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A Time To Laugh
2008-04-30 13:35:00
“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.
Tags: laughter,daily encouragement,archive,blog
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Different Gifts
2008-04-29 13:03:00
"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.
See Romans 12:1-8
Tags: different gifts,daily encouragement,archive,blog
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Never Forgotten
2008-04-28 10:50:00
"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.
Tags: blog,archive,daily encouragement,forgotten
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The Blessings of Integrity
2008-04-25 11:23:00
"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.
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
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Tags: integrity,daily encouragement,archive,blog
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Sowing Righteousness
2008-04-24 12:03:00
"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.
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
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Tags: sowing,daily encouragement,archive,blog
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Fish Story
2008-04-23 11:56:00
"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.
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
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Tags: blog,archive,daily encouragement,God meets needs
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O LORD!
2008-04-22 12:28:00
"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)
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
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Tags: daily strength,daily encouragement,archive,blog
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Life's Marathon
2008-04-21 14:11:00
"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.
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
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Tags: endurance,perseverance,daily encouragement,archive,blog
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Little Is Much
2008-04-18 08:43:00
"But what are they among so many?" (John 6:9).
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.
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
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Tags: God’s supply,daily encouragement,archive,blog
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The Incredible Joy Of Reconciliation
2008-04-17 13:49:00
“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.
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
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Tags: relationships,reconciliation,daily encouragement,archive,blog
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I Am Convinced!
2008-04-16 10:05:00
"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.
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
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Tags: peace,daily encouragement,archive,blog
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Our Death Due Date
2008-04-15 12:30:00
"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.
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
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Tags: certainty,death,daily encouragement,archive,blog
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Hope Does Not Disappoint
2008-04-14 11:42:00
"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.
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
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Tags: hope,daily encouragement,archive,blog
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The Crown That Lasts Forever
2008-04-11 11:10:00
"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.
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
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Tags: blog,archive,daily encouragement,focus
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Today's Forecast - God Reigns, The Son Shines
2008-04-10 09:57:00
"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.
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
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Tags: God reigns,daily encouragement,archive,blog
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He Knows My Name!
2008-04-09 01:01:00
"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.
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
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Tags: blog,archive,daily encouragement,God knows me
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Divine Preservation
2008-04-08 01:45:00
"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).
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
Click here for more daily encouragement. Subscribe to receive this free daily e-mail.
Tags: blog,archive,daily encouragement,protection
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Omnicompassionate
2008-04-07 01:01:00
"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.
See II Corinthians 1:3
Tags: compassion,daily encouragement,archive,blog
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Building A Godly Heritage
2008-04-04 01:01:00
"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.
Tags: heritage,daily encouragement,archive,blog
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The Compassionate Touch
2008-04-03 01:01:00
"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.
Tags: compassion,daily encouragement,archive,blog
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God’s Great Love
2008-04-02 01:01:00
“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.
Tags: blog,archive,daily encouragement,God’s love
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Becoming A 'Fool'
2008-04-01 01:01:00
"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.
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
Click here for more daily encouragement. Subscribe to receive this free daily e-mail.
Tags: blog,archive,daily encouragement,April Fools
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