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Friday, July 20, 2012
A beautiful sight in rural Lancaster County is a loaded hay wagon!
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"A Lesson From Delilah Road"
"After this it came about that he (Samson) loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah" (Judges 16:4). "When he (King Darius) had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, 'Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?'” (Daniel 6:20).
I just read the inspiring story of a businessman who took a bold, principled stand against the grain of political correctness and confusion abounding in our land. When criticized rather than backing down from his convictions or capitulating he merely stated, "Guilty as charged."
Wednesday,
on the way to the shore, we passed a road sign in New Jersey that
caught our attention and prompted some good natured teasing in our van.
Delilah Road is a most unusual name and I can't help but wonder if it was named
after a real
person or even the Delilah written about in the Bible. I teased my friend Jesse and said, "We must not go down Delilah Road." (The ladies amened that in the second row!)
It's interesting that we saw the sign as we were headed in the direction of Atlantic City just before we got on the Garden State Parkway and down the shore about ten miles to Ocean City, which is very different than Atlantic City!
Delilah was the temptress who beguiled Samson. (See Judges 16).
Today let us consider two famous Bible characters, both who had great potential. The first person, Samson, had faltering faith and is more famous for his weaknesses than his strengths. The second person, Daniel, is one of the sterling characters of the Bible who consistently served God in his worship and lifestyle as characterized in the phrase from the daily text, "your God, whom you constantly serve."
This is a remarkable testimony from the lips of an observant secular king! Daniel had spent his entire adult life in the service of a series of secular kings and had acted with absolute integrity. His enemies were unable to bring a charge of any dereliction of duties for "they could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent" (6:4). They finally found a way to trap him in regard to his religious convictions yet he faithfully stood the test. He faced a hungry den of lions rather than compromise his lifelong, steadfast walk with God.
Today I want to especially take note of the phrase, "your God, whom you constantly serve." Daniel had been faithful to the king in regard to his employment. But the king noticed something additional. Daniel had demonstrated his faith in God with continual service. This was toward the end of Daniel's long life, after being removed from his homeland during the Babylonian exile and his conscription into service, first for King Nebuchadnezzar and his son Belshazzar of Babylon, and at the changing of the kingdom, under Darius, king of Persia. His early resolve not to defile himself with the king's food established a pattern of lifelong, uncompromising obedience to God's commands (1:8).
What do those around you observe in your life? Are you steadfast in your walk? Is your testimony consistent with your lifestyle or are you like a chameleon trying to blend into every setting. By the grace of God and with a resolute heart we will be faithful to His cause even when we're in the minority. After all it's been that way throughout the generations, so why do we expect it to be different for us today? In agreement with the Psalmist I pray in earnest, "Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes!" (119:5). Will you join me?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
though there are many ups and downs, highs and lows one thing we hope
others observe about our life is that we are continually serving our
Lord and Savior no matter what. May we never sell out to appease others
or due to fear regarding the consequences of our public stand for You.
More important than what is spoken about us on this side are the words
we long to hear You say in the hereafter, "Well done, thou good and
faithful servant. Enter into the joys of heaven…" How we look forward
to that future blessed event, through the mercy of Jesus our Lord in
whose name we pray. Amen.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resource
This Sunday evening we will have the opportunity to hear Legacy Five, a gospel group we enjoy at Coleman Park in Lebanon PA. See here for information if you may be interested in attending. We will share some of their music today:
"Statement Of Faith" Video
"Monuments" Video
"Ask Me Why" Video
"I Stand Redeemed" Video
"Heroes Of The Faith" Video
<Previous Message Next Message>
Friday, July 20, 2012
A beautiful sight in rural Lancaster County is a loaded hay wagon!
Listen to this message on your
audio player."A Lesson From Delilah Road"
"After this it came about that he (Samson) loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah" (Judges 16:4). "When he (King Darius) had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, 'Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?'” (Daniel 6:20).
I just read the inspiring story of a businessman who took a bold, principled stand against the grain of political correctness and confusion abounding in our land. When criticized rather than backing down from his convictions or capitulating he merely stated, "Guilty as charged."
Wednesday,
on the way to the shore, we passed a road sign in New Jersey that
caught our attention and prompted some good natured teasing in our van.
Delilah Road is a most unusual name and I can't help but wonder if it was named
after a real
person or even the Delilah written about in the Bible. I teased my friend Jesse and said, "We must not go down Delilah Road." (The ladies amened that in the second row!)It's interesting that we saw the sign as we were headed in the direction of Atlantic City just before we got on the Garden State Parkway and down the shore about ten miles to Ocean City, which is very different than Atlantic City!
Delilah was the temptress who beguiled Samson. (See Judges 16).
Today let us consider two famous Bible characters, both who had great potential. The first person, Samson, had faltering faith and is more famous for his weaknesses than his strengths. The second person, Daniel, is one of the sterling characters of the Bible who consistently served God in his worship and lifestyle as characterized in the phrase from the daily text, "your God, whom you constantly serve."
This is a remarkable testimony from the lips of an observant secular king! Daniel had spent his entire adult life in the service of a series of secular kings and had acted with absolute integrity. His enemies were unable to bring a charge of any dereliction of duties for "they could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent" (6:4). They finally found a way to trap him in regard to his religious convictions yet he faithfully stood the test. He faced a hungry den of lions rather than compromise his lifelong, steadfast walk with God.
Today I want to especially take note of the phrase, "your God, whom you constantly serve." Daniel had been faithful to the king in regard to his employment. But the king noticed something additional. Daniel had demonstrated his faith in God with continual service. This was toward the end of Daniel's long life, after being removed from his homeland during the Babylonian exile and his conscription into service, first for King Nebuchadnezzar and his son Belshazzar of Babylon, and at the changing of the kingdom, under Darius, king of Persia. His early resolve not to defile himself with the king's food established a pattern of lifelong, uncompromising obedience to God's commands (1:8).
What do those around you observe in your life? Are you steadfast in your walk? Is your testimony consistent with your lifestyle or are you like a chameleon trying to blend into every setting. By the grace of God and with a resolute heart we will be faithful to His cause even when we're in the minority. After all it's been that way throughout the generations, so why do we expect it to be different for us today? In agreement with the Psalmist I pray in earnest, "Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes!" (119:5). Will you join me?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
though there are many ups and downs, highs and lows one thing we hope
others observe about our life is that we are continually serving our
Lord and Savior no matter what. May we never sell out to appease others
or due to fear regarding the consequences of our public stand for You.
More important than what is spoken about us on this side are the words
we long to hear You say in the hereafter, "Well done, thou good and
faithful servant. Enter into the joys of heaven…" How we look forward
to that future blessed event, through the mercy of Jesus our Lord in
whose name we pray. Amen.We never grow weary of seeing a hard-working farmer at work.
And most certainly the farmer's hard-working wife.
And most certainly the farmer's hard-working wife.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resource
This Sunday evening we will have the opportunity to hear Legacy Five, a gospel group we enjoy at Coleman Park in Lebanon PA. See here for information if you may be interested in attending. We will share some of their music today:
"Statement Of Faith" Video
"Monuments" Video
"Ask Me Why" Video
"I Stand Redeemed" Video
"Heroes Of The Faith" Video
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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