back for hauling stuff), but this was our first sighting of an Amish delivery truck with a piece of furniture on it along with a riding passenger! The ladies were laughing as they were mounting the truck and during our exchange of conversation. The sight reminded us of “The Beverly Hillbillies” with Granny riding on the Clampett truck in her rocking chair.
One of the greatest blessings in life is hearing laughter. We begin to laugh from a very early age. One of the maturing milestones for babies is their first smile and then their verbal laughter. The other day I was watching a video of babies laughing which brings out joy in all ages. I considered how therapeutic this pleasurable sound would be in the room of a patient in a nursing home. Just hearing the pleasant sound of laughter is uplifting to a downcast or lonely heart.
Last night we had two babies in our home during our Small Group Bible Study. Nine month old David heartily laughed at the various laughter inducing-antics adults use to get babies laughing (making faces, goofy noises, playing peek-a-boo, and so forth). Three month old Adoree now smiles and sure is laughing here.
“A time to laugh.” Aren’t you glad the Lord gave us the capacity to laugh? There’s a lot to be serious about and there will sure be times in life when we weep. I’ve wept, but I’ve had far more occasions to laugh. I feel laughter is designed by God as a great stress reducer. The verbal expression for inward joy is first referenced in the Bible surrounding the events of Isaac’s birth. In fact his name means “laughter.”
One of my favorite pictures of our Lord shows Him laughing as He embraces the little children. I recall many years ago a man who came to the Lord out of a drug background. He was quite intense and rather somber about the things of the Lord. In a conversation I had with him he made it clear that he was offended at the slightest notion that Jesus would have ever laughed.
Now it’s true that there is not a specific verse that states Jesus laughed but what would have been a more appropriate emotion or physical expression as “He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:16). Would you prefer to picture Him with a scowl, frown or an emotionless expression?
Today I encourage you to be thankful for the God-given gift of laughter, and make use of it often, for the Scriptures remind us that there is “a time to laugh.” And I really hope you will have some good laughs today!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, the day to day living can be so challenging and easily drain us of the pleasures in life if we’re not careful. We thank you for our friends and family who pull us away from that mindset and add laughter to our lives. Would you bring genuine laughter to the hearts of our readers today as they go about their daily duties. May they hear laughter and may they make laughter, verbally, and in their hearts. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us" (Romans 12:6)
This weekend, as I was driving along, I spotted a nice looking riding lawn tractor at the end of a large lawn priced at $100.00 (as is). I asked the owner what was wrong with it and he listed several mechanical problems and then dropped the asking price to $50.00. I called Chris, a mechanically proficient friend, to ask his opinion. Then I providentially ran into Steve Parker, a friend I hadn’t seen for years, and asked his opinion. They both agreed that it seemed like a good deal. Then I took Brooksyne to see the tractor and we agreed to make the purchase.
Last night three friends, Fred, Al, and Jay, came to the house and looked it over. Fred is a mechanic who works in a company that sells and repairs large farm machinery. The most obvious problem was that the tractor wouldn't start. When I turned the key and tried to start it, it only made a whirring sound.
Fred immediately diagnosed the problem as some doo-hickey in the starter that was probably stuck (although he used the right name.) Then he asked me if I had a can of WD-40. He knew right where to spray it and after tapping the part with a hammer a few times the tractor started right up. Jay jumped on and mowed several rows of my lawn. So far it looks like I got a very good deal!
It's great to have friends like this and I sure appreciate people who are mechanically inclined. It's a natural gift or acquired skill that is extremely important for our day to day needs. After puttering around with the tractor for awhile I invited the men into my office where we visited. Our conversation turned to the Daily Encouragement site and I showed them what Brooksyne and I do each day using a giftedness quite different than their gifts.
I believe in many cases, particularly as we get older, we need to focus on the gifts God has given us and allow other members of the Christian body to fill in where we are ungifted. I still try new things occasionally but through the years God has made clear to me what my giftings are so my greatest energy is devoted to developing myself in areas where I have an apparent giftedness.
In the reader survey last week I asked you, our readers, to list some of the ways you are serving Christ. Brooksyne and I enjoyed reading the variety of responses. We were especially blessed as we read about those being used in unconventional ways that went beyond the stereotypical giftings. One reader noted that he played the tuba in his church orchestra! It's an example of a very special gifting since few of us would play this unusual but very useful instrument.
The Scripture says, "We have different gifts." What a blessing in the body of Christ to see the variety of gifts God has given us by His grace. Humanly we tend to esteem some gifts as more desirable and worthy than others, but this is a serious error. Gifts are distributed "according to the grace given us." If I complain because I can't sing or because I'm not mechanically inclined I am really casting aspersions on God's sovereign distribution of gifts.
I encourage readers today to discover the gifts God has given you, further develop them, and frequently exercise them. As Christ's body let us find a place of ministry where we can use our gifts to impact others for His glory. As we fervently pray for God's leading and have a sincere desire to honor Him, He will lead us into effective service for Him. That's my desire and I trust that it is yours as well!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, You have called us, Your servants, to exercise our gifts of prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, contributing to the needs of others, leading, and being vessels of Your mercy. Help us not to be fearful or timid in exercising our spiritual gift that flows from Your power within us, since it is not for our own glory but rather for the building up of the body of Christ. We are inadequate within ourselves, but fully sufficient according to the grace given us through Your Holy Spirit. We seek affirmation from You, the ministry opportunities You provide us, and other mature believers, to confirm our spiritual giftings. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
"The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him" (Genesis 40:23). "O Israel, I will not forget you" (Isaiah 44:21b).
Have you ever been forgotten by someone else? Of course you have. Have you ever forgotten something very important concerning someone else or forgotten to do a favor for someone? Certainly you have. I just did this (again) yesterday morning after Brooksyne asked me to make a delivery of music to the men's ministry leader in our church.
Brooksyne was unable to attend our own church because she was helping a new believer to find a church near her home on the other side of Lancaster. (Knowing, as a brand new believer, the young lady would unlikely go on her own Brooksyne picked her up and attended with her.)
So before she left she went to the trouble of putting the important papers I was to deliver in the driver's seat of the van so I wouldn't miss them when I hopped in to start the engine. But, mindlessly, I must have put the papers beside the seat and forgot all about it. When she asked me if I made the delivery you can imagine that I was rightfully scolded for neglecting my duties!
I shared about my day to day forgetfulness that we all deal with from time to time, some more than others and for us anyway increasingly as we get older.
But today I want to look at two verses that show a remarkable contrast between the forgetfulness and neglect of man and mindfulness of God. The first one concerns Joseph who, as a prisoner, finally found the perfect opportunity for his release. He had interpreted a dream for Pharaoh's cupbearer, which had a favorable outcome, saving the cupbearer from death. Joseph appealed to him to mention his unjust imprisonment to Pharaoh. But the cupbearer, in spite of the remarkable turnabout in his life, forgot.
Isn't it reassuring that God never forgets us? God remembered Joseph and He will always remember us. We can claim the promise in Isaiah 44. Although it speaks specifically of Israel, it surely also speaks to us today due to God's immutable (unchanging) character; "I will not forget you."
This is especially important to remember during the mysterious delays of life. During times like this we may misunderstand God's "apparent" silence. Believing friend, He has not forgotten you any more than He had forgotten Joseph. Two full years later Pharaoh himself had a dream, and you know the rest of the story (if not, please read Genesis 41.)
Are you facing a delay in life? Is there silence in regard to direction from the Lord? Perhaps it seems that God has forgotten you. No, no, absolutely not! Hold on to your faith. In His time He will make a way. Be assured He has not forgotten you. We are never forgotten by God!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, as we examine the emotional pain of our lives, when it seems as though You've forgotten about us, we often start out with the question of "Why?" But in hindsight we realize that those struggles taught us practical truths that we could not learn overnight but over time, and that there truly was purpose in our pain and in Your timing. Help us to model integrity and steadfastness in the midst of the severe struggles and sweeping storms of life. Your eternal purpose is greater than our temporal pain. Remind us that it may not just be for our own instruction but for others looking on who may learn from our difficult experiences. Amen.
"At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent" (Daniel 6:4).
Several weeks ago I was talking to Don, a friend of mine who runs a small plumbing business. Like many businesses his has had some struggles lately and he is seeking new business opportunities. He told me a story of going to a very wealthy home that had an expensive water heating system that the owner had noticed was rusting around the top. The owner called Don and was prepared to replace the system, which would have been a three thousand dollar job.
But Don noted that the problem was a valve above the system that had been leaking and all that he needed to do was replace the valve to stop the leak and otherwise the water heating system was fine. He replaced the valve and the owner paid a fraction of the cost of a new system. As we were talking Don shared how "easy" it would have been to persuade the owner they needed a new system and in the process make a lot more money on the job. In fact he felt many of his competitors would have done just that.
I want to write a word of encouragement today to those seeking to maintain integrity in their personal life and in their workplace. The daily verse speaks of the integrity of Daniel in his service in the secular world. Read the rest of the chapter and you will see that this very demonstration of character landed him in the lion's den. Similarly our commitment to character may be the actual cause of a trial or, as in the case of Don, making far less money on a job than we would have otherwise. It may be easier and more profitable in the short run to just go along with the downward flow.
Many years earlier Daniel had developed this admirable character in his resolve to be faithful to God's commands (Daniel 1:8). In the long run and particularly having an eternal, God-centered perspective in view, we will be blessed as we maintain our character and integrity. We may see the fruit of our blessing on this side, or we may not. But we will certainly see them on the inside and on the other side.
Let us resolve, in regard to the business of life, that we will act with integrity. Accept this promise today: "The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good man rewarded for his" (Proverbs 14:14).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, I consider the extremely difficult choice Job made not to sin by charging You with wrongdoing. I consider Joseph who withstood tremendous temptation by resisting the seduction of Potiphar’s wife. And I consider Daniel who refused to stop the custom of praying to his Father in heaven though he knew it would land him in the lions’ den. These three, among scores of other godly brothers and sisters throughout the centuries, chose to do the right thing knowing that doing so would cause them great suffering, terrible injustice, or martyrdom. The ultimate example is Jesus, Your Son, who died in our stead though He was wholly innocent of sin. Help me not to look for that which is easy, quick, or that which will avoid consequence. I choose to deal with the consequence of obedience to You; whether or not it works out for my good in the short term. May my greatest concern be for that which works for my good internally and eternally. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
"Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until He comes and showers righteousness on you" (Hosea 10:12).
All across our area and throughout the northern hemisphere farmers are working the soil and preparing for seed-time. Yesterday my neighbor, Leon, was on a big John Deere tractor preparing his fields for planting. The equipment is sure different than they used in the Bible times or for that matter most of human history. The tools and technology may change but the basic fundamentals of planting remain the same.
The daily verse from Hosea lists three verbs related to crop farming; sowing, reaping and breaking up. It's interesting to me that he doesn't list them in the order we would expect, that is break up, sow and reap. As I considered and studied this passage I believe there is a reason.
"Sow for yourselves righteousness." In this case the interest is in personal or individual sowing which indicates a responsibility God has given to us regarding our own spiritual development and growth. Jesus reinforces this in His Sermon on the Mount when He states: "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). The latter part of our daily reminds us that "it is time to seek the LORD, until He comes and showers righteousness on you." It's always time to seek the Lord for "He rewards those who earnestly seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).
"Reap the fruit of unfailing love." When farmers sow, regardless of how rewarding the sowing may be, they have a purpose and a goal in mind. They want to reap a bountiful harvest! I talked to my farming friend, Ken, this morning. He sowed corn yesterday and expressed that he enjoyed this aspect of planting mostly because, as he was sowing, he did so in confidence that he would reap an abundant harvest in September or October. As a result of sowing righteousness our spiritual harvest will be "the fruit of unfailing love."
"Break up your unplowed ground." Our lives get kind of like hard soil. We need more than surface work; we need the Holy Spirit to do some heavy-duty renewing. Hosea uses the metaphor of "unplowed ground." Farmers know that a well-prepared field is essential to a good crop. Jesus taught in the Parable of the Sower about the seeds that fell on the hardened path. These seeds never had a chance to take root because the birds came and devoured them.
Finally today I want to consider a reason Hosea may have placed these three elements of planting in the order he chose. In a sense we need to work the soil in an ongoing way so that we keep our hearts soft and receptive to God's truth. It's a cycle that continues all through life since there are many ungodly forces at work in the changing seasons of our lives that contribute to spiritual hardness.
Today let’s allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives as we break up our unplowed ground, as we sow seeds of righteousness and as we enjoy the harvest of Your unfailing love!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Lord, I confess to You that my heart can easily become like unplowed ground. Destructive attitudes that I justify rather than repent of remain in my heart and cause me to be hardened toward You and others that I love. I invite the work of Your Holy Spirit to cleanse, renew and refresh me as I yield my heart to the searchlight of Your Word. As I seek You, Lord, You will come and shower Your righteousness and blessing upon my life as the fruit of Your unfailing love flows out to those around me. Amen.
"Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn" (John 21:11).
It seems anyone who likes to fish enjoys telling about their fishing adventures. Last week Brooksyne and I were enjoying lunch with our friend, Rick Steudler, and he shared about his recent fishing expedition. He pulled out the above photo and told us about the size of his amazing catch (6#10oz, 24.5".) He was conveniently carrying the fish photo in his front shirt pocket. He excitedly recounted his trout fishing experience in northern Pennsylvania the first day of fishing season.
In fishing stories we're very specific about how big they were how many fish we caught, and details about the catch. And, by all means, we must get a photo of ourselves holding the largest fish! If we have email we can then send it to our friends like my friend, Bill Mosebarger, in northern PA does. We men especially like to tell our stories and share photos from our prizewinning catch of fish. Wives pull out photos of their children and grandchildren while men pull out photos of their fish, turkey or deer.
The fish story recorded in today's text took place sometime during the forty day period after Christ was resurrected and before His ascension back to heaven. It is one of twelve specific post-resurrection appearances by the risen Lord recorded in the Scriptures. Seven of the disciples led by the experienced fisherman, Peter, had gone fishing overnight and caught nothing. I know many will state, “I just enjoy going fishing whether I catch anything or not” but I believe most fishermen really want to catch fish, the bigger the better!
The next morning Jesus saw them from the shore and shouted out some good fishing advice. They wisely followed his instructions which resulted in so many fish they were unable to haul the net in. They went on to join Jesus for the first recorded men's breakfast. They enjoyed a good meal together as Jesus shared some powerful teaching with them.
But I always enjoy a detail in this story that's part of any real fish story. Peter had jumped into the water and trudged in to meet the Lord. Then he went back to the boat to assist the other disciples in getting the catch in. John, who wrote this account, was one of the disciples on the boat and shares this authenticating detail: "It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn."
We have a description of the catch (full of large fish), specific number (153) and an interesting detail (even with so many the net was not torn). I am glad, in the providence of God that this story is in the Bible. It's a great picture of the way God meets all of our needs.
Physically, the disciples were nurtured by the fish and bread Jesus prepared over the fire of burning coals. Socially, they enjoyed the fellowship of one another as they talked about their miraculous catch over a warm breakfast. Financially, Jesus filled the net so full of large fish that the disciples could not even haul it in; it had to be towed by boat. (Their wives would likely be treated to a “meal out” that evening.) Spiritually, the disciples learned that obedience to the Lord’s instruction brought about great reward. It also laid groundwork for the important truths Jesus taught following their breakfast.
Not everyone reading our message today goes to a stream, river, lake or the ocean to catch fish. But we are all called to be fishers of men. Let’s cast out our faith in the sea of life and pray for a good catch of men and women, boys and girls who will decidedly follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Now that’s a great story to share with others around the dinner table!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Jesus, we’re reminded of Your watchful eye as we go about our daily routine. As the fishermen needed a catch of fish You met their need, over and above what they could have anticipated. Help us to listen to Your wise instruction, walk faithfully in Your righteous paths, and trust You to meet everyone of our needs; physically, spiritually, socially, and financially. We thank You in advance for interceding to the Father on our behalf and supplying all our needs. Amen.
"O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress" (Isaiah 33:2).
Today let us meditate on the richness of this Scripture verse, which is actually a prayer, and let us find renewed strength in our walk with Christ. I particularly ponder the exclamation phrase which begins the prayer, "O Lord", which is found about 385 times in the Scriptures. Today this phrase or its cousin, "O my God", is often used thoughtlessly or even as a swear word.
However tracking its use all throughout Scriptures I find it has a sense of deep and earnest petition or praise. It is never used in trite situations such as we hear it often spoken today. It is first used in Scripture as an earnest prayer by Abraham's servant when seeking a wife for Isaac. "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham" (Genesis 24:12).
It is last used in the book of Revelation in a chorus sung at the throne of God. "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed" (Revelation 15:3,4).
"Be gracious to us." The petition in this prayer is so simple and we have abundant promises of its fulfillment all through the Bible. Our Lord is always gracious toward us even though the critical problem at hand may overshadow our view of God’s gracious ways toward His children. It’s always His nature to be loving and gracious.
"We long for you." That's such a key and yet I surely admit I don't always long for the Lord as I should. There are so many distractions! We need to be in a state of longing for God. As Brooksyne and I prayed during our walk this morning even the surrounding beauty of God’s creation called for my attention and soon my mind was wandering off in another direction.
Jim Gambini, my former pastor, writes: "The great danger the Christian faces is two-fold: because life on the planet is so ‘uncertain’ one temptation is to trust God to make us more secure through the accumulation of things or power/authority. The other temptation, if we have already accumulated plenty of this world’s goods, is to rest in what we have."
"Be our strength every morning." That is our ongoing need. Yesterday's strength is inadequate for the challenges of this day.
"Our salvation in time of distress." God is always our very present help in the time of any trouble or distress. Today, be encouraged by these truths as you join me in crying out "O Lord."
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine with ten thousands beside.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in You I trust, O my God. Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. O Lord my God, I called to You for help and You healed me. Though weeping may endure for a night, I’m grateful that rejoicing will come with a new day. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever. Amen.
(Prayer adapted from selected verses in Psalm 25 & Psalm 30)
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1).
Today is one day I would really rather be somewhere else. If I had my rathers I would sure be in the Boston area for the 112th running of the Boston Marathon. Twenty thousand runners will begin the race in Hopkinton, Massachusetts on this beautiful Monday morning. And approximately 500,000 spectators will line the 26.2 mile course all along the route and the finish line will be packed in downtown Boston. I know that personally since Brooksyne, Ester and I have been there! Although we didn't know a single runner we could still honor them as they completed the race and really get the sense that each one was a winner, even those stumbling in hours later.
Each of us is running in a race as well; life's marathon. I am so thankful that there's not just one winner in the race we are running. Everyone who finishes is a winner. As we run life's race we are surrounded by scores of fellow runners who witness our endurance and persistence. These are the ones who've gone before us and completed the race.
They are not like the vast majority who will view the Marathon today though they never ran in one. Instead our witnesses could say, "Been there, done that!” Joshua pronounces, "My family and I chose to serve the Lord!" Daniel speaks up, "As a young man I purposed in my heart to live God's way!" Paul joyfully declares, "I counted all loss and I finished the race!" Stephen, in perpetual rejoicing, sees the Lord on His Throne. And our Lord Jesus, who also ran this race victoriously proclaims, "I did all that my Father asked of me."
Witnesses include completers throughout the history of the church; some well-known, so many, many others known only by their generational peers. I gain spiritual inspiration by realizing my parents are among these witnesses, as is my first pastor as a born-again Christian, James Howard. I gain inspiration as I consider a growing group of brothers and sisters I’ve known personally who have crossed the finish line. Jim Lutton, a close friend of ours, who was called home early is among them. (If they have humor in heaven he's right in the middle stirring it up.) In my spirit I can almost hear them all crying out, "Come on Stephen, you can make it, stay faithful, it's incredible up here!"
We are also surrounded by scores of fellow runners still in the race. Look around you today! What a great blessing they are. Count me in as one of these runners. We're not in competition; we are in this together and we need each other. Let’s encourage one another as we run this spiritual marathon together. Let's keep running, believers! Let us indeed run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Daily Prayer:Father, we recognize that our endurance and persistence are attitudes derived from a faith-filled life with You. Our endurance is realized by continuing this race though others may drop out making us feel like we run alone. Our persistence is marked by our determination to finish the race though struggles weigh us down and doubts cloud our vision of the finish line. Thank You for marking the race out for us by showing us the great examples of those who cheer us on as we participate in this Christian race. They finished their race on earth through their enduring faith, though they experienced opposition from sinful men. We endure hardships and struggles as discipline from You, our loving Father, that we may share in Your holiness. We look forward to the harvest of righteousness and peace that comes as a result of our persistence in this spiritual marathon. Strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees as we repent of the sin that entangles us. We lay aside everything that drags us down or tempts us to give up. We persist in the name of Jesus Christ for the heavenly finish line, amen.
Many years ago I read an inspiring mission story that I have never forgotten and hope I never do. I wish I had my pastor's clipping and filing disciplines as I sure would like to read the entire article again!
It was about a man who had a very severe disability that greatly limited his ability to function. Yet he had a love for the Lord and a giving heart toward missions. He was determined to do what he could to support the worldwide cause of Christ.
At his request he was positioned under a walnut tree where he sat on the ground. One by one he laboriously picked up walnuts that would then be sold and the proceeds given to missions.
Most every reader in this encouragement series has heard of Fanny Crosby. She died in 1915 but her songs have endured and are still sung in churches all around the world. When we lived in New England we often drove through Bridgeport, Connecticut on I-95 where Fanny Crosby's body was laid to rest. This simple inscription is written on her tombstone: "She hath done what she could."
Fanny Crosby was blind from infancy. But she allowed God to use her gift of words put to music and has impacted many generations for Christ. No trace of bitterness is evident in her song texts and I don't believe they existed. She didn't live out her life wallowing in regrets or torment herself with the defeatist mind game, “What if?” She indeed did what she could.
Do you recognize the daily Scripture portion? I purposefully selected a short phrase from the verse apart from the context. The disciples were confronted with a great need of how to feed the multitude. Philip did some quick math and determined the immensity of the food deficit. I appreciate people that can do quick mental math calculation.
Andrew found a little lad with five small barley loaves and two small fish and brought him to the Lord. As Andrew looked at the apparent inadequacy of the food resource he realistically observed: "But what are they among so many?" I may not be quick at math like Philip but I realize that I am a lot like Andrew in my analytical approach to problems.
Jesus didn't answer Andrew's question but merely instructed: "Have the people sit down." Then He commenced with the marvelous, miraculous feeding of the five thousand. What little food supply the lad provided was more than enough since God was in it.
God purposes to use each of us for His cause regardless of our apparent limitations. So what is the lasting answer to the question, "but what are they among so many?" It is always "absolutely adequate" when God is in it! Stay faithful to your call and mission today.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Almighty God, help us not to look at the immensity of the task before us, but help us to look at the immensity of our all-powerful God. With humankind many things are impossible but with You, our Father, nothing is impossible. We want to trust You for supernatural workings in our lives and in the duties before us. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
“But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept” (Genesis 33:4).
The need for reconciliation is a recurring discussion Brooksyne and I have with employees through our chaplain ministry. Recently, in a personal discussion with an employee, we discussed the vital need for reconciliation to occur among his family members. This is extremely important when death is near (as it was in this case), but since we don’t know when a death may occur, we need to make reconciliation a priority in life every day.
What an intense and emotional meeting is described in our daily text! Jacob had last seen his brother Esau at the time he stole his blessing. Tragically, it was Jacob’s mother who dreamed up the deceptive scheme and helped Jacob carry it out. Filled with rage Esau threatened: “I will kill.” For fear of his life Jacob fled to his Uncle Laban’s in Haran where God prospered his long sojourn.
Now, after many years of no communication, Jacob was to meet with Esau. He had been dreading this meeting for years, expecting the worst. The entire 32nd chapter of Genesis is devoted to the preparations for this inevitable confrontation. It also tells of the remarkable encounter Jacob had with a heavenly wrestler who provided divine assurance and changed Jacob’s name to Israel.
The emotion between the brothers is intense and so colorfully described in our daily verse that we can easily imagine the touching scene. When Jacob first saw Esau he approached his older brother with fear, humility, and trepidation. But what a pleasant surprise he was in for!
Esau ran to greet him, embraced him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. Wow, that must have been a huge relief to Jacob and what incredible joy must have filled his heart.
They wept together. What a beautiful picture of reconciliation. Scripture reveals a great deal about Jacob’s life and his spiritual growth, but we have little information about Esau. But God was molding character in Esau’s life over the long years of separation and we witness this in the reconciliation scene and the verses that follow.
Reconciliation is changing for the better a relationship between two or more persons. Theologically it refers to the change of relationship between God and man. Socially it refers to the change of relationship between people.
Two truths to consider today:
1) Let’s thank God for His reconciliation. His offer for reconciliation stands ready and remains steady. He’s waiting for our move. A great detail in the Parable of the Prodigal Son is when the father (representing God) runs to meet the returning son. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
2) Do you have someone in your life to whom you need to be reconciled? I particularly consider families that are broken by strife and long-term division.
It’s hard, but God can work in both hearts. Surely Jacob had no idea of the change that had taken place in Esau’s life, and in reality the need to meet his brother was more a matter of expediency than a willful desire to reconcile. Begin to take the initiative in reconciliation. Reach out and experience the incredible joy of reconciliation.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, you have called us to live at peace with all people, in as much as it is possible. As people of free will we cannot force reconciliation but we can facilitate reconciliation. Help us to lay aside pride, prejudice, procrastination and preconceived ideas of the outcome so that we take the first step toward reconciliation. We want to trust You to guide us in this most important endeavor as we attempt to live at peace with all people. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38,39). "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day" (2 Timothy 1:12).
Athanasius, an early bishop of Alexandria, stoutly opposed the teachings of Arius, who declared that Christ was not the eternal Son of God, but merely a subordinate being. Hounded through five exiles, he was finally summoned before emperor Theodosius, who demanded he cease his opposition to Arius. The emperor reproved him and asked, “Do you not realize that all the world is against you?” Athanasius quickly answered, “Then I am against all the world.”
Today our world desperately needs followers of Christ like Athanasius who, with deep conviction, stand boldly for the Lord and His Word regardless of what is popular or what the world may say is right. You've likely seen the slogan, "What's popular isn't always right, and what's right isn't always popular."
The words in the daily text "I am convinced" are a great source of strength and assurance for the believer. Living in a state of being convinced is an essential part of living the God-ordained life of spiritual abundance. If we are really convinced of God's love and care we are blessed indeed! This conviction is an internal, personal appropriation of a constant, unchanging spiritual reality. You see, the reality is that God loves and cares for His own, whether we are convinced of it or not. The Amplified Version conveys a strong sense of the meaning when it translates: "I am persuaded beyond doubt."
In this section of the epistle to the Romans the apostle Paul is expressing his supreme confidence in God's master plan for his own life and for His Kingdom. He asks a very important question, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" (Romans 8:35). He responds to his own question with this glorious verse of assurance: "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).
We are dealing with issues that would never have crossed our minds several years ago. These issues have tremendous impact on the personal, nationwide, and worldwide levels. Error is not creeping but charging into the church in such ways that our forefathers would never have imagined. New sources of fear abound. Uncertainty permeates. We shake our heads in wonder as to what this world is coming to? Today we sure need the same sense of being convinced that Paul experienced, don't we?
Bill and Gloria Gaither, authors of over 700 inspirational songs, experienced fear and uncertainty surrounding the birth of their son Benjamin in 1970, which eventually became the seedling for the much loved classic, “Because He Lives.” Today we have posted below a powerful video version of this song.
World conditions and personal trials can rob us of peace but let us instead seek the Peace speaker. He speaks not only to the winds and waves of the sea but He also calms our turbulent hearts today with that same directive message, “Peace, be still!” Let's entrust to Jesus those burdens upon our hearts this day and gain the perspective that the Father wants for His children. I am absolutely convinced that life is worth the living just because He lives!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Lord, I know that doubt and uncertainty impose fear while faith and assurance develops a calm, trusting spirit. I do not look to the world for strength or encouragement but I look to Your Word where I am convinced that You will protect and guard that which You have entrusted to me until the day when Christ will come to judge all people and take us to live in heaven. By the empowerment of Your indwelling Holy Spirit help me to boldly stand when the world and even those close to me assaults my faith. It is in Your strength and through Your power that I remain faithful though tested by fire. May the purifying of my faith, worth more than gold, bring praise, glory and honor to Jesus my Lord and Savior. Amen.
"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him" (Hebrews 9:27,28).
A friendly public service announcement from the staff at Daily Encouragement Net: Today in America taxes are due. Fellow Pennsylvanian Benjamin Franklin noted: "In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes." Well, Franklin certainly paid taxes during his lifetime and when he died on April 17, 1790 he personally proved and experienced the other certainty. Here we are, over 200 years later, and there's no change in Franklin's two certainties. Today Americans are reminded of and likely dealing with the certainty of taxes! For my entire life April 15 has represented the tax due date.
What if we all had a prominently displayed death due date printed on our forehead? I imagine women would wear bangs all the time and hats would be a given for men everywhere. It's interesting to think of how conversations would go. You meet someone and you try to politely avoid looking at their death due date but curiosity overrules and you find yourself discreetly noting their due date (they're doing the same with you.) You see it and, as you feign interest in your conversation, you're actually doing some mental calculating, determining how much longer they have.
Well, of course we were not born with this date notably engraved on our bodies. Aren't you grateful for that! The date has not been revealed to us, but we most certainly have one and we can be certain that God knows it. Our death due date is expressed in Scripture in the straightforward phrase: "Man is destined to die once." Other versions use the word appointed or ordained. It's in the present tense indicating a fact which is continually true.
Nearly forty years ago I very specifically recall my dad receiving the news that his dad, my grandpa, had passed away. We had a black, wall-mounted phone in our kitchen at that time and I vividly recall watching him lean against the wall. In brokenness he quietly wept as he received the news. Ten years ago it was my turn to deal with my dad's death. I know, generationally, I will be the next to pass on but I have no idea when my due date is. Simply stated, death is the God-ordained transition from this present life to the next. We are all born destined to die.
Another certainty is expressed by the Apostle Paul, "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out" (1 Timothy 6:7). But most people really don't live their lives as if this were true!
The main question is this: Are we ready to die? Are we prepared for the judgment? This is a certainty that Benjamin Franklin didn't note. God has given us a will to decide and there is absolutely no decision we make in our lifetime that is greater than this one. As important as it is that we select the right marriage partner, our life's vocation, or other major life decisions, these pale in comparison to our decision regarding our eternal destiny.
The decision is to personally believe in Christ, receive Him as our Lord and Savior and daily live our lives for Him. This leads to another wonderful certainty: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24). I hope you have all made this decision to personally believe this essential truth.
But if somehow you have come across this brief message and haven't done so, or you are uncertain of your salvation through faith in Christ, let me strongly urge you to examine your heart today. Remember, we all have a death due date! God’s instruction from His Holy Word properly prepares us for the most important date of our human existence. Make sure you're ready!!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Jesus, it will take my entire life on earth and all of eternity to express my love and devotion to You. In Your great love and compassion You saw my need for redemption and paid the ultimate sacrifice by dying on the Cross in my place. You paid in full the sin debt You did not owe so that I could receive complete forgiveness which I did not deserve. What indescribable peace this brings to my life on this earthly pilgrimage. Although I do not know my death due date I have an assurance of eternal life when You have destined to call me home, not because of what I've done or who I am, but because You gave Your all for me! I receive that incredible gift from You today! Amen.
"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us" (Romans 5:2b-5).
I am in close contact with a friend who has been undergoing a very fiery trial over the last several weeks. It has been a wracking experience for him as he has endured severe blows. Yet he is demonstrating a remarkable faith, persevering spirit, and godly character in the midst of his suffering. This was evident in a fervent prayer of intercession I heard him share among believers recently.
I am sure many of you have heard of a lecture titled, "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch, which is very popular on the internet now. Randy is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh PA and is a very engaging and colorful speaker. What has made the lecture so popular is that Pausch gave it while dealing with a very severe form of pancreatic cancer and he has been told he has only months to live. Although he does not express faith in Christ his outlook is very upbeat. How much more should we, as believers, have a hope-filled outlook that originates from the genuine eternal hope given to us by God!
In the lecture Pausch essentially shares his childhood dreams and the many ways in which his life has been fulfilling. I find great spiritual application in his following observation: "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."
That sure got me to thinking. Throughout life we accumulate a great deal of experience since we all share the common testimony of not always getting what we want or even perhaps what we feel God surely wanted for us! At times this means we undergo trials and, as our life progresses, we will have a growing collection of trials.
We've all been disappointed by situations that just didn't work out as we had planned. Most likely each of us has had several profound disappointments in life and many lesser ones. But the “experience” we endure along the way is invaluable and part of God’s plan to shape our spirit and produce Christ-like character.
A phrase from a song written in the seventies continues to feed my spirit. It happens to be one of the songs that Brooksyne sang in our early marriage (contemporary at the time.) "When grief has left you low, it causes tears to flow, when things have not turned out the way that you had planned. But God won't forget you, His promises are true. Tears are a language God understands."
I don't always understand the Biblical truth expressed in the daily verse. Specifically I have trouble rejoicing in suffering. What about you? But the equation is a progression of godly traits and is interrelated: "Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." The last two characteristics result from the first two. I want godly character and I want eternal hope but, according to this Scripture, they are the end result of suffering and perseverance.
I doubt that it is in the nature of any believer to sincerely rejoice because of suffering, but rather we rejoice because we are confident that our loving God is in control. The eventual outcome in our lives will be for our good, as we yield our will to the will of the Father. A maturing spiritual outlook realizes that this time of suffering is a part of God's plan in forming the character of Christ within us.
In faith, cling to a phrase from the last portion of our encouragement Scripture. Read it slowly, memorize it, repeat it often, and appropriate it to your need today: "Hope does not disappoint us." The ultimate hope we have in Christ will not disappoint! One thousand years into eternity no one is going to regret having placed their hope in Christ. May God give each of us the awareness today that our times of suffering do indeed work for our good, providing us with deep assurance that "hope does not disappoint."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Heavenly Father, we live in Your grace that enables us to seek You more diligently as You produce in us a persevering spirit in the midst of adversity. Instead of driving us to hopeless despair, our suffering produces perseverance and perseverance produces proven character whereas proven character brings about a mature hope that turns our disappointments into rejoicing. You have poured out your love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit and brought assurance to our spirit. The image of Christ is seen in our lives through the character traits You grow in us as we die to ourselves and live for You. Keep us faithful and hopeful during the painful process. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever" (1 Corinthians 9:24, 25).
For the last five years I've had a chipped off tooth that has progressively worsened until I finally knew, due to the overbearing pain, that I had to get it fixed. Yesterday morning Brooksyne called our dentist and I gratefully went in at 6:15 last night.
My dentist, a friendly fellow who really likes to talk (which I consider a positive), examined me and said, "You ready to go ahead and get this fixed now?" Well, I was actually expecting to have to wait for another appointment but was more than ready to just get it over with. He spent a rather painful 45 minutes drilling and grinding although he did his best to deaden the pain. I now have a temporary stainless steel crown and feel a whole lot better. In a couple of weeks I will get my "permanent" crown, my first and hopefully my last crown of that type. But I anticipate getting an altogether different future crown.
My parents named me after the only Stephen in the Bible. Of course he is one of my favorite Bible characters, although his ministry was cut short after just one power-packed sermon. Stephen comes from the Greek name Stephanon, which means "crowned one".
The New Testament uses the illustration of a crown seven times in regard to a future promise and today I want to examine just one of them.
The Apostle Paul wrote this portion of Scripture to the Corinthian believers. Corinth was located in Greece where the ancient Olympic games were held and many of his readers would identify with this illustration which stresses a vital spiritual truth. I believe Paul was interested in athletics since he uses athletic illustrations in his writings such as running, wrestling and boxing. In this passage he is urging diligence in the Christian life with the spirit of an overcomer. He urges the Corinthian believers and us to: "Run in such a way as to get the prize." He reminds them of the strict training that was involved for the serious contestant.
"They do it to get a crown that will not last." This contrast in the crowns is the part of the verse that especially grips my heart. Indeed the ancient crown of victory was a laurel wreath that eventually withered and died. I have a temporary crown over my tooth that will last several weeks until my permanent crown, custom made just for me, comes in. But it's not going to last forever.
Even the gold medals received by the winners in the modern games will one day perish. Today many, perhaps most, are in pursuit of the various types of temporal crowns that will not last. For the great majority the pursuit of God is placed on a back burner in life to be dealt with at some later date.
"But we do it to get a crown that will last forever." Praise God! Look at that verse again: "But we do it to get a crown that will last forever." This crown is not for a select few; note the plural pronoun "we". Earlier in the passage he wrote regarding the competition in the ancient games that "only one gets the prize." Consider all the athletes who sacrifice many years of their time, money, and endure strict training to be in the Olympics but don't receive a medal.
This is not so in regard to our future crown. All who faithfully live their lives for Christ will receive this righteous crown! It is not by our diligent works of righteousness; instead this crown is a gift to the faithful believer because of the shed blood of the righteous One! In his final letter Paul expresses a tremendous assurance in God as he prepared for his departure from this life. "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8).
Today let me encourage you to keep in clear focus the heavenly coronation ceremony where we will receive our crown of righteousness. In doing so it will properly motivate us to align our priorities on this side of heaven. It will also help us to run the spiritual race with our brothers and sisters in mind. We'll not compete against them, but we'll spur them on as we run this race together and receive our crown of righteousness from the righteous Judge.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Lord Jesus, even as athletes go into strict training to reach their physical goals, there is much sacrifice involved. Their appetites, exercise, endurance, activities, and their mindset must work toward their physical goal. I am willing to experience earthly loss in exchange for heavenly gain. I want to know You, Jesus, and the power of Your resurrection and even the fellowship of Your sufferings. As I fix my eyes upon You, Lord, the heavenly crown of righteousness that awaits me surpasses my desire for worldly accomplishments or human praise. I anticipate with great joy that which is yet to come when I am crowned with the crown of righteousness by You, Lord, the righteous Judge. Keep me faithful and trusting till that glorious day. Amen.
"God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne" (Psalm 47:8). "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!" (Revelation 19:6,7). "God shines forth" (Psalm 50:2).
Yesterday we passed a church on a busy highway outside of Hershey, Pennsylvania that has a very active sign ministry. Someone regularly changes the message and we have often been blessed with a rich nugget of Biblical truth as we drive by the Fishburn Church. The Christian workers who keep up with this “street ministry" have a great opportunity to influence passersby. When I see changeable church signs it usually brings to mind our dear friends Bill and Veda Shibilo, a senior couple, who for many years changed our church sign each week in Taunton Massachusetts, rain or shine, snow or wind.
Due to God's immutable (unchangeable) nature the Biblical forecast: "God reigns; The Son shines" is always true, not at all like a typical weather forecast which can change in the course of a day. In our area over the past winter meteorologists put out quite a few incorrect forecasts. But I don’t feel like I’m stepping out on a limb to confidently declare that each new day, “God reigns and the Son shines!”
What a great peace and deep sense of assurance the Lord's reigning control brings to our lives. This is a wonderful truth that is emphasized through the entire Bible. Consider the following Bible texts:
In the Old Testament after God's remarkable deliverance from Egypt Moses and the Israelites sang a song that declares: "The LORD will reign forever and ever!" (Exodus 15:18). The Psalmist proclaimed in our first daily text that "God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne" (Psalm 47:8). The prophet Isaiah pronounced a central tenet of theology, "God reigns!" (52:7). At the very time the nation was going into Babylonian exile Jeremiah's faith rises out of his despair and he asserts, "You, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation" (Lamentations 5:19).
In the New Testament Mary received a powerful message concerning Jesus from the angel Gabriel when he announced her role in Christ’s birth: "He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end" (Luke 1:33). Our second daily text is a glimpse of the other side as we read this awesome description: "I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: 'Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns!'"
Brother and Sisters in Christ, allow this truth to minister to you in regard to those situations on your heart today. In each of the following examples we have some specific friends on our hearts that we hope will read this. The health matter that is so uncertain; The Lord reigns! The job or financial situation that looks like a long, dark tunnel; The Lord reigns! The family troubles that seem to only worsen, the troubled memories that don’t seem to go away; The Lord reigns!
Today as we contemplate the absolute truth of God's reign, "Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!" Following the message is a powerful video titled, "I Know My Redeemer Lives" that has really blessed both Brooksyne and me as we prepared today's message. You’ll be so glad you took the time to view this touching video as it puts life’s difficulties into perspective and reminds us of the steadfast love and care of a loving father.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Jesus, You reign over all the earth and You also reign in my heart! What an awesome blessing this truth brings to me today. As I consider that it is not by my might, nor by my power but by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts that my personal mountains are removed. Jesus, I know that many of the mountains I face are not just blown away by a simple prayer of faith, but these mountains are often the very essence of how You work through my life to reveal Your faithfulness and Your power in the midst of my struggles. You develop godly character as I am challenged to remain steadfast and faithful in my Christian walk. You make my feet like hind's feet and You make me to walk upon high places. Help me to keep my gaze continually upward during the climb so that I see You reigning on Your throne as I bring You glory and honor! Amen.
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! (Isaiah 43:1). "He calls his own sheep by name" (John 10:3).
The Holy Spirit will use many different means to bring hope and strength to His children in time of need. It may be a special receptivity He gives us regarding a particular Scripture. It may be a call from a friend or a prayer offered by a pastor. The list goes on and on. God often uses the text of a song along with the musical accompaniment to speak to our hearts. I find particular encouragement in the words of a song titled, "He knows my name."
Today I want to share from a short verse in Isaiah that is easily memorized and packed with assurance for the follower of Christ.
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you." Hear His words in your heart today. We have a command "Do not fear" followed by a present reality, "for I have redeemed you."
"Do not fear" ("fear not" in the King James Version) is a common phrase found all through the Bible. In fact it is found 62 times from Genesis to Revelation!
"For I have redeemed you." The greatest gift in life is to be redeemed by God. Fanny Crosby wrote, "Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child and forever I am."
"I have called you by name; You are mine." I belong to Jesus today and indeed He knows my name! Today in the midst of any frustrations, disappointments, fears, or discouragement you may have, I encourage you to focus on the One who truly knows your name, who loves and cares for you.
Regarding this passage David Guzik observes: "God twice owns His people. He has right of ownership both as Creator and Redeemer. His ownership is personal, because He says "I have called you by your name." His ownership is certain, because He seals it by saying "You are mine." Knowing we belong to the LORD is a wonderful answer to fear. We can know that He holds us, protects us, guards us, and cares for us. We can know that He would not have created, redeemed, and called us unless He intended to complete the work He began in us. How can we be afraid when we know this God is for us, that He is looking out for our interests?"
Jesus had a wonderful teaching in John 10 where He declares: "I am the good shepherd." The caring shepherd "calls his own sheep by name." What a blessed assurance it is to know that our Good Shepherd calls each one of us by name!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, how special it is to know that we will not appear as a stranger before You in heaven, but You will call us by name for You are thoroughly acquainted with us. As a loving father cares for his child so You care for us, your children. You place us in the palm of Your hand and no enemy can snatch us from Your protective and loving care. What a tremendous and calm feeling this brings to our hearts this new day. Amen.
"Preserve me O God, for in You I put my trust" (Psalm 16:1).
In our Sunday school class this week we studied Psalm 16, a short Psalm that can be read in a few minutes, and a great source of Scriptural comfort. As is often the case the Lord has used this portion of Scripture in my life this week as I have ministered to others.
Among Brooksyne's many homemaking tasks one she especially enjoys is making jams and preserves. My favorite jam is her strawberry rhubarb recipe which she preserves during the summer months so that we can enjoy it throughout the year. In fact as I prepare today's message I am having a piece of toasted sour dough bread topped with her delicious preserves! (She made it look like a June Cleaver table setting for the photo.)
Some 3,000 years ago the Psalmist spoke of another type of preservation. I wonder how many believers down through the ages have identified with it and found comfort in their time of need? This Psalm, unlike several others written by David, gives no background regarding the source of his distress. I find comfort in this general, non-specific description since our distresses vary greatly, yet the prayer we find here is applicable to any need.
David experienced many days when despair would grip his heart. This would blur his vision of a loving and faithful God who provides deliverance from the troublesome circumstances of life. But as he began to meditate on the Scriptures his hope would be renewed and his faith preserved.
"Preserve me O God, for in You I put my trust." We all need divine preservation don't we? Joseph is a tremendous example that most all readers are familiar with (Genesis 37-50). Some of our readers are going through a "Joseph" type trial and are at the point where Joseph was thrown into the pit. Unable to pull himself out Joseph could overhear his brothers plotting for his death. God preserved his life, in spite of those who plotted his death, but He certainly put him through the pressure cooker of injustice and godless authority.
In severe times of testing the enemy thoroughly enjoys playing mind games with us where we second guess our every thought or action. We become fearful allowing uncertainty to replace our confidence. Sometimes the God-ordained circumstances of life make the appeal for divine preservation all the more urgent and heartfelt. The word "preserved" translates a very descriptive Hebrew word that literally means, "to hedge about."
Psalm 16 ends with this wonderful testimony of assurance, a direct result of steadfast trust: "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Friends, you may especially need this reassuring Scripture today. Certainly we all do. Our responsibility is to place our confidence in the One who changes not which will deepen our trust in Him.
Bible teacher James Montgomery Boice observes: “The God of the Bible is not weak; He is strong. He is all mighty. Nothing happens without His permission or apart from His purposes, even evil. Nothing disturbs or puzzles Him. His purposes are always accomplished. Therefore those who know Him rightly act with boldness assured that God is with them to accomplish His own desirable purposes in their lives.”
Blaine Allen shares this perspective: "Tuck this thought away: Never in eternity will we want to walk up to Jesus and say, 'I surely wish you had answered my prayer differently'." Deep in my spirit I believe that to be true. A hymn writer expressed it another way when he wrote: "We'll understand it all by and by."
We may not understand the current pain, nor may we always see the end purpose on this side, but let's keep trusting! "For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, as You call us to walk the narrow path the vast majority rejects, we thank You for the godly examples who have gone before us and shown us the way. Such giants of the faith as Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Paul and countless others throughout the generations have shown us the way to be faithful even in the midst of adversity. They made great sacrifices in their lifetime to gain an eternal inheritance in heaven. Their sacrifice was temporal and short in duration compared to the eternal pleasures they now enjoy. Help us not to resent the struggles that lead us to seek You in a deeper more intimate relationship. May we, like Job, learn from our trials and declare: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You” (Job 42:2,5).
"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22, 23). "The Lord is full of compassion and mercy" (James 5:11).
I sure enjoy preaching the Word of God so it was of special blessing when I accepted an invitation to preach yesterday in a church in southern Lancaster County. Lately there's been a lot of news about “appropriate” content in sermons (something that the secular press rarely pays much attention to, but it is election year, after all.) I am confident that in hundreds of thousands of local churches all around the world the Bible was faithfully preached and it is my absolute intention to be numbered among them!
When I resigned from my last church in early 2001 to become a chaplain I found many other sources of ministry fulfillment and effectiveness, but I sure miss preaching the Word of God on a regular basis. Yesterday I shared a message on the faithfulness of God sub-titled "Hope In The Midst Of Despair" and today's first verse was the central theme in the message.
Several years ago Jim Gambini, who was our pastor at the time made a point in a sermon that really blessed me. With no further explanation he declared “God is omnicompassionate.” Now I have never, in all my years of theological study, heard that word. My computer software underscores this word with a red line alert indicating that I’ve misspelled the word or there is no such word. In speaking to Pastor Jim and his wife in the greeting line, following the church service, he smiled when I told him that Brooksyne and I took note of his new term. He was intentionally seeking to express a truth, even though he could not recall ever seeing or hearing the word before.
The prefix "omni" means "all." It is used in several of what theologians call the attributes or characteristics of God, such as omniscience (all-knowing), omnipresence (all-present) and omnipotence (all-powerful). He is all-compassionate as well, thus Pastor Jim’s new vocabulary word, “omnicompassionate”! The second daily text declares that "the Lord is full of compassion and mercy."
Due to another wonderful attribute of God known as His immutability (that is, “He never changes”) this verse reveals that He is always "full of compassion and mercy." Since He is immutable His fullness is constant with a never-ending supply of compassion. In a time of chaotic despair Jeremiah's hope was restored by recalling that our Lord’s "compassions never fail."
God's fullness of compassion and His extravagant mercy is never depleted nor does it ever need replenished. Although He's been demonstrating His compassion and mercy from the very beginning, God is always "full of compassion and mercy." There is no less compassion available for our need today than there was for anyone else who has ever lived and there never will be. So you don't need to lie awake tonight worrying about God’s compassion running out!
How blessed I am by this perpetual call to mercy from Hebrews: "Let us then approach the Throne of Grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." His mercy is absolutely abundant and thoroughly adequate. He is indeed omnicompassionate!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from You. As recipients of Your tender compassions and tremendous comfort help us to be like cisterns pouring out the mercies we receive from You into the lives of those who desperately need it. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
"For you have heard my vows, O God; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name" (Psalm 61:5). "That I might live for God" (Galatians 2:19).
In a meeting yesterday Brooksyne and I met Kendall, a young man whose vibrant walk with the Lord was immediately evident. He is a school teacher who shared the Easter message in his church last Sunday. Our conversation was engaging and thoughtful. He told us, "You knew my grandpa. In fact you referred to a tribute I made at his memorial service last year in your Daily Encouragement message."
I met Kendall’s grandparents, Ruth and Richard Lehman, about five years ago at a prayer meeting and have corresponded with them mostly through our daily encouragement email since that time. Brooksyne and I attended Richard's memorial service in October of last year and we stay in contact with his grandmother through email. After Kendall refreshed our memory we did indeed remember his touching words of tribute concerning his grandfather. It was obvious that Richard had passed his spiritual legacy on to his grandchildren.
In my premarital counseling when I share faith and perspective with young couples preparing for marriage I make a vitally important point. We establish the foundations for leaving a godly heritage early in life and this heritage incrementally builds all through life, one brick at a time. It’s not as though we just wake up one morning and decide to leave a legacy!
Many years ago I was at the funeral of a young person who had died in an accident. The room was full of many young people still stunned with the suddenness of his death. It was a grim reminder of the unpredictability of life dispelling the illusion of their invincibility. An older minister made an interesting point regarding his generation's heritage. "We've given you so much to live with, but we haven't given you very much to live for."
There's a lot of truth to that statement isn't there? My, do we have a lot to live with, particularly here in America. We take our incredible national prosperity for granted and some take it even to an attitude of entitlement. But the very nature of seeking to find fulfillment in anything but God's plan is that it's never really satisfying over time. Something new and promising is always around the corner like a bigger, newer model TV, a faster computer or a more feature-laden cell phone.
What are we passing on to our children and all those we influence in the generations following us? I purposefully chose the last part of a Bible verse to highlight a simple statement made by the apostle Paul, "That I might live for God." Paul surely had very little, particularly by our standards, to live with, but so much to live for. He went on to write, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
Let us consider today our spiritual heritage. The Psalmist proclaimed, "You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name." Fundamentally this heritage is the truths we transmit and the life we live that gets passed on to those in our own generation and generations to follow. Those who fear His Name are transmitting the truth of this heritage while they live and even after they pass on. If Ruth could have been in the Easter service where Kendall preached last Sunday most likely there’d be points he would make, inflections in his voice, and Scriptural truths that he shared that would make her say to herself, “He’s just like his grandfather.”
Ask yourself today: What am I living for and more importantly who am I living it for?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Father, we desire to pass on a godly heritage to our children and our children’s children. In doing so we must set our hearts on things above far more than earthly things below. We want to let Your Holy Word flourish in our lives as we teach, encourage, and admonish one another with all spiritual wisdom. May all we do and say be for Your glory and in honor of Christ in whose name we pray. Amen.
"Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him" (Mark 4:41).
Brooksyne has a volunteer ministry in two local nursing homes and an assisted living center. She plays the piano and leads residents in Hymn Sings. When time permits she visits the residents one by one coming to know many of them by name.
Some of the less acceptable people of society, though not necessarily elderly, also reside in these institutions. Due to their limited mental capacity or severe physical deformities they've been delegated to these settings for necessary care. Many of them have a desperate need for a loving human touch that stands in great contrast to mere medical procedures or hygiene assistance supplied by staff personnel.
"A leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean" (Mark 4:40). In the Bible times leprosy was a disease that had severe social consequences. Throughout the Bible you can read about this and thus the leper's extreme reticence in approaching the Lord. He was accustomed to being shunned; an outcast from his peers, even his own family.
"Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him." What Christ did in stretching out His hand and touching the leper was very significant. This man was so unaccustomed to human touch that this act of kindness by Jesus must have been extremely meaningful.
Try to imagine what it would be like to live devoid of the touch of other people, such as leprous people are consigned to. I am so blessed with a happy marriage (32 years this May) and so many other sources of compassionate human touch I enjoy. In our home we regularly enjoy a family hug, where we essentially gather in a huddle and all hug at once. I know many of you have similar blessings which can easily be taken for granted.
But there are many others who live in loneliness and crave human touch. Some of you reading this message know from personal experience just what I'm talking about. Let me illustrate by sharing the following true story:
Several years ago a childless widow lived alone. She made dinner every night for one and had conversation with none. Most of her closest friends had died, people rarely stopped by, and her phone never rang. She experienced a loneliness that grew day by day. She longed to fellowship with her brothers and sisters, to hear their conversation, and to feel their touch. Her fragile health forced her to be quarantined in her loneliness for a number of weeks.
One Sunday morning she mustered all the strength she could to dress and get ready for church. Her anticipation grew as she thought about how good it would be to meet with others again. She pictured herself receiving a handshake, maybe a hug from her sisters in Christ. She needed to feel the warmth of someone's flesh besides her own.
She attended the service but returned to her home even more desperate and lonely. You see, the people didn't even notice as they filed past her. No word of greeting, not one handshake was extended to this lonely widow. No warm conversation took place such as "It's so good to see you again, we've missed you. How are you feeling?"
Today people all around you need the compassionate touch. For many it's just one more component to wholeness. But others are sorely lacking and desperately need someone to reach out and touch them, to give them a few minutes of their time. Let us, as the body of Christ, be representatives of His Hand extended!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Lord, lay some soul upon my heart and love that soul through me. If encouragement is needed, then encourage through me. If a warm touch is needed, then touch through me. If a prayer is needed, then pray through me Lord Jesus. Help me to see those whom others might overlook. I want to represent You, Jesus, and have a heart of compassion toward others. Amen.
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:11,12).
We are getting some beautiful spring days and are especially enjoying our daily walk along the country lane. Last summer our dog, Roxie, overcame her fear of water and now enjoys walking through the shallow water in Donegal Creek. Yesterday as we walked along she jumped right into the creek and climbed out on the other side toward a wooded area. She loves to check out the scents of small animals and often chases a rabbit, squirrel, or a bird but never catches them. I think it’s the chase more than the prey that she enjoys most!
Normally she crosses back over before we get to a fence but this time she ran along the other side of the fence line before crossing under, which was a bad decision since it turned out to be an activated electric fence! As she ran under it she let out a screeching yelp and darted on ahead of us not having the slightest idea what happened and choosing not to look back. The remainder of the walk she slouched low with her tail between her legs. We tried to reassure her but it took her quite awhile to get over it.
We understood what happened to her but of course she didn’t. It’s that way with us at times isn’t it? We get shocked by a situation in life and we have no idea what hit us nor do we understand why we were the enemy’s target. You’ve probably heard or used the following expressions, “I don’t know what hit me” or “Where did that come from?” I can recall experiences like this in my own life and I’ve observed them in others as well. I have a friend who’s going through one of these shocking experiences right now.
We can’t predict or avoid these jolting experiences so that’s why we need to have a deep abiding assurance of God’s great love.
The daily verse is one of the greatest expressions in Scripture extolling God’s love for us and His greatest redemptive work on our behalf. Consider the two figures of speech the Psalmist uses in the text.
First he speaks of the greatness of God’s love, “for those who fear Him” as being “as high as the heavens are above the earth.” How high is that? In the Scriptures the expression “heavens” normally describes the universe as distinct from the earth. But how big is the universe? It seems this distance just keeps increasing with better telescopes and more research!
The study of astronomy interests me, although most astronomers ignore God’s revelation in the Scriptures. Astronomer Dr. Robert Kirshner of Harvard University asserts: “The truth is out there, and we will find it.” The Psalmist, in describing the infinite nature of God’s love and mercy, expresses the greatest truth. And sadly astronomers, looking in the wrong place, will never find this Truth!
Secondly, he speaks of the extent of God’s forgiveness: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” How far is that? If he were to have written “north from the south” we could have measured the distance between the poles. But how far is the east from the west? It is not something we can measure! In His immeasurably great mercy that’s how far He has removed our transgressions from us.
The Psalmist provided God’s greatest solution to life’s greatest problem in this single verse. He covers both the vertical and horizontal reaching of God’s goodness to humankind. The boundless capacity of God’s love fills the vertical space from the heavens to the earth. His limitless capacity for forgiveness stretches horizontally beyond the measurable scope of humankind. Do we not serve a great God who is moved to action by our innermost needs!
May you be filled with the fullness of God as He reveals Himself to You through His unlimited love and ongoing forgiveness.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Omnipotent Father, Your immeasurable love and unending forgiveness are characteristics that only a God like You can dispense. The gifts of the Spirit that we seek to implement in our lives such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are like prisms diffusing the brilliant light of Your holiness that shines forth through Your Holy Spirit in our lives. As recipients of Your unending goodness may we be dispensers of Your multiple blessings to those You bring into our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
"Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a 'fool' so that he may become wise" (1 Corinthians 3:18).
Saturday evening we went to a banquet sponsored by Transport for Christ, an international ministry to truck drivers. Brooksyne and I do some work with TFC as we tie them into our devotional messages and provide follow-up care for readers who express a need. These large banquets are a fixture here in Lancaster County and there were over 500 people in attendance for a big Pennsylvania Dutch "family style" meal. This was followed by a presentation about TFC and an opportunity to donate to this worthwhile ministry.
The main entertainment was provided by a local ventriloquist called Ryan and three of his ventriloquist friends. Since I work with the ministry I was "volunteered" from among the crowd, along with other staff members, to assist him (though he certainly needed no assistance.) Ryan is an extremely talented young man whom I can vouch for. As I “trained” right beside him I was amazed that he scarcely moved his lips while he worked two dummies and used three very convincing character voices.
Ryan assigned me the role of ventriloquist trainee (definitely not my calling). I held the grandma dummy and attempted to open her mouth at the right times. Actually I was thoroughly played for the dummy! I would say the crowd had some especially rambunctious laughter at my expense. My, did I ever feel foolish. (Brooksyne’s note: He also looked extremely foolish.)
I knew a pastor in New Jersey a number of years ago who started a church on April Fools’ Day (which is April 1 here in America). His very first message had this interesting title: "I'm a fool for Christ, whose fool are you?" I have long appreciated the sentiment of missionary martyr Jim Elliot who wrote, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
Let's examine today's verse. One's wisdom is generally evaluated by the standards of this age. We are living in a time when so many have varying degrees of advanced education which does not necessarily have anything to do with wisdom.
Paul begins the verse: "Do not deceive yourselves." Self deception is the most dangerous form of deception. It’s often easier for us to assess objectively when we’re looking on rather than looking within. "Cursed are those who seem wise to themselves, and who take pride in their knowledge" (Isaiah 5:21).
"If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age..." The standards of this age constantly change. Much information that at one time was considered the most certain findings in science and other fields has changed. In some cases what had been a consensus 50 years ago has now been thoroughly debunked, and who knows what issues will be debunked in the future. Actually when we get to the other side I suspect a lot of what seemed so certain here will be debunked there!
The verse continues: "He should become a ‘fool’ so that he may become wise." It's significant that the NIV placed the quotation marks around fool. Those who follow Christ are increasingly seen as "fools" by worldly standards. For instance I testify unashamedly to my belief in the Biblical account of creation. Many in the world now mock at this belief and I am seen by some as "dangerous" for holding this view.
Let’s make it our goal in life to be wise in God's estimation, not the changing standards thrust on us by this present age.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:God of all wisdom, we come to you seeking Your direction in our lives. We ask for a discerning heart so that we can effectively lead the people entrusted to our care. We need Your wisdom to distinguish between right and wrong, truth and error. As we pray in the Spirit and absorb Your Word into our hearts we will walk uprightly and do justly. It is a natural outflow of Your wisdom and Spirit that abides within us as we choose to walk in Your ways. Be our vision during the light of day and darkness of night; whether waking or sleeping we yield my all to You, Omniscient Father. Amen.
"Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving" (Isaiah 6:9).
Last night we sure had a nice surprise phone call. Marvin Estuardo Culajay Osorio was a five year old boy from Guatemala when he lived with us in the late eighties while receiving medical care here in the US. He's twenty-five now and married with one son. He "found" us on the internet last year and we have been in contact several times since. He has limited English and we only know a few Spanish phrases so our attempts at conversation are laborious, interesting and full of nervous chuckles. Thankfully we need no interpreter for explaining the meaning of laughter.
He called to greet Ester on her birthday and we ended up "talking" for awhile. His wife, son, brother, and sister also greeted me, his Tio (“Tio” is the Spanish word for “Uncle”, the endearing title he gave me while he was in our care. Brooksyne was Tia “Aunt.”) I heard his family members clearly over the phone but had a very difficult time understanding them.
Even within a single language, depending on where you live, folks in other parts of the country may "talk funny". Shortly after our move to Massachusetts back in the early nineties a lady stood up at the conclusion of a church service and asked, "Is anyone going to the potty with me?" I sure thought it strange that she would ask such a personal question publicly. Brooksyne and I quickly looked at each other quizzically hoping for more understanding. Well you probably guessed by now what she was meaning. The "r's" sort of disappear in the New England states and she was actually speaking of "going to a party."
In the novel,"Grapes of Wrath" John Steinbeck expresses the same thought through the character of Ivy: "Everybody says words different: 'Arkansas folks says 'em different, and Oklahomy folks says 'em different. And we seen a lady from Massachusetts, an' she said 'em different of all. Couldn’t hardly make out what she was sayin!"
Well, we eventually came to understand the local folks in New England a lot better the longer we lived up that way. After living there over seven years even Ester began to ask, "Are we going in the caw?”
Far more important than the challenges of understanding other people’s languages or working through their particular accent is coming to understand spiritual concepts. The daily verse was a part of Isaiah's call and is twice repeated by Jesus and once by the apostle Paul. It describes a spiritual condition common to the human race.
Most of us are abundantly exposed to spiritual truths. However Paul makes the following assertion following his citing of the verse: "For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them" (Acts 28:27).
Does this not describe our world today? What about you? Have you understood with your heart, turned and received His spiritual healing? I sure hope so! If not, why not do so today.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Father, help our ears to be alert, our eyes to be open, and our hearts perceptive as we follow in Your ways. May we be eager to hear Your teaching and apply it to our lives so that we may be found blameless before You and experience the joy You give to those who follow Your commands. When Your meaning is clear help us to seek no other meaning to satisfy our own desires or to change the clear meaning of Your message. Align our desires with Your own, that we might find genuine peace and wholehearted obedience as You bring spiritual healing to our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).
Joe came into the church we served in northern Pennsylvania in personal and family conflict. He told me later he walked in as a bitter man. Among other things he and his wife were in disagreement concerning church attendance. But somehow she persuaded him to come that Palm Sunday morning about twenty-five years ago. A big, burly man he didn't seem happy to be there at all and as I stretched out my hand to greet him I wondered if he was going to snap at me! My welcoming smile was met by his very stern expression. If his looks could have spoken they would have said: “It’s not my choice to be here today so don't expect me to be friendly.”
Three weeks later Joe responded to an altar call. He gave his heart to the Lord Jesus Christ who then began the transformation process that continues to this day. His three children who were just little tikes when I first met them are now grown and married. Joe and Jane are blessed with six grandchildren. He joyfully testifies to the change in his life and for many years was active in ministry to boys until he began to experience health problems.
One of the most poignant memories I have of Joe was a foot washing service several years after he came into faith. I was preaching from John 13 concerning Christ's example and asked him if I could publicly wash his feet as a dynamic sermon illustration. He agreed and it is one of my greatest ministry memories. I am sure there are some who were in the church at that time who still remember that message!
Joe took seriously the call to discipleship in Romans 12:2: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
This prompts a challenge to my fellow believers to steadfastness as we all undergo the transformation process that begins when we accept Christ. I recall some really rough spots early on with Joe, but he persevered. Elsewhere the apostle Paul tells us that we "are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18).
You may be impatient with the pace of transformation in your life or that of a loved one. You may really be hitting some rough spots in life's journey. Stay faithful, dear friend. Don't give up, but keep pressing on. For Joe, and for all of us who have accepted Christ, we have this confidence: "that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Father, we are confident in the transforming work You carried out when You forgave us our sins. You turned our lives around so that we no longer live for ourselves, but for the One who created us. We thank You for our salvation that began the moment we surrendered our will and continues all the days of our earthly life. We anticipate the glorious day that our salvation will be brought to completion on the day of Christ’s return. Until that transforming day keep us faithful and trusting as our spiritual life is rooted and established in Your divine wisdom. We want to be obedient to Your commands, as revealed in Your Holy Word, and apply them to our lives. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, we pray, Amen.
"He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us" (2 Corinthians 1:10).
We periodically enjoy drawing from past memories to illustrate a spiritual truth and some of the memories we have are somewhat humorous. In the church we served in New England we had a guest musical family from Canada. Early in the service we sang a song that spoke of God's delivering power. If memory serves me correctly it was the time honored hymn, “He Is Able to Deliver Thee.” Before launching into the song our guest song leader instructed the pianist to pause between verses and allow the people to share in a single word about God’s deliverance power in their lives.
Throughout the congregation one by one folks spoke out with responses such as "alcohol", "self-centeredness", "fear", "pride", etc. In many cases, as pastor, I knew their testimony and was blessed to hear them express it before others.
Then little four-year-old Kyle boldly raised his hand. I couldn’t imagine what he had been delivered from, but when he was called upon he spoke out in a very matter of fact way; "drugs." Well, of course he had never had a drug problem, but he had probably heard of drugs as something people were delivered from. Our church was located in a small city and we had our share of troubled people and those who had been delivered from drugs. You can imagine the shocked look on his mother's face! (That would have been a Kodak moment!)
But Kyle had the right idea for God's delivering power and there are many thousands who can testify to deliverance from drugs and many other sinful, destructive lifestyles. I have a friend on my heart as I prepare this message who really needs deliverance. He has a crippling addiction that is negatively impacting every area of his life.
God is still delivering people today. I have met many and have seen genuinely changed lives. The greatest demonstration of God's deliverance is His deliverance from sin. All true believers in Christ can testify to this miraculous deliverance. Paul wrote of the powerful work of the Father: "For He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13, 14). What a great contrast – deliverance from hopeless eternal darkness to hope-filled eternal light. No promotion on this earth is equal to such a spiritual promotion!
In our daily verse Paul spoke of the reality of past deliverance and the assurance that God will continue to deliver. In this case it was his deliverance from the persecutions, hardships and even threats of death that were his common experience in ministry. "He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us."
Let's rejoice with His glorious provision today, fellow believer. Consider the "deadly peril" that God has delivered you from and praise Him! Call out to Him and trust Him for any deliverance You need in your life today. May we, in the midst of our present circumstances, "set our hope that He will continue to deliver us."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Father, Your kingdom of light stands in great contrast to Satan’s dominion of darkness. As Your children we want our lives to be characterized by light, the light of Your Holy Spirit, who dwells within our hearts. Thank You for taking us out of the dominion of evil and placing us under the benevolent rule of Your Son, Jesus Christ. This brought about a great deliverance from our powerless life where we had no control over the evil one to a life where Your indwelling power can conquer any foe. You have not only delivered us in the past but You will continue to deliver us from the venomous attacks of Satan as we set our hope in You. In the precious name of our Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen.
"This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything" (1 John 3:19, 20).
What are you aspiring for today? Observing the world there are many pursuits people crave for such as wealth, fame, possessions and a flood of material appealing to our base instincts. John describes such thinking with the following summary: "the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does." But none of these meet our deepest and greatest need.
David sums up what life's highest aspiration should be in Psalm 27:4: "One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple."To gaze or meditate upon the beauty of the Lord brings peace and assurance as one who has been forgiven and placed in right relationship with God.
Prior to coming to faith in Christ we are all under God's condemnation. His condemnation of us is absolutely just and completely consistent with the nature of a sinless, holy God. The repentant thief speaks not just for himself, but for the entire human race in the final minutes before his death: "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong" (Luke 23:41).
This condemnation is the result of the universal human condition of sin; "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). But when we believe in Christ and come into the truth a marvelous transaction takes place. One of the most liberating truths of Scripture is in Romans 8:1: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
The apostle John makes a statement in this portion of Scripture that describes the human condition of self-condemnation. He describes it in a way that I can identify with when he uses the phrase "our hearts condemn us." I've experienced this occasionally and I’m certain that many of you have as well. I don't believe John is speaking of the healthy Holy Spirit-prompted conviction of sin that leads us to repentance. Rather he speaks of self-condemnation that can afflict God's children, robbing them of the peace and assurance that God has provided through the sacrificial death of His Son.
The Study Bible comments on this portion of Scripture “our hearts condemn us." “An oversensitive conscience can be quieted by the knowledge that God Himself has declared active love to be an evidence of salvation. He knows the hearts of all – whether, in spite of shortcomings, they have been born of Him.”
Two truths need to be deeply appropriated from today's text:
1) "God is greater than our hearts"
2) "He knows all things"
Today I encourage you to rest in a deep assurance of the Father's love and acceptance. Some readers struggle with self-condemnation, which the enemy of our soul delights in. He will use that to create self-doubt, worthlessness, and tempt you to admit defeat and walk away from God; God who has not left us in our condemned state but who has provided His rich mercy. Let us accept the truth of God, who is greater than our hearts, and humbly realize that indeed He knows all things, even those things which we cannot fully understand.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, as Your children we need to regularly examine our hearts to see if there are things, pursuits, or attitudes that are drawing us away from Your heart and thrusting us once again into the mindset of the world. Our heart’s examinations are not intended to condemn us but to refresh our spirit and remind us of our godly heritage. Father, since You know our hearts more than we do ourselves, reveal to us that which helps and that which hinders our Christian walk. As we walk in obedience to You we’re grateful for the peace and rest we receive in knowing that You do not condemn us but deliver mercy to help us in our time of need. You do not stand over us in judgment, but You walk alongside us assuring us of Your unwavering love and unending mercy that will see us through on this side of the journey.
"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact" (Acts 2:32). "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).
Our family awakened yesterday to a brilliant sunrise in the eastern sky and a stunning full moon in the western. The customary Resurrection Day greeting in our home is "He Is Risen" to which we then reply "He Is Risen Indeed!"
We gathered with other believers in church to corporately declare the glorious truth of the resurrected Savior. My friend Ken greeted me and said "Happy 1975th Resurrection Day!" He had done a little math work subtracting 33AD (the traditional date for the resurrection) from 2008. I have to admit I never thought to do that!
Brooksyne led our choir in a powerful musical that expressed the great truths of the atoning death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, including one of my longtime favorites, "Christ The Lord Is Risen Today!" Originally titled, “Hymn for Easter Day” this exuberant Charles Wesley hymn has been sung at Easter for 269 years. What a privilege to join the host of believers through the generations in declaring this Biblical truth in our worship musically.
Our pastor preached the gospel, the good news first proclaimed by the apostles. I never weary of hearing the old message that doesn’t expire, is never out of date, and does not need revision. I pray that I will always be like “those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest."
I also pray that there will always be churches faithfully proclaiming the message of Christ. The commission for the true follower of Christ is stated by Jude. We are to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints" (Jude 1:3). Far too many churches have abandoned the apostolic faith. They’re caught up in current fads and attempts to appeal to the post-modern "seeker". Some are embarrassed by the Gospel and redemption truths such as the Cross, the shed Blood and the literal bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. But the Apostle Paul wrote, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).
Today's verse is the only place in the Bible where the phrase "of first importance" is found. In these verses the apostle Paul provides a wonderful summation of the Gospel. What he himself had "received" (paralambano), he had "passed on" (paradidomi). This has been the God-ordained manner for the transmission of truth for nearly 2000 years.
Earnest believers continue to receive and pass on this sacred message to this very day. Have you received and believed this message? Are you passing it on? At the heart of apostolic preaching is the proclamation of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe these three together comprise the truth that is of "first importance." This is of first importance all through the church age and indeed through eternity. This is based on the authority of the Scriptures, "according to the Scriptures."
Whatever you're facing today, hold on to this glorious truth that is of first importance, Christ died, Christ was buried, and Christ Jesus was raised to live forevermore! The risen Christ states in Revelation 1:18, "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, I am strengthened and encouraged through the vision the Apostle John received while imprisoned on the isle of Patmos. When he saw the Son of man he fell at his feet as though he were dead. Jesus’ words of assurance to John and to each of us some two thousand years later helps to still my fears and reminds me that I serve a living, risen Christ. “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever.” Because Jesus lives we live also!
“This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross” (Acts 2:23). “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
The Tremont Nail Company in Wareham, Massachusetts, is the oldest continuously operating nail manufacturer in the United States, making nails since the early 1800’s and they’re still stamping them out! When I lived in New England I would periodically drive by the plant and, although they didn’t have plant tours, I recall curiously looking through the windows. The nails they manufacture are not the round kind we typically see, but square. At the little country gift store across the street I bought three of the longest ones I could find. I still have them though I misplaced one. Holding these nails, feeling their coarse surface and recognizing their intended purpose is a vivid illustration reminding us of the price Jesus paid for our redemption.
The nails used in the crucifixion of our Savior were likely iron spikes five to seven inches long. In the daily text the action of nailing our Lord to the cross is taken from the Greek word “prospegnumi.” It appears only once in the entire New Testament and literally means “to impale.” Did you notice that the English word “peg” is in the middle of the Greek word? I have no idea how these nails were fashioned (perhaps they were wood pegs) but I am sure they were very rough. How indescribably horrible this form of death was.
The daily text is a part of Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost. Peter boldly asserted to his listeners: “This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.”
Watchman Nee, a Chinese follower of Christ was persecuted for his faith and died in prison in 1972. He was a prolific writer but a single note found under his pillow, after he died, powerfully summarizes the simple essence of his faith: “Christ is the Son of God. He died to atone for men’s sin, and after three days rose again. This is the most important fact in the universe. I die believing in Christ.”
The underlying Greek word that is translated “demonstrate” in Romans 5:8 is “sunistasin” which is in the present indicative active. This connotes a sense that God’s demonstration of love is ever a present event, although Christ’s literal death on the cross was a “once for all” atoning sacrifice; “Christ died for us.” The demonstration of His love is present, but the sacrificial death of Christ is final and complete.
Christ died for the ungodly, for each one of us. Today we especially remember God’s greatest demonstration of love. Earnest believers look back to Christ’s sacrificial death in deepest gratitude and remember the One who died in our place. Christian songwriter, Gordon Jensen, put it this way:
I should have been crucified,
I should have suffered and died,
I should have hung on the cross in disgrace,
But Jesus, God’s Son, took my place.
Let us remember the One who was nailed to the cross and His great act of atoning sacrifice on our behalf. Let us live faithfully for the One who died in our place!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Brooksyne’s prayer: Lord Jesus, I will never fully comprehend the depth of Your sacrificial death where we see man at his worst and God at His best. In my place You took my guilt and shame as You became the guilt offering pouring out Your life unto death and taking on my iniquity. You gave all so that I could be forgiven. Though my sins were as scarlet they were washed white as snow, cleansed by the saving blood of the sinless Lamb. You turned my hopeless condition into a life full of hope for this life and glorious anticipation for eternal life beyond the grave. Nothing in all of history will ever compare to the Divine Exchange where my sins were exchanged for Your pardon. I walk in newness of life and in the power of the resurrected Savior. Praise Your name, Lord Jesus! You are risen, You are risen indeed! Amen.
“And when the hour was come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him” (Luke 22:14).
As we come to Thursday in Holy Week let us consider the events that likely took place on this day.
Consider the twelve apostles. Only a few years earlier they had left all to follow Christ. What an incredible experience they had: the wonderful teachings, the astounding miracles, the good food and fellowship they enjoyed together day after day.
Earlier in His ministry the opposition had tried to seize Jesus but could not, “because His hour was not yet come” (John 7:30). But this night was different. The careful historian Luke states “the hour was come.”
Now the Twelve leaned around a table and Jesus shared what surely must have been a confusing illustration as He inserted into the familiar Passover meal: “My body which is given for you, my blood which is shed for you.”
The disciples wondered what He meant as their eyes met one another around the table. You know what it’s like to be in a group with friends; you don’t want to let on that you don’t get it, but … you really don’t get it. You look at others in a guarded way to assess if they are catching on. You’re hopeful that some brave soul feels the same as yourself and will bravely ask the question, “Just what did you mean when You spoke of dying?” Just days earlier He had come into Jerusalem to great fanfare and shouts of praises from the crowd proclaiming that He was the King. They had surely thought this was the time He would set up His Kingdom. But this was not the case.
“The hour” was that singular moment in space and time for which Christ, “the lamb slain from the foundation of the world” had come to this sin-filled world. Oswald Chambers states, “The cross is the crystallized point in history where eternity merges with time.”
May all we who believe and follow Christ reaffirm our commitment to this great and loving God. May the desire of Paul’s heart also be the theme of our prayer: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).
In the cross of Christ I glory, tow’ring o’er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story gathers round its head sublime. *
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, I glory in the Cross of Calvary from which Your Son, my Lord and Savior, died for my sins. I boast only in Jesus who lifted the heavy chains from my enslaved soul freeing me to soar in newness of life. Thank You, God, for demonstrating Your love toward me in that You gave Your one and only Son to die for me. At just the right time while I was still powerless, Jesus died for me, while I was unlovely and unable to save myself. Because of this incredible act of love and forgiveness I have reconciliation with my Father in heaven. Praise be to God! Amen.
“Watch out that no one deceives you” (Matthew 24:4).
Have you ever bought a large box of crackers or cereal only to open it and find that the contents fill no more than 1/3 of the packaging? Brooksyne brought home a large box of Calla bulbs she purchased for gardening this year. She is so excited to start her spring gardening! I curiously opened the box expecting to find it full of bulbs, but was amazed to find the box nearly empty as the bulbs didn’t even cover the base of the box. I initially felt somewhat deceived in the oversized packaging of the product, though to be fair, it was advertised by the count of the bulbs not the size of the large box!
Today’s message about deception may seem a bit unusual for this week when we especially focus on the sacrificial death of Christ, but I believe it is fitting since it is a major part of Christ’s teaching only days before His death.
After the Triumphal Entry and just before Jesus went to the Cross He shared two lengthy teachings recorded in our Bibles. All three synoptic Gospels record a teaching known as the Olivet Discourse that was likely given on Wednesday of Holy Week. The Olivet Discourse is so named because the Lord shared this as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives. The other lengthy teaching is found in John’s Gospel which records our Lord’s close personal instruction to the disciples in the Upper Room (John 13-17). This likely took place on Thursday of Holy Week.
The Olivet Discourse is a long message that has a lot to say about the Church Age and the end times. However Jesus begins with a solemn warning: “Watch out that no one deceives you.” Although I believe we do well to listen and heed this in a general sense concerning all forms of deception, Jesus goes on and expounds with a description of a very specific form of deception: “For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Thus foundationally we need to be on guard so that we are not falsely indoctrinated into believing in a counterfeit Christ. Instead we are indeed following and serving the genuine Christ.
Deception abounds in our world today. Actually it was first introduced in the Garden of Eden when Satan planted doubt in Eve’s heart causing her to question God’s ruling regarding the forbidden fruit. I read a letter to the editor written by an avowed secularist who asserted that a person holding a Bible-based outlook on life such as myself is deceived. Indeed from his perspective and belief system (worldview) he feels that he is right and anyone holding a view contrary to his is deceived. Of course I would assert that it is the other way around. He is the one deceived!
Since Christ gave His loving and instructive caution to the disciples many false christs have appeared all through the ages of the Church. And this is still true today. This may be a self-proclaimed individual or a belief system contrary to revealed Biblical truth. In my own lifetime false christs have come and gone and surely more will be coming, culminating with the antichrist.
Today we need to not only listen but heed the words of the one and only genuine Christ. We have in the Holy Scriptures a most certain and dependable record of His life and His call to each one of us. Let us ever be on our guard, watching out that no one deceives us. This is a grave word of caution that believers all through the Church age should solemnly take to heart. “Watch out that no one deceives you.”
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Father, we are confronted with deception on many fronts every day, so much so, that we can be deceived without even realizing it. Would You help us to watch out and be on our guard so that we are not deceived by man’s words, no matter how convincing they are, how charming their personality, or how cunning their craft. Help us not to fall for Satan’s deceptive tactics that have brought down believers throughout the church age. We seek You for strength and discipline. We search the Scriptures for discernment and the true revelation of who Jesus is; the Son of the Living God. It is in His name that we pray, Amen.
"Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord" (Romans 12:19). "Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done" (2 Timothy 4:14).
I just finished reading a book titled "Amish Grace, How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy." Authors, Donald Kraybill, Steven Nolt and David Weaver-Zercher wrote about the Amish schoolgirl killings that took place in our area back in October 2006 and the Amish community's response that followed, especially characterized by forgiveness and reconciliation.
Recently Brooksyne and I became reconnected with an old friend we hadn't talked to for many years. In the course of catching up we learned that several years ago he experienced a tremendous loss in his life that has affected his family, vocation and finances. Especially painful is that it concerns a violation of sacred trust from those closest to him. It has been a very painful trial for him that continues to this day but he has maintained his good disposition and a positive faith in the Lord. As we talked there appeared to be no bitterness or need for revenge on his part, but rather a committing of the matter to the Lord.
As I consider the Amish schoolgirl killings and my friend's heartbreaking experience I realize how hard it is being wronged. The passionate response to these injustices, in my own heart, desires revenge. I have been pondering the Biblical concept that “the Lord will repay" in matters of unfairness. I realize that at the root of the issue (for me anyway) is having faith that this is really so, that God really will repay. What can be particularly troubling is when the offender seems not to be dealing with consequences or judgment, but rather appears to be getting by without fallout from the offense.
Both of the daily verses concern the Apostle Paul. The first is in a teaching section regarding personal revenge when one is wronged. We are to "leave room for God's wrath" and this is actually followed by a direct quote from the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 32:35: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord." This is not normally the type of passage we would list as a promise but I believe it really is.
Most of us have not been wronged nearly to the extent as the Amish families or my friend (although some of you have). But we've all been wronged in various ways and our response to these wrongs is a key expression of our faith.
In the second daily verse Paul is writing from his own experience. It's his final letter where he writes: "Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm." This may have been the same Alexander he wrote of in 1 Timothy 1:19,20 who had rejected solid teaching and shipwrecked his faith, and had been "handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme."
He had caused Paul "a great deal of harm." He goes on to warn Timothy: "You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message." It would appear, especially if this is the same Alexander mentioned in 1 Timothy, that he was spreading doctrinal error that was causing confusion and also leading people astray.
But in spite of this great hurt Paul practices his own earlier teaching from his letter to the Romans when he acknowledges: "The Lord will repay him for what he has done." It would be great to have the original audio version as read by Paul for this phrase. Did he read it with an angry, spiteful, vengeful tone or with humility in recognition of God's most certain future judgment on this matter? (I believe it was the latter.)
Some of you are personally impacted by the theme of today's encouragement. You have been wronged. You're seething outwardly and hemorrhaging inwardly with a desire for revenge. Applying the concept of "leaving it in the Lord's hands" might be very hard. But I also know that God wants you to trust Him in this regard.
God's Word promises us that He will never give us more than we can endure. And the key to this endurance is possible only when we cast all our cares on Him and lay our burdens at the feet of the Master burden bearer. Trust God that you will not be overcome by evil but you will overcome evil with good. Trust Him also to repay according to what is just and right, in His time and in His way; in this life or the life yet to come.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Father, in our attempt to get even with our offender, we can do irreparable harm not only to our wrongdoer, but most especially to ourselves. Instead of having a spirit of forgiveness we harbor a vengeful heart. Our hearts harden and take on the character of the enemy instead of the Savior who loved us even while we were dead in our transgressions and sins. Our debt of sin He paid, and our death He died freeing us to break the chains of sin that had long held us bound. Father, You heal the broken-hearted and console the wounded as they seek You in the midst of their affliction, whether it is a fresh wound or an old injury. Our affliction from others is earthbound, but our affection for You is heaven bound where there will be no more heartaches or pain. Keep us steadfast and faithful till that appointed time. Amen.
"I tell you," Jesus replied, "If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out" (Luke 19:40).
In the course of our daily walk we pass a farm with sheep peacefully grazing in a very rocky meadow. I don't suppose this section of land is tillable due to the abundance of rocks, but it works well as a grazing spot for sheep. This setting brings to mind many Bible story settings where David carefully tended his sheep or where Jesus likened His followers to being like sheep. The sight of the rocks also prompts a recall of today's text!
Our scenic nature walks bring a recurring spirit of praise and thanksgiving to God our Creator. After spotting our first robin on this morning's walk Brooksyne excitedly said, “Let’s look at the jonquils to see if they’re in bloom yet.” Sure enough the buds are visible and most likely this afternoon they’ll open up to the brilliant sunshine that’s warming the crisp air. Vivid reminders of the spring season, along with warmer temperatures, let us know that spring is just around the corner.
God's Word makes it abundantly clear that He desires His people to praise Him. There are seasons, settings, and events that make it very natural to praise God, but God wants us to praise Him in everything and at all times. The Psalmist reminds us that we are to bless the Lord at all times and that His praise should continually flow from our mouth. If we regularly practice this spiritual exercise, it’s not likely that gossip, swearing, lying, or hateful words will characterize our speech. Instead thanksgiving and praise will be witnessed in our conversation from day to day for our attitude is revealed through our words and actions.
Today's Scripture text is from a portion of the Bible dealing with the Triumphal Entry, an event that took place on the day the church calendar refers to as "Palm Sunday." The whole crowd of disciples began to joyfully praise God in loud voices as Jesus went by. "As He went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’” (The other gospels record that this is where they proclaimed, "Hosanna in the highest!")
The angry Pharisees demanded that they be silenced: "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" Instead of a demanding rebuke, Jesus made this powerful observation: "I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
The call to praise includes:
• Everyone: Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the Lord.
• Everywhere: From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.
• All the time: But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love Your salvation always say, "The Lord be exalted!"
That includes you and me today. Let's not let any cold, inanimate stone take our place in praising our King of kings. Hosanna in the highest!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Jesus, I want to praise You, my great Redeemer, for who You are and for Your acts of kindness seen so many times throughout my day. I never cease to praise You because You never cease to work on my behalf. Your mercy and love, Your strength and comfort, Your sustaining power and guiding hand are only a tiny fraction of the many reasons that lead me to praise You. Instead of a murmuring and ungrateful attitude, I want to join with the multitude of believers and sing of my Great Redeemer's praise to everyone, everywhere, all the time. Amen
"From the ends of the earth I call to You, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Psalm 61:2).
As I prepare today's message I have my Uncle Jim on my heart. Uncle Jim is my Mom's youngest sister's husband, the last surviving male member of that generation in our family. I have previously written about him, a member of the "great generation".
He is now in a hospice situation and has a loving family surrounding him. We have a great extended family and email notices have gone out to the extensive Steincross family network informing them of the situation and requesting prayer. As we pray for Uncle Jim and Aunt Frances, their three children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren our prayer is, "Lord, lead them to the rock that is higher than any other."
As I consider today's text there's no evidence at all that David traveled any considerable distance from where he lived. Of course travel in ancient times was very difficult and only a few ever traveled very far beyond their own relatively close geographic area. Yet in a powerful expression of faith David declares, "From the ends of the earth I call to You."
"I call as my heart grows faint." Many of you can recall a situation in your life when your heart has grown faint. Although it's difficult to determine precisely what David meant by this, I surely can identify such times in my life. Another version states: "when my heart is overwhelmed."
Times like this have occurred in both my personal life and in my service as a minister. And quite realistically I am aware they will continue to be a part of my experience on this side of eternity. Yesterday Brooksyne and I experienced a closed door in regard to a short-term ministry opportunity we had both been very excited about (an interim pastoral role). We are both disappointed (as well as Ester) since we had already been to the church for several services and after meeting many of the congregation we had looked forward to serving. But previous closed doors in life and ministry have reinforced our faith in God's overall plan!
David cried out to God, "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." In the Scriptures the rock is a common metaphor for God. The first reference to this was in Jacob's blessing to Joseph when he refers to "the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel"(Genesis 49:24). In Moses’ final sermon to the Israelites before he died he declared: "He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He" (Deuteronomy 32:4).
All throughout the Psalms the Rock is commonly used in this way to describe the power and stability we have in the Lord. One wonderful example is Psalm 18:31, "For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?" The prophets continue the theme: "Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal"(Isaiah 26:4). The apostle Paul describes the spiritual rock that accompanied the children of Israel, "and that Rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:4).
I'm still learning the powerful truth expressed in this statement by H.C.G. Moule. "There is no situation so chaotic that God cannot, from that situation, create something that is surpassingly good. He did it at the creation. He did it at the cross. He is doing it today."
Make this ancient request of the Psalmist your personal plea: "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Lord today I cry out to You. I am so thankful that You hear me regardless of where I may be crying out from or what situation I am in. At times my heart does grow faint and I am overwhelmed. I ask you to lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. Amen
"So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed" (Isaiah 28:16). "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee" (Isaiah 26:3).
Yesterday we had a trip up to Lewistown, Pennsylvania where most of the drive is right along the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers. Route 322, a 4 lane highway, often runs along the foot of a mountain alongside the winding river with a beautiful valley beyond.
Engineers cut the road out of the mountainside so the highway is terraced which sets it apart from the typical interstate design. One lane is higher up on the terrace and you view the other lane down below as a parallel ribbon of highway stretching for miles ahead. The views of the encircling mountains are splendid even in the bleak of winter. Due to the heavy rains the night before water was plunging with great force off rock cliffs from the high mountains. New and powerful waterfalls appeared in several locations as we drove along.
What I just described as a beautiful scene to the traveler was a source of distress and anxiety for others living in the area. As I was visiting with locals in the church in Lewistown they were discussing how the army corps of engineers was opening up the gates to the dam on the large Raystown Lake up the river from the town. Speculation was made that if the dam was breached the town of Lewistown, which is right beside the Juniata River, would be catastrophically flooded. Smaller streams are already causing minor flooding in many neighborhoods.
There's a lot to dismay us, isn't there? What's dismaying you today? World situations, national tragedies, personal matters; they can all dismay, often concurrently. What glorious truth our daily Scripture verses convey. The prophet Isaiah served God some 2,700 years ago. He records the very words of the Sovereign Lord. This verse is later used by Peter to apply to the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:6).
Isaiah shares a truth held dear by believers everywhere: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee" (Isaiah 26:3). "Stayed on Thee"; that's the key, and that's where I suspect so many of us have the problem. We keep getting our minds and hearts off the Lord and onto the problem at hand. We approach the problem from every angle and get everyone’s take on it. We go to bed with the problem on our hearts and if sleep does come it may very well be compromised by a dream that even deals with the problem.
But when we fully trust God problems will not dismay or overwhelm us, for dismay and trust simply cannot coexist. Trying to support both attitudes would be similar to rubbing coarse sand paper against the grain of fine furniture and expecting beautiful results. Certainly we’re tempted to be dismayed by the enemy, but the key to trust is to turn our hearts to the Lord in prayer as we stand on His promises.
Warren Wiersbe reminds us that "The peace of God is not the absence of problems; it is the presence of divine sufficiency in the midst of problems." George Morrison said, "Peace is the possession of adequate resources" and those resources come from the Lord when you yield your heart and mind to Him.
Our trust is in the One who is a tested stone, the Solid Rock; the One who is a sure foundation. He is ever trustworthy. He is ever faithful. Put your complete trust in Him today!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Father, in that day we will bear witness just as the Israelites did when they testified: “Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him and He saved us. This is the Lord; we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” You will trample the enemy of our soul as Your sovereign Spirit triumphs in our life. Because we trust in You, sovereign Lord, we have an enduring peace that You are the Great Deliverer and that You work all things together for good to those of us who love You and who are called according to Your purpose. We seek to glorify You by living for Jesus, our Solid Rock, who was put to the ultimate test and laid an unshakable foundation for our faith. Amen.
"O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, 'God will not deliver him' Selah But You are a shield around me, O LORD; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head" (Psalm 3:1-3).
Pennsylvania has many towns with interesting names. About sixty miles due north of us in the Appalachian Mountains is a small village named "Fearnot". I don't know how the name originated. I spent a bit of time trying to find out but was unable to do so.
It wouldn’t surprise me if it had a Biblical basis as is the case with the names of many towns in our area. Perhaps the early settlers were experiencing fear and a Bible preacher challenged them with a passage from the Bible that declares "Fear not". The message was so pertinent and left such an impact the settlers decided it would be an excellent name for a town. They’d hear the reminder each time the name of the town is spoken. In fact, there is a church in that area named Fearnot, which is an unusual but very descriptive name!
Many of us can identify with David's desperate cry to God in these verses. Our circumstances differ but we also sense the presence of foes. And to this day they continue to voice the same dispiriting words, "God will not deliver!" Undoubtedly some of you are dealing with this kind of emotional turmoil today. And your greatest foe, Satan, unceasingly torments. Nearly 500 years ago Martin Luther wrote, "But still our ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe."
David wrote this portion of Scripture when he was forced to flee from his rebellious son Absalom. The historical record of that uprising is found in 2 Samuel 13. David had been at the height of his power when he committed his most famous sin (2 Samuel 11), a "private matter" which had wide and lasting consequences. Although he eventually repented, a chain of events had been initiated of which he had little control. Now the great king is fighting for his life, his chief human adversary being his very own son.
The word "Selah" in the text is an actual transliteration of the Hebrew. In other words like "Hallelujah" and "Amen" it sounds the same in English as in Hebrew. It is thought to be a musical term indicating a pause. I read a comment that suggests it calls the reader to pause and contemplate on what has been written and prepare for what is coming next.
The very first reference to “shield” in the Bible is used in a spiritual sense when the Lord speaks to Abraham. "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am Your shield, Your very great reward" (Genesis 15:1). Perhaps David recalled this passage when he confidently declared, "But you are a shield around me, O Lord." David had a firm grounding in this glorious, unchanging truth. The remainder of Psalm 3 is a confident expression of faith in God's care.
Today I encourage each reader to focus on this unchanging God, who ever remains a shield around those who trust in Him. In fact throughout the Psalms David uses the image of a shield to describe the care and power of God. In the New Testament Paul speaks of the shield in Ephesians 6 as a defense weapon against the "flaming arrows of the evil one."
Here's another example from the Psalms to close with: "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song" (Psalm 28:7).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, there are many foes standing ready to attack. The enemy’s ammunition is relentless coming from every direction but I am thoroughly protected by Your impenetrable shield that completely surrounds me. Fear misguides, but faith guides me into an enduring trust in Your unfailing love. You are My shelter from the stormy blast of Satan's weaponry. You lift my head as I am encouraged in You today and my hope is secured in my future eternal home. Amen.
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).
Since I was a child I've enjoyed reading the "National Geographic" magazine. This last Christmas my sister gave me subscription as a gift and I look forward to reading through the magazine and of course looking at the stunning photography.
The March 2008 issue features a story about a massive super accelerator known as the Large Haldron Collider in Europe that physicists use for testing. In school Physics was and it remains to me the hardest type of science to in any way comprehend. But I still found the article interesting.
A main focus in the experiments is to discover the "Higgs particle", which also has the designation "the God particle." According to the article it's the missing evidence in a theory in physics that explains a basic characteristic of the universe. Now (and this where it becomes absolutely incomprehensible to me) the article states that the Higgs particle will last "less than a millionth of a billionth of a billionth of a second before decaying into a spray of other particles."
I am a person of faith. I believe what the Bible says and I see so much evidence (and more all the time) for the truthfulness of the Bible. I am deeply moved by the statement in Hebrews 11:3 "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." Yet my faith is often maligned by the world and is considered by many as scientifically naïve, uninformed, simplistic and more recently, even dangerous.
But I contend that in this life faith in one way or another is always required. For instance I read the article and among other things I must have faith that they can actually determine a time measurement less than "a millionth of a billionth of a billionth of a second." But in the article it's stated as an absolute fact, with no words like physicists believe, conjecture or even estimate, but merely a matter of fact statement.
I had a stop watch in high school that measured time to the tenth of a second and have seen measurement to one/hundredth of a second in races on TV such as the Olympics. But really, I have to believe really, really, really hard that there is any way a time measurement of "a millionth of a billionth of a billionth of a second" can be determined. You know what I think the physicists do as well, though many would never admit it.
I find it interesting that the National Geographic article is subtitled "The hunt for the God particle." Ever since the fall and the blight of sin on the human race, man has in one way or another been seeking for the missing element in life. Satan has a massive array of substitutes of that which is claimed to fill this void.
The almighty God of the entire universe speaks in the daily text, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). He goes on to state in the next verse with a word of blessed assurance, "I will be found by you," declares the LORD."
Hebrews 11 has a foundational statement in regard to our relationship with God. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Let us be God seekers!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Holy God, I want seek You as a lifelong pursuit. Thank You for the promise that when we seek You with all our heart we will find You. I want to have faith that pleases You. I do believe You exist and are a rewarder of those who earnestly seek You. Help me to be a God seeker!
"Don't call me Naomi," she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter" (Ruth 1:20). "See to it that …no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many" (Hebrews 12:15).
Mike Muhlhammer attended our church for several years in the late eighties along with his family. I recall his pleasant attitude and vibrancy toward life. I also remember one Sunday afternoon when we had a rather silly hot dog eating contest among the men and boys of the church where Mike distinguished himself as the Hot Dog Champ. All these years later I can't recall how many he ate! He stood out as a very bright young man with lofty ambitions.
Mike and his family moved on from our area but we’ve stayed in touch through the years. Following his high school graduation in 1993 he attended a one year program at Wisconsin Wilderness Campus of Philadelphia College of Bible. Following this he was preparing to transfer to another college and, in the course of his application process, he had a routine physical. The physical was followed by some tests that revealed a brain tumor the size of a golf ball at the base of Mike’s skull.
His mother tells the story: Within a week Mike was in surgery. We were told that he would be in ICU for a day or so, then out of the hospital within the week and able to attend college later that month with a decreased academic load. Life has just not been the same since that day. Mike suffered two strokes during surgery and came out of surgery in a deep coma. Over the next several days he slowly began to wake up. Then, nine days after the surgery, he came down with meningitis. He had been able to breathe on his own prior to that, but now needed a trach and was put on the ventilator. Additionally he was given a stomach tube for liquid feedings.
In the weeks, months and years that followed right up to the present time, some 14 years later, Mike has had a lengthy recuperative process and is a real over comer. (See below for a link to the complete testimony that Mike's mother, Chris, shared with me.)
These are situations where we who have earnest faith cry out, "Why Lord?" As a pastor, circumstances like this are among the greatest challenges we have when attempting to minister to the family and loved ones. Many of us have had crisis situations in our lives where we have uttered a deeply felt "Why Lord?" I'm not speaking of the many trite matters where we are inconvenienced in some manner or things just aren't going our way in a temporal sense. Really, these situations amount to mere grumbling if we honestly examine our hearts.
Life experiences similar to what Mike and his family have been through can prompt the gnawing question, “Why, Lord?” It is the common expression of those who have had deep unexplainable hurts, often with lifelong consequences.
In our previous church in New England we had a member whose young daughter was killed as a service truck backed over her in her own driveway. I recall a fellow pastor sharing of a situation involving a young mother in his church who had just come through extensive cancer therapy and then discovered she was expecting. What a difficult decision that family had to make. These are the "Why, Lord?" expressions that test the very limits of our faith in God who is good. I myself have had to deal with a few situations like this in my own life.
The severity of the testing may vary among Christians but the grace of God is all-sufficient to meet every affliction we have. Annie Johnson, a woman severely crippled at a young age by rheumatoid arthritis, says it so well: “He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength when the labors increase; to added affliction He addeth His mercy, to multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.” In other words the grace of God more than matches the depth of our need.
The best step I have found in dealing with these troubling situations is to humbly acknowledge "I don't know why," get my focus off the situation (which will eventually lead to bitterness), and focus on the character of God. Naomi had experienced monumental loss. Her husband and two sons had died; she'd moved to foreign land with foreign gods. She expresses her deep hurt and confusion in our daily text with these heart-felt words: "the Almighty has made my life very bitter."
But the little book of Ruth ends with a contented grandma holding an ancestor to Jesus. As people of faith we believe that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Today if you are dealing with a situation that prompts bitterness may you recall Naomi’s story. It only takes a few minutes to read her entire book for the fuller perspective. After reading her story, apply the powerful truth from our second daily text, "See to it that …no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Jesus, when burdens increase and answers don’t come I have a choice to become bitter or become strong in You. I acknowledge that I am weak, often dealing with unbelief and fear, when my burdens become my major focus. But when I clothe myself in the spiritual armor You provide I have a powerful defense against the enemy; I will stand firm against Satan's evil schemes. You cautioned us repeatedly in Scripture that we will have many troubles, but that we should take heart because You help us to overcome them. Jesus, though You’ve proven Yourself to me many times before I ask for grace to trust You even more. Amen.
“He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:10,11).
Here in America we often greet one another with the common expression, “How are you?” When we meet one another face to face, in our conversation over the phone, or when we write a letter to a friend we regularly ask the question, “How are you?” It’s so common that, at times, I have taken a phone call and out of habit responded with the customary, “Fine” only to realize after doing so that I answered the question before they even asked it! Occasionally I respond with such phrases as “I’m doing great” or “I’m blessed” attempting to give a more genuine response to the customary greeting.
I recall a few friends, dealing with some emotional ups and downs in life, responding with a very candid admission, “I’m gonna make it” or “I’m overcoming.”
But the other day I read of a true expression which can also be a thought-provoking response to the typical greeting. It also provides an opportunity for a witness, assuming you have the boldness to use it and opportunity to explain it.
Next time someone asks you “How are you doing?” respond with, “Better than I deserve.” I’ve been doing that recently and the reaction has been quite interesting, although it may take a few seconds for the words to sink in.
In one sense I consider the phrase as a counter to the whiny, entitlement outlook that permeates our culture. It seems so many, no matter how full the cup is, focus on the half empty view. They center on that which is lacking in their life and what they feel they’re entitled to. Politicians are great at pandering to this attitude with promises such as “Help is on the way.” Incredibly it’s a sizable voting constituency.
But it’s the spiritual application that really blesses me. Consider just the first phrase in the daily text: “He does not treat us as our sins deserve.”That’s a portion of Scripture verse that you can memorize as you repeat it to yourself throughout the day. In fact you may want to personalize it, “He does not treat me as my sins deserve.”
What do our sins deserve? The Bible answers in a simple Scripture phrase you should have memorized upon first coming to Christ. “The wages of sin is death.” That is: spiritual death, separation from God, eternal judgment, hell. Not a popular theme in the modern church, infiltrated with the “I’m OK, You’re OK” doctrine launched in the 70’s.
Probably the most famous sermon in American history was preached by the 18th century theologian, Jonathan Edwards, where he focused on that which we truly deserve. He wasn’t concerned with making believers “feel good” when he titled his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” or when he preached the message God gave him regarding the penalty of sin.
The next time you’re asked, “How are you?” consider the great love the Father has for you and gratefully respond, “Better than I deserve.” It might lead to a discussion that takes you beyond a surface level to a conversation of the heart.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we are thankful for Your great compassion and enduring patience; that You do not treat us as our sins deserve but with Your never-ending mercy. From everlasting to everlasting Your love is with those who walk with You, who keep Your covenant and obey Your precepts. Amen.
"And they sang a new song: 'You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation'" (Revelation 5:9).
I first met Floyd Miles about fifteen years ago when I lived in New England. At that time he was on the staff at a local Teen Challenge Center and had been saved for several years. We established a friendship and I've kept up with him through the years. He went on to establish the Teen Challenge in New Haven, Connecticut and is presently serving as a pastor in Indianapolis, Indiana. He sent me a book that has his testimony in it.
The title of the chapter dealing with his life's story is "No Chance on Earth" and indeed his testimony is another evidence of the "wonderful grace of Jesus, reaching the most defiled." Floyd is my age but what vastly different backgrounds we have: he growing up in a rough inner city area in Harlem, New York City and me being raised in the small suburb of Belton, Missouri.
But now we are related through the blood of Christ! What a wonderful thing to be purchased by God! We become a part of God's family comprised of every tribe and language and people and nation. The divine blood of Christ is the medium of exchange and it is absolutely, altogether adequate for the purchase.
Today's text is a portion of a worship song sung by the twenty-four elders as they knelt before Jesus. It expresses the foundational act of redemption: "You were slain." It also covers redemption's glorious scope: "with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribeand language and people and nation."
Today, members of my family are everywhere. The following song stirs my heart every time I hear the words:
It's the song of the redeemed
Rising from the African plain
It's the song of the forgiven
Drowning out the Amazon rain
The song of Asian believers
Filled with God's holy fire
It's every tribe, every tongue, every nation
A love song born of a grateful choir*
We enjoy hearing from our readers, whether local or from around the world. No experience in this life will compare to the day we meet face to face in our future dwelling place, since the vast majority of our readers we interface with only through the internet. You are representative of the redeemed who are summoned from "every tribeand language and people and nation." We do know that people from many tribes and languages and nations receive it. Each of our readers, cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, is equally purchased by God! Just ask Floyd Miles when you see him in heaven.
Let every kindred, every tribe, on this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe, and crown Him Lord of all;
To Him all majesty ascribe, and crown Him Lord of all!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, we thank You for this medium of internet communication that makes it possible for us to join our brothers and sisters all around the world in honoring You as we grow together in Your grace and knowledge. We are all grateful recipients of Your mercy and grace. On a future date we will join together with the angels around the throne and our redeemed brothers and sisters and proclaim in word and song, "Praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever." Amen.
"Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue … who keeps his oath even when it hurts" (Psalm 15:1-4).
Since we moved to Mount Joy in early 2001 I have had my car service done at a locally owned garage on West Main Street. I always ask for Eric, a young man who seems to know my vehicles, since he's done most of the service work on them from the time I purchased them. He does a good job and I feel he's always been honest with me.
He's also a got a positive, friendly disposition and I like it when he says, "Have a great day, Mr. Weber." That kind of reminds me of how Wally Cleaver talked to those his senior. Wally's television character grew into the kind of young man I would want to do business with.
Shortly after I started going to the garage I requested an oil change for my Camry. When I got home I saw that they had forgotten to place the oil filler cap back on. I called expecting it might be a hassle but Eric said, "Bring it right in, Mr. Weber, and we will put on a temporary replacement and order a new one for your model." And that's just what he did; promptly, no charge, and no hassle.
A Christian businessman friend of mine told me about a previous job he had where he was pressured to falsify records and distort manufacturing specifications. He refused to compromise his integrity and as a result lost the job he had for many years.
Particularly painful to him were the attempts by the company to "justify" their actions by maligning him to other employees who were his close friends. This is a man who demonstrated the daily verse. His oath was acting with integrity in the business world because of his Christian convictions and because he did so he experienced significant injustice.
Many times we will find being truthful really does hurt on the short-term. Someone else got that job promotion because he was adept at misrepresentation. (In my observation falsified and misleading educational credentials are rampant in our society.) A neighbor shares with a twinkle in the eye how he got a better deal on his insurance because of an incomplete disclosure. Mankind has been lying ever since the original sin and is becoming more and more skilled in ways of deception.
Psalm 15 contains a list of characteristics required by God of the one who would dwell in God's sanctuary and live on God's holy hill (v. 1). In this present age these characteristics would surely apply to those desiring a close walk with God; those with a heart to live in His presence. The portion of the verse selected this morning is so very important and yet greatly lacking in our modern world.
David is reminding us of the unchanging verity of the ninth commandment, "Thou shall not bear false witness." God wants us to keep our word and speak the truth even if it hurts. In our day of slippery words, half truths, and embellishments we need to keep our word even when it hurts. The pressures to violate the 9th command are great, but by God's grace and in His strength we can keep from doing so. God still "desires truth in the inner parts" (Psalm 51:6a). Jesus wants us to live in the truth, to speak the truth, and to listen to the truth!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, Your Word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You; for it teaches me to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before You. Even when it brings about hurtful circumstances help me to do the right thing in keeping with the Christ-filled nature I received upon the day of my salvation. May I not be found lacking in integrity but rather be characterized by my integrity as it honors my Father in heaven. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
"Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead" (Acts 20:9).
For some time the clock on the back wall of our church has not been working. As I recall the last time I preached I commented on it (using it to the preacher’s advantage.) The trustees have been working on the matter, having replaced the first broken clock, but apparently a second clock has not kept time either. Yesterday my friend, Ken, called me about a clock they were considering purchasing online. Ken is an enthusiastic, diligent young man who is a joy to be around. He was concerned about online security and was calling me for advice.
He was excited about the clock they had in mind. "It's an atomic clock" he told me. When I hear atomic I think nuclear and I semi teased him, "Ken, do you think it's wise to have a nuclear powered clock in our church?" Our area was personally impacted nearly 30 years ago by the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident and people around here can be sensitive about these matters.
He laughed and informed me that by atomic it somehow got the time from a satellite and was accurate to one millionth of a second. I’m just hoping that doesn't cause too much stress for our pastor!
Many churches have clocks, although I've attended a few who for "theological" reasons do not allow them in the sanctuary. As a pastor for many years, I grew accustomed to seeing people discreetly glance at the clock on the back wall as the worship service was nearing an end. I have never seen a clock on the front wall behind the preacher. Hmmm, I wonder why!
Acts 20 has an interesting story. The apostle Paul was traveling and stopped by Troas, where he stayed for seven days. On the last day he was with them they gathered to break bread and Paul spoke to the people. He kept talking till midnight in an upstairs room with many lamps when a most unusual event took place.
"Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on." I can imagine that lengthy service. I've sat through a few of those, myself, and I am usually pretty tired by midnight. Lamps of their time surely would not have provided the type of light conducive to wakefulness. And Eutychus sat in an upstairs window; surely a recipe for disaster as "Paul talked on and on."
Sermons have gotten shorter during my lifetime and certainly have throughout Bible and church history. Most people don't want more than half an hour now in much of the western church and the pastor sure better have some bells and whistles to keep the people’s attention, like PowerPoint and video supplements. But people still fall asleep in church!
"When he (Eutychus) was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead." Now I've experienced some interesting disruptions in church services. I recall, as a boy, someone dropping the offering plate off the balcony with a loud clanging of change spilling out in all directions on the tile floor (thankfully it didn't hit anybody below.) A common disruption in our churches today are the cell phones that don’t get turned off. It’s one thing for parishioners to forget to turn off the ringer; quite another annoyance when they feel obligated to take the call right in their pew, which actually happened one time when I was preaching. Well, I’m getting off subject and the clock on my computer is ticking away (accurate timing and all) so let me get back on subject.
If the internet were available in the New Testament period this would have been a top of the news story, hitting every public and cable network and major newspaper. Reporters surely would have been on the scene with their interpretation of the situation. See below for a link to the entire Scripture text and "the rest of the story!"
The full meaning of the story perhaps only God knows, but clearly this is an account of human weakness and divine intervention. The next time you get sleepy in church perhaps Eutychus’ story will come to mind and it will prompt you to sit a little taller and lean forward as you listen more intently to what God has to say through His appointed messenger.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, we thank You for godly messengers who faithfully feed Your children by diligently teaching the whole counsel of Your Holy Word. Some attend church with an intense spiritual hunger, while others may come out of a sense of duty or to be seen by others. Give us a hungry heart that yearns for more of You so that our lives are set apart to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all that we do. May we be attentive to Your life-transforming truths as You impart them to our hearts in our personal devotions and through Your anointed messengers. Amen.
"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:24). "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22b).
We have a fun time in our home with the easy button. Push the easy button and a voice emphatically states, "That was easy." Most of you know that this is a popular ad campaign run by the super office store, Staples. Of course the intent of the button is to show us how much easier our lives will be if we remember to shop at Staples.
I have considered using this button in my preaching. When I conclude a point that I feel listeners should have grasped I could merely push the easy button. In order to experience a more interactive participation I could distribute an easy button to each attendee and they could all push it simultaneously, sort of an affirming response to my message similar to collectively saying "Amen!" Wouldn't that make an interesting church service! (It might be a bit distracting as well.)
Of course I am teasing but the easy button has got me to pondering. We live in a time when easy is valued, expected and even an entitlement to many. We strive to do whatever is needed to make life easier, whether it’s our chores, our jobs, our relationships, or physical exercise; in other words whatever takes physical, mental, or emotional exertion on our part. This mentality can spill over into the spiritual as well and rather than considering the harder demands of Biblical discipleship we may tend to look for the easy way. When facing a call that may be hard or require great sacrifice we may choose an easier solution.
John and Esther Spurrier have served as missionaries in Zambia, Africa since the mid-seventies. John is a medical doctor who serves at Macha hospital in Zambia where he seeks to compassionately minister to the sick and needy. Yesterday he and Esther shared about their ministry in Zambia during our worship service. The power point presentation gripped our hearts as they featured photos of the sick, weak and dying they minister to daily. They issued a strong and convicting challenge to the congregation to respond to the voice of the Lord who says, “Whom shall I send and who shall go for us?” Like Isaiah, our response should be, "Here am I. Send me."
Is there an "easy button" in the Christian life? Many of us would say, "If so, I sure want to find it."
In the first daily text are the very words of Jesus, but a portion I really doubt if too many have memorized. He's teaching His disciples: "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!"
In the second text Paul and Barnabas are on their first missionary journey and are returning to some of the cities where they had earlier established churches. Their basic message to these young churches is summed up in this phrase: "strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith" (Acts 14:22a).
But Luke sums up the essence of their verbal message in a single phrase, "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22b). This portion bears careful attention in an age when the call to follow Christ is often presented to unbelievers as “simple" or “easy.” We might not be too comfortable sharing the above verse with those we are seeking to lead to Christ!
Notice the part "you must go through." This hard reality seems to be an acknowledgement that there is no easy button in life. Testings of all kinds are present from our childhood to the final breath we draw in this life. Thankfully, during our times of hardships, we can "approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).
I am sure some of you today are "going through many hardships." You wonder how the particular matter you are dealing with is going to work out. You sure would like to find that "easy button."
My fellow believer let me encourage you today. God is faithful! He will make a way. It may not be the way we would prefer, and it may not be easy, but we have a promise of entry into the kingdom of God and His promises are absolutely sure. Let this truth encourage you today.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Father, though I am called to go through many hardships, there isn’t one that I face alone. For in my weakness You are made strong, in my folly You are the God of infinite wisdom, and in my fear I take hold of the hope You offer to me which is firm and secure. You will not abandon the work of Your hands but fulfill Your purpose for me as You strengthen, sustain, and instruct me during times of testing. I do not want to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Keep me faithful to the end. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, Amen.
"When David had served God's purpose in his own generation he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed" (Acts 13:35).
Last night we replaced our aging laptop computer and I consider chapters in my life based on computers beginning with my very first computer, a used XT-286 machine (similar to the one pictured). I read that the XT was initially priced at $8,000 when it first came out in 1983. That was for the deluxe version with 640 KB RAM, 10 MB HDD and a color monitor! Now we are on our 7th desktop and 4th laptop. And the new models are practically light years away in capability. For instance our new laptop has 2GB RAM and a 160GB hard drive
In Michael W. Smith’s song “Friends” there’s a line that states, "A chapter in your life is through.” Consider your life's journey as a series of chapters. You can do this in a variety of ways such relational, vocational or geography.
I’ve had several long chapters based on where I have lived such as my childhood in the Kansas City area, my college years in Springfield Missouri, and my years of pastoral ministry in St. Marys, Pennsylvania and Taunton, Massachusetts. For seven years now we’ve lived here in Lancaster County, serving in chaplaincy and developing this internet ministry.
As in a book, the chapters of our life are intertwined. I am grateful that there are recipients of this devotional from each chapter in my life; my family, a 1st grade friend, college friends, people who were in our churches, right up to those whom I have met just recently. If you think about it, you have people like that in your life as well don't you? I sure hope so!
Each chapter in our life is a part of the overall fulfillment of God's purpose. Consider the daily text. In the historical books we have a lot of information on David. In fact perhaps apart from Moses, we have more biographical information on David than any other Old Testament personality. But the apostle Paul, preaching in a Jewish synagogue in Pisidian Antioch, makes a simple statement concerning David's life, "When David had served God's purpose in his own generation."
God places us all on this earth for a season, a period of time known as our "own generation.” Like David all of us (except the final generation) will eventually fall asleep (die) and our bodies will decay.
We can live our life for self or in consecration to God's purpose. Recall the old saying, “Only one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last."
Today, let us, like David, seek to serve God’s purpose in our generation in each chapter of life!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Lord, today help me to live my life in a manner that fulfills Your purpose!
“Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. These are true words of God” (Revelation 19:9).
Yesterday I met Randy Williams; a friend I hadn’t seen in a while. We talked for a few minutes and in the course of our discussion he told me about a local furniture store he would shop at when he needed extended dining room tables. Extended tables, common in our area, are used for seating a large family and/or friends around a meal. We ate a Sunday meal with a family last year that seated twenty-two comfortably at their main table. The most interesting feature is that their table leafs are self-storing so the table can extend from seating a small family to a pretty large group.
I asked Randy why he would need several extended tables of this type and he explained that he and his wife gave them as wedding gifts to their children. Later Brooksyne and I commented on what a practical, long-lasting and valuable gift a dining table is. So many great memories are made around the dinner table. Family, friends, homemade food, and flowing conversation are key ingredients for making memorable settings and deepening human relationships.
Early in our marriage we purchased an old 48”x48” oak dining table for $50.00 at an estate sale that had five 12” leafs (but not the self-storing kind.) We later found a table almost identical to ours advertised for $10.50 in a 1906 Sears catalog, so our table has actually appreciated in monetary value over the past century!
Upon the initial purchase the table was an absolute mess with the laminate top and carved legs etched in deep scratches. Multiple colors of stains were smeared over the wood. The leafs had ancient linoleum glued over the oak which looked rather hideous. I saw little hope for the pitiful table before Brooksyne spent a good month stripping, sanding, and staining it. Jeff Worrall, a long-time friend of ours, assisted her with the structural restoration and even I got on board by drilling new holes and inserting better fitting dowels for the leafs. Fully extended it comfortably seats 14 people. As I consider the photos I have taken through the years, including many used on this site, it’s pretty remarkable to consider how many have eaten and fellowshipped around this old oak table. Today’s photo was taken 20 years ago of my family who joined us for Christmas in 1988.
I sure like today’s verse. There are many mysteries in the Word that make us wonder how it will all come about, but most of us can identify with sitting around a large table with great food and lots of family and friends. We can be assured that all the words of the Scripture are true but in this case it’s reinforced in the text itself, “These are true words of God.”
“Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” The photo to the left is a common depiction of the table set for this marriage supper of the Lamb. You might say it’s the ultimate extended table! The extent of God’s hospitality is in the ultimate invitation, “Whosoever will, may come.” And even more familiar to many of us are those wonderful words from the Golden text (John 3:16), “whosoever believes in Him.”
Brooksyne and I received an early invitation to a wedding this summer. These solemn occasions are very memorable events and the reception to follow gives us great opportunity to celebrate with the family and friends of the couple. But nothing in this life will compare with a future marriage supper to be held in heaven at the ultimate extended Lord’s table.
Brooksyne and I expect to see you there and, by all means, please stop by so we can visit!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Daily prayer: Father, salvation belongs to You who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb! Words are inadequate to express our joy in knowing that one glorious day we will attend the Wedding Supper of the Lamb because You have provided for our salvation. Though words cannot adequately express our joy, the way we conduct our lives is an expression of thanksgiving to You. We look forward to that glorious day when we receive our wedding garments which will be robes of white. Until then, we prepare ourselves by serving You, praying faithfully, and keeping ourselves in Your love as we wait for the future wedding supper of the Lamb.
"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21).
Yesterday I took a long walk along the beach and returned on the first road parallel to the ocean, which passed scores of high-rise vacation condos. I was dressed in rather scraggly but comfortable clothing not expecting to see anyone I knew and certainly not interested in impressing anyone.
A man who had the appearance of one who might be homeless approached me and said, "It's nice to meet a rich man." We engaged in a brief conversation where I learned his name was Carl. His words came as quite a surprise but also seemed like a golden opportunity for a witness. I responded, "Yes, I am indeed rich in Jesus." We shared for a few more minutes a spiritual perspective on riches and I gave him a tract card. I have no idea what motivated his greeting but it sure got me to thinking. I suppose I might be rich in comparison to him since riches are so relative. I am certainly rich in this world's goods (as are virtually all reading this), in comparison to those living in many regions of this world.
I have long been intrigued by the daily text and have written and preached on it several times. But today I want to especially focus on the phrase, "rich toward God." The main character in the text was not "rich toward God." He did not use his resources for God but instead selfishly built bigger barns for himself. I need to consider: Am I a kingdom builder or a barn builder? Am I rich toward God or rich toward this world's goods?
Being rich toward God is a form of wealth entirely different than all worldly measurements. Actually I would be pretty certain (without naming names) that many of the famously rich in this world are not at all "rich toward God." I am equally certain that there are many who live their lives in relative obscurity with little of this world's goods who are truly "rich toward God."
What's your fundamental outlook on life today? Are you storing up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal?" (Matthew 6:19). Or are you storing up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal? (Matthew 6:20).
Today let us commit ourselves to being "rich toward God!" Let us seek first His Kingdom! Let us build our lives on the solid rock of Christ and be like the person whom Jesus called the "wise man" (Matthew 7:24). When the torrential storms beat upon houses built by human hands they're likely to perish. But when our hearts are shaped by the divine hand of God the storms of life cannot destroy that which is imperishable.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Jesus, help us to hear Your words and obey them. When the rains fall, the floods rise, and the winds blow we may be shaken but we will not crash, for our hope is in the One who walks on water and calms the tempest seas. Jesus, You are the Solid Rock upon which we stand when all other ground is sinking sand. Amen.
"Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them" (Daniel 10:12).
Yesterday I received a short email message informing me that a friend's mother had passed away after a long illness. I called him last night and we shared over the phone for a few minutes. She had a stroke eight years ago which left her in a bedridden state ever since. Of course my friend had prayed for his mother often throughout this period; initially he prayed for her healing, but over time when that prayer was not realized he redirected his prayer to that of asking God to release her from her permanent physical affliction that she might be taken home.
When I speak of "unanswered prayer" many of you personally know what I mean; both in theory and in practice. We've all had needs that we prayed for and the outcome was not as we had desired or the answer was delayed for what seemed to be an agonizing length of time. I realize that some will take issue with the word "unanswered," but from our limited, human perspective that's the way it seems. And still other prayers were answered in ways we never would have imagined as God was powerfully working during the wait in ways we could not see with the physical eye.
Today's verse has a powerful word of encouragement. A severe crisis had been revealed to Daniel. Instead of responding to this potential disaster by immediately picking up a pen and pad and writing down his "to do" list he directed his heart toward God. He set his mind to gain understanding and humbled himself before His Father in heaven.
Notice these words, "Since the first day… your words were heard." What an assurance that brings! There was delay; there was temporal uncertainty which often makes one fearful or nervous, but God heard Daniel's words from the first day and he saw the fear in his heart. Thus He spoke forth a compassionate command to calm Daniel's anxious thoughts, "Do not be afraid, Daniel." This command is repeated often in Scripture and its message brings great assurance.
Daniel's attitude and actions, in response to the crisis at hand, is instructive for each of us today: "You set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God." Daniel's example of surrendering both his mind and heart to the Lord was the key to remaining grounded in his faith as he waited upon God for instruction. This is also important for us today as we undergo prolonged trials.
What are you dealing with today? What great trial is before you or someone you care about? Are you praying about it, as you set your mind to gain understanding and as you humble yourself before Almighty God?
Be assured today that God is not too busy nor is He neglecting you. He does hear you! Are you also hearing His word of instruction today? He is interested in more than just answering your prayer, but also deepening your understanding and shaping your attitude to reflect that of the One who gave His all us.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, in the midst of our trials may the problem at hand not be the single focus of our prayers. Help us to seek You for godly understanding and patient endurance, so that our lives are spiritually maturing in the process of waiting upon You to answer our prayers. May seeking You be our primary focus in fulfillment of Christ's command in Matthew 6:33, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto You." In His precious name we pray, Amen.
"The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea-- the LORD on high is mighty" (Psalm 93:3,4).
This morning Brooksyne and I watched the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean here in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where we are staying for several days. I was raised in the Midwest and didn't see the ocean till I was thirteen, right here in Myrtle Beach. Brooksyne, who was raised in Oklahoma, didn't see the ocean till after we were married for several years. Ester, on the other hand, has seen the ocean regularly since she was four years old due to our years of ministry in New England. Now that we live inland it's a special privilege to once again walk along the sandy shoreline, view the mighty ocean, and hear its crashing waves!
Though the calendar dictates that it's the winter season, yesterday's 70 degree temperatures begged to differ. Families with young children were enjoying the pleasures that only an ocean setting can provide such as walking barefoot in the wet sand and collecting various kinds of sea shells washed up by the waves. Ester has already collected a pile and plans to take them back to her friends.
As we were taking in the view of the mighty ocean and watching its pounding waves hit the shoreline the old hymn, "Like a Mighty Sea" came to mind. In our first pastorate in Southern Missouri a dear older lady named Beulah often requested this song, as it was her favorite. What I find interesting is that she and her husband had never seen the ocean. Their only distant trip was as far as Illinois, one state to the east, where their daughter lived.
The ocean has inspired quite a number of Scripture verses, hymns, and settings for writings; both fiction and nonfiction throughout the ages. The above Psalm extols the might of God. The sea referred to by the Psalmist was likely the Mediterranean Sea.
Israel is small geographically and Jerusalem is not far from the Mediterranean Sea. I too am reminded of the awesomeness of God’s power when I look out over the vast ocean and watch the great breakers crash into the shore. The mysteries that lie below the sea only underscore the awesomeness of God's great power. Truly the waves are a great analogy of God’s ceaseless mighty power but the Lord on high is even mightier! How mighty is God? He's mighty enough to rule the great universe, yet small enough to live within my heart.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Lord, any words we speak or analogies we use cannot fully describe your infinite mighty power. It miraculously reaches beyond the heavens, is visible throughout all the earth, and is resident within our own hearts. It is only in experiencing a personal relationship with you that we begin to tap into the inexhaustible power and might that comes from You, Almighty God. Even as the waves of the ocean are powerful and wash up on shore may You fill our lives to overflowing so that Your mighty presence is visible in our lives and spills out to those around us. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray, Amen.
"The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them" (Psalm 34:17).
Anyone who’s ever talked to someone on a cell phone knows the frustration of a bad signal and has likely used the phrase, "Can you hear me now?" Of course the phrase became a famous ad slogan that Verizon has run for many years. It features a geeky technician sent to the most inaccessible places with a cell phone repeatedly asking, "Can you hear me now?" (Not surprisingly, he never gets a bad signal.) In the latest ad he is frantically trying to get to the hospital to meet his wife, who is having a baby and thankfully (but again, not surprisingly) his cell phone works great!
I am so thankful that an immutable characteristic of God is His ability to always hear us. We don't need to cry out "Can you hear me now?" for the Scripture forthrightly declares, "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them." The Lord always hears the cries of His children. No bad signals, spotty coverage or low batteries. "The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry" (Psalm 34:15).
But what of the times when the heavens seem as brass and we just don't think we are getting through to God. Is He hearing us? Most will testify to having these feelings at times. Nothing speaks to us louder than the silence of God.
Nearly thirty years ago I was at a very low point in my young pastoral role. All ministry doors seemed to be slamming shut and I recall crying out in desperation to God for direction.
Brooksyne and I had followed our calling to plant a church 900 miles from our home in Missouri. We started meeting in our apartment because we couldn't find a suitable building to plant a church. After outgrowing the apartment we finally found a place to meet which was a former department store. Our small group of believers renovated the first floor and met together for a year, but now we were being evicted.
I was very troubled about what would happen to our fledgling group of believers. Fear had replaced my hope and discouragement had dimmed my vision at the time. Not one to cry easily the tears began to pour out as I wrapped my arms around two wood studs in a dirty, shabby, unfinished 2nd floor of the building where we had been meeting. The owners had told us we could meet upstairs so Brooksyne and I climbed the long stairway and took a look at the deplorable mess around us.
God gave me an assurance of His faithfulness that unforgettable day as He spoke to me through Brooksyne. He gave her a vision for the shabby second floor that was unthinkable for a church setting at the time. It became our place of worship for the next six years after a great deal of elbow work and further renovations. Not only the second floor but as we grew in number we also renovated the third floor. In my finite reasoning I could not understand God’s plan in what seemed to be a setback for the work He had begun. There are many reading this who came out of that church, now 31 years in existence. I know they would attest to the fact that it wasn’t the building that drew them to worship together, but it was the body of committed believers!
Dave Kyllonen, the bass singer for The Couriers, has been in the same gospel singing group for 50 years. He shared in our Tuesday night banquet of an experience early in their singing days when they had a very difficult trip and were struggling financially. They had made the tough decision to disband the group once they returned to their homes the next day.
On their long drive home, through the night, one of the members began singing, “I Know the Lord Will Make a Way For Me.” A popular chorus at the time, the words declared God’s faithfulness toward those who live for Him. One by one they joined their voices together and their heavy burden dissolved into hopeful trust. By the time they had returned home they knew that they were to continue and the Lord has mightily blessed their ministry to this day.
The key I believe is a firm knowledge of what God's Word says. There is a multitude of Biblical references to God hearing the prayers of His children. We can always emphatically and confidently say when we call out to God, "Father, I know You hear me!”
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer:Father, surely Your arm is not too short to save, nor Your ear too dull to hear our prayers. Our iniquities have separated us from You, Father, so we repent of those things that have distanced us from a holy God. May our faith be renewed and our resolve to follow You be firm as we call upon Your name. We desire to walk, not in our own finite wisdom, but in the infinite wisdom of Almighty God whose understanding knows no bounds. May we be found faithful as we call out to You, for we know You hear us. Amen.
"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:8&9).
I am often blessed as I pass local churches with a sign that not only identifies the name of the church but also presents a brief message of truth. In New England, shortly after I accepted the pastorate in Taunton, MA our church purchased a new sign that had a changeable message and for many years a dedicated senior couple, Bill and Veda, changed it weekly. Since we were located on the very busy highway entering into the city of Taunton we received a number of positive comments from passersby over the years, but also a negative comment from one who was offended by a Scriptural message we displayed.
Here’s a great message for a church sign I saw here in Lancaster County: "Don't mistake God's patience for His permission." Can you just picture this truth on a sign scrolled across the sky or uttered by a booming heavenly voice?
Yet so many want God's permission, approval, and even His blessing for a sinful, rebellious lifestyle that the Holy Scriptures clearly prohibit. These include sins like greed, sexual immorality, dishonesty, and other offenses perhaps summed up in this phrase from the Apostle John, "The cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does."
Let us consider today one phrase from the daily Scripture portion: "He is patient with you." The word "patient" is translated “longsuffering” in the King James Version. This word needs little explanation since it means exactly what it sounds like when we rotate the compound word; “suffering long.” He indeed suffers long in regard to His dealing with the human race. We also consider His patience toward us as He deals with us individually.
Another aspect of God's patience comes to mind regarding our patience with others. I recall listening to a song about God's grace as I drove to a meeting several years ago with Larry Wright, a friend of mine. His words have stayed with me as he commented: “Even though we are recipients of God's unending grace we can have such difficulty applying that same kind of grace to others.”
But let’s consider one more sense of God's patience today as we again look at the phrase: “He is patient toward you.” The distinctive Greek word used for "you" is in the plural and I believe this is the sense in the daily text. In previous times of judgment there have been long periods when God's patience might have been mistaken for His permission. How many years did Sodom slide into decadence before judgment day finally came? What about the long coast toward sin that Israel drifted into before judgment was pronounced on them?
Today I am confident that God is not winking at the rebellion in our lives or in the world around us. He is not placing His blessing on that which defiles His Holy Word. But He is suffering long so that those who have turned their backs away from holy living might come to repentance.
I know that many of our faithful readers are diligently praying for loved ones to turn away from a life of sin and come to faith in Christ. Keep praying for that wayward child, parent(s), unsaved spouse, other family members and the needy people God lays upon your heart.
As we pray for others to come to righteousness, let us also examine our own hearts. The Lord God is patient with us, but we bring a lot of chaos, inner turmoil, and judgment upon ourselves when we delay repentance.
As we seek to follow Christ, the grace of God teaches “us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldy passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12&13).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:Father, I can’t determine the exact day You will judge the earth, but the Bible judges the thoughts and attitudes of my heart each time I read it or meditate upon its truths. Help me to apply Your promises and commands to my life so that when the day of the Lord comes like a thief I will be prepared. The heavens and earth will disappear with a roar and everything in it will be laid bare. I look forward to a new heaven and a new earth which will be the home of righteousness instead of sinfulness. Help me to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with You. Father God, Your patience means salvation for the many who will soon come to repentance. I want to diligently pray for their souls, be bold in my witness, and exemplary in my Christian walk as I await the day of Your appearing. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
