Daily Encouragement

The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

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Friday, May 24, 2019

Early morning sunrise view yesterday from a Smucker Laser shipping dock.

"Eternal Pleasures And Heavenly Treasures"

Message summary: Here's an outstanding spiritual principle. "He was looking ahead to his reward." That should be our primary outlook in life as well. Are you looking ahead to your promised reward today?

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"By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward" (Hebrews 11:24-26).

Ollie's Bargain Outlet is a discount store founded here in central PA in the early 80's. It now has 327 "semi-lovely" stores and there just might be one near you. Their motto is "good stuff cheap". It's a fun place to visit in part due to the humorous posters throughout the store such as the one shown on the left.

We receive a sales flier from them and this week a forlorn looking Ollie states "If Loving Bargains Is Wrong, I Don't Want To be Right". That got me thinking about the similarity to the attitude many have about the "pleasures of sin". It would go, "If Loving (name the sin) Is Wrong, I Don't Want To be Right".

About 3,500 years ago, when Moses was 40 years of age, he made a critical decision to identify with God and His people. He correctly realized that the pleasures of sin and the treasures of Egypt paled in comparison to the eternal pleasures and indescribable treasures given by God. Likewise today, and in every generation, all the pleasures and treasures this world has to offer just can't compare with the real deal.

Nevertheless many love sin to a degree they don't want to be right with God. So much of man's behavior can be explained by the pursuit of earthly pleasures and monetary treasures. The pleasure of sin and treasures of "Egypt" remain a great obstacle to faith for the unbeliever and a constant source of temptation for people of faith in all generations.

Moses certainly had the opportunity to enjoy the very best of this world's pleasures. He had been raised in Pharaoh's house and had every pleasure of that age available to him. But "he chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time". By faith he placed value on eternal pleasures, which the Psalmist expresses, "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" (Psalm 16:11).

Likewise Moses also had the opportunity to experience the very best of this world's treasures, Egypt being the dominant world empire at the time. But in a remarkable way "He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt." (This is an outstanding verse in that Moses lived some 1,400 years before the incarnation of Christ Jesus!)

Jesus draws this contrast in the Sermon on the Mount. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19,20).

We conclude with the last phrase from the text concerning Moses; it's an outstanding spiritual principle. "He was looking ahead to his reward." That should be our primary outlook in life as well. Are you looking ahead to your promised reward today?

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, keep my eyes focused on my future eternal reward as I run with perseverance the race marked out for me. Help me to exercise godly discernment so that I can readily identify opposition from the enemy as a tactic to make me falter or to steer me completely off course. Just as runners must keep their eyes on the finish line, help me to keep my eyes on the eternal One whose treasures far exceed earthly reward. By Your grace, I will complete this race and experience the eternal pleasures and heavenly treasures You eagerly grant to Your faithful ones! Help me to keep looking ahead to my reward. Amen.

Farm view , Lancaster County, PA 5/23/19

Lancaster County view near New Holland, PA

Lapp Valley Farm, Lancaster County, PA 5/23/19

The Lapp Valley Farm

Village Farm Market, Lancaster County, PA 5/23/19

The Village Farm Market is one of our favorite stopping points and now has an abundance of flowers.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Knowing You, Jesus" Video National Coalition of Men's Ministries and Integrity Music

Finally today:

Yesterday's sunset from our front lawn.

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber

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Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive compensation. Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each would provide half of our ministry expenses and income.

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2019 offerings YTD to Daily Encouragement Net: $5,400.00

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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 make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

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