Daily Encouragement Net (Print Version)

“Encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13).

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

"The Burden Of Tears"

"So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears" (Acts 20:31).

I am so blessed to see ministry in action. It will take place millions of times today all over the world as believers reach out to others with the love and care of Christ. Real ministry is foundationally in the one-on-one and small group encounters that will take place.

A recent example underscores this. Last week a young teenager in our area took her own life. We can only imagine the agony her family is going through and pray that they will find peace and divine comfort.

My daughter is in a youth program called "Bible Quiz" and her coach discussed this with the kids and expressed a heartfelt interest, tearfully pleading with them to always feel free to share with her when their burdens grow heavy. Ester told me she and several other girls in the group also wept as they saw her heartfelt interest. I was so heartened when Ester shared the story and thankful for the many spiritual supplements that Ester has as Brooksyne and I seek to raise her for the Lord.

Now I am not one to cry easily and any occasion that brings tears is pretty intense for me. But I have on occasion had a burden so heavy that I have wept in front of others. However since I tend to just lose it when I cry I restrain as much as possible!

The daily Scripture portion is from Paul's final message to the Ephesian elders. This message is a great model for all preachers and has actually served as the text for the final messages I preached in the churches I have pastored.

The brief daily verse truly shows the heart of love and care. We all need to be on our guard and should see warnings from our spiritual leaders as evidence of care. The immediate threat was false teachers whom Paul had called "savage wolves" (v. 29). Paul said to these believers "I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears." Try to picture this and consider the burden that this conveys.

Today, as faithful ministers like Paul, our mission includes warning others to "be on their guard." And has the Spirit leads let us show our deep burden perhaps even as the Apostle Paul did with tears.

Be encouraged today,

Stephen C. Weber

Note from Brooksyne: I'm grateful for those in the church who do show personal and intense care for our young people. Tragically and mysteriously, the young lady who committed suicide had a loving and supportive family, along with a good, solid church. Because suicide among young people has increased tremendously it has become more acceptable and holds much less the social stigma than it did in the past. I still have a mental picture of Sis. Eperson teaching my Sunday School class in Tulsa, Oklahoma 33 years ago. She often wept as she would give us particular warnings regarding the many traps Satan has for the believers. The passion with which she spoke, and the obvious concern she had for the young people deeply impacted my spiritual walk as a teen.

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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. Used by permission; 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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