A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.
Home About Us Archives Free email subscription
Listen
to these
messages
Text only
for
printing
See here
for more info.
<Previous Message Next Message>
Friday, November 2, 2012
Oak Leaf
Click here for a larger similar photo with Scripture verse.
Listen to this message on your
audio player.
"A Lesson From Rubbish"
"Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:7,8).
Yesterday
was our trash
and recycle day. Although I went to the effort to get the trash bags
and recycle container to the road I was quite sure the severe weather
earlier in the week would delay the pick up a day or two. Alas,
after a morning out for company visits we came
home and the trucks had already been by, with our empty green recycle
bin laying on its side next to the road as evidence! We had the normal
amount of
trash but we consider all the people who have lost a great deal in the
storm. Possessions that were once valued quickly becomes rubbish when
they get soaking wet. We are sure during the next several weeks of
cleanup there will be a lot more than the usual amount for trash pickup
in areas affected by the storm.
Trash and recycle day is a cooperative job at our place for
Ester and me. Brooksyne gets a break on this one. Ester goes
throughout the house collecting all the individual trash baskets and I
place the waste from these into the kitchen trash. I seal up the
liner, place it in a larger bag with the other rubbish collected in trash bags throughout the
week and place it along the road for pick up. For me there is a
sense of fulfillment in this weekly chore, although by evening we start
accumulating again!
Today let us consider a phrase from our daily Scripture portion, "I consider them rubbish."
This was written by the apostle Paul. In the context he gives his spiritual background and essentially asserts that if anyone can earn righteousness with God through pedigree and works he's the man.
But in his spiritual conversion to Christ he recognizes a dynamic truth: "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8).
Notice the phrase "I consider them rubbish". The KJV uses the word "dung". The Greek word is "skubala" which is an hapax legomenon, meaning a word used only once in the entire New Testament.
Please pardon the candor in this definition from a Greek reference but this word "refers either to human excrement, the portion of food rejected by the body as not being nutritive or it refers to the refuse or leavings of a feast, the food thrown away from the table." * Paul is actually using the strongest and most descriptive word at his disposal to indicate his estimation of his past life. I can think of other words that he might have used if he were writing today in English.
Today there may be so much on our minds, somewhat depending on where we live, but also issues common to all of us. Many are dealing with the aftermath of the storm. Here in America we have an important election coming up. Worldwide we have terrorism. These and so many other issues can consume our thoughts
But let's examine our hearts and get a focus on what really matters.
Have we considered everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus? Do we consider them rubbish, that we may gain Christ?
I sure admit that for me this is an ongoing battle in my life but I do well to regularly consider it and aspire to the Apostle Paul's outlook.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, the accolades, merits, relationships and physical treasures
I've accumulated in this life are but rubbish when compared to the all
surpassing gift of knowing You, receiving Your forgiveness, and
experiencing Your redemptive love. Because I am risen with Christ I
want to place my affections on things above rather than things on this
earth where I am so easily distracted from that which really
matters and draws me closer to Your throne. To know You, Father, is to
know unfathomable peace and joy beyond measure. I thank You through
Christ Jesus my Lord. Amen.
* Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
<Previous Message Next Message>
Friday, November 2, 2012
Oak Leaf
Click here for a larger similar photo with Scripture verse.
Listen to this message on your
audio player."A Lesson From Rubbish"
"Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:7,8).
Yesterday
was our trash
and recycle day. Although I went to the effort to get the trash bags
and recycle container to the road I was quite sure the severe weather
earlier in the week would delay the pick up a day or two. Alas,
after a morning out for company visits we came
home and the trucks had already been by, with our empty green recycle
bin laying on its side next to the road as evidence! We had the normal
amount of
trash but we consider all the people who have lost a great deal in the
storm. Possessions that were once valued quickly becomes rubbish when
they get soaking wet. We are sure during the next several weeks of
cleanup there will be a lot more than the usual amount for trash pickup
in areas affected by the storm.Trash and recycle day is a cooperative job at our place for
Ester and me. Brooksyne gets a break on this one. Ester goes
throughout the house collecting all the individual trash baskets and I
place the waste from these into the kitchen trash. I seal up the
liner, place it in a larger bag with the other rubbish collected in trash bags throughout the
week and place it along the road for pick up. For me there is a
sense of fulfillment in this weekly chore, although by evening we start
accumulating again!Today let us consider a phrase from our daily Scripture portion, "I consider them rubbish."
This was written by the apostle Paul. In the context he gives his spiritual background and essentially asserts that if anyone can earn righteousness with God through pedigree and works he's the man.
But in his spiritual conversion to Christ he recognizes a dynamic truth: "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8).
Notice the phrase "I consider them rubbish". The KJV uses the word "dung". The Greek word is "skubala" which is an hapax legomenon, meaning a word used only once in the entire New Testament.
Please pardon the candor in this definition from a Greek reference but this word "refers either to human excrement, the portion of food rejected by the body as not being nutritive or it refers to the refuse or leavings of a feast, the food thrown away from the table." * Paul is actually using the strongest and most descriptive word at his disposal to indicate his estimation of his past life. I can think of other words that he might have used if he were writing today in English.
Today there may be so much on our minds, somewhat depending on where we live, but also issues common to all of us. Many are dealing with the aftermath of the storm. Here in America we have an important election coming up. Worldwide we have terrorism. These and so many other issues can consume our thoughts
But let's examine our hearts and get a focus on what really matters.
Have we considered everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus? Do we consider them rubbish, that we may gain Christ?
I sure admit that for me this is an ongoing battle in my life but I do well to regularly consider it and aspire to the Apostle Paul's outlook.
All I once held dear, built my life upon,
All this world reveres, and wars to own,
All I once thought gain I have counted loss;
Spent and worthless now, compared to this.
Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You,
there is no greater thing.
You're my all, You're the best,
You're my joy, my righteousness,
and I love you, Lord.
All this world reveres, and wars to own,
All I once thought gain I have counted loss;
Spent and worthless now, compared to this.
Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You,
there is no greater thing.
You're my all, You're the best,
You're my joy, my righteousness,
and I love you, Lord.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, the accolades, merits, relationships and physical treasures
I've accumulated in this life are but rubbish when compared to the all
surpassing gift of knowing You, receiving Your forgiveness, and
experiencing Your redemptive love. Because I am risen with Christ I
want to place my affections on things above rather than things on this
earth where I am so easily distracted from that which really
matters and draws me closer to Your throne. To know You, Father, is to
know unfathomable peace and joy beyond measure. I thank You through
Christ Jesus my Lord. Amen.* Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
Are
our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? We ask you to
consider making a donation to Daily
Encouragement Net so that we can continue to prepare and provide this
daily resource which is accessed by believers and seekers all
over the world. Daily
Encouragement Net relies solely on the generosity and financial support
of its readers and
podcast listeners. See here
for more information on
supporting this ministry. Gifts are tax deductible.Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. I do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Text only version for printing: To make a text only version for printing (without photos or any of the supplemental materials)
1) Open the basic text editor that comes with all computers (known as wordpad, textpad, etc.) You can also use a program like Word and select paste text only.
2) Select and copy the text from the portion of the message you want to print.
3) Paste into the text pad. (The photos won't show up but you will have a brief text description of the photo which you can delete or just ignore.)
4) Format if you desire (change font, increase or decrease size, etc.)
5) Print!
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."
Daily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com
© Copyright 2012 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA