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Wednesday, December 14, 2005

"A Life Worth Living"

"The soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way" (Numbers 21:4).

One of my all-time favorite movies is "It's a Wonderful Life." We have a family custom of watching this movie together during the Christmas season.  It's amazing to me how well done the classic movies are without swearing, violence, and sexual scenes! 

Essentially, if you're not familiar with this movie, the main character, George Bailey, runs a small Building and Loan Association in Bedford Falls. But it barely survives, in part due to George's generosity and kindness to others.  He's always threatened by the movie's chief antagonist, greedy old Henry F. Potter, who wants to drive George out of business for financial control of Bedford Falls. 

The movie opens with a scene of prayers rising to heaven for George who is discouraged to the point of despondency and suicide.  He just didn’t think his life had made any difference. The angels discussing the situation call on a junior angel, named Clarence, who has yet to earn his wings, to go to earth to encourage George.   Much of the movie is an overview of George's life provided to help Clarence understand George in order to help him.

There's one early scene that always touches me.  When Clarence is first called in he's told that George is in trouble and he asks, "Is he sick?”  The senior angel says, "No, it's worse than being sick, he's discouraged.”

The way Clarence helped George was to show him what it would be like had he never been born and this powerfully reminded George of the value of his life as he saw how many people his life had touched.

Now certainly I don't vouch for the theology in the movie as the Bible doesn't teach that angels earn their wings or worse yet that they are humans that have previously died.  But I believe there is great power in the prayers ascending to heaven for people who are in need and I know how debilitating discouragement can be.  Very likely some reading this today are discouraged.

Consider with me the daily text, "The soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way."  The people of Israel had come out of Egypt in great fanfare but soon they encountered difficulty and began their grumbling.  In the context of the daily text they had been wandering for some time and were "much discouraged because of the way." 

We also can become discouraged "because of the way" for a variety of different reasons.  The Israelites certainly had not expected what they encountered and likewise we find that life often has twists and turns on the way that we had not expected.  Today I especially address those of you who are "much discouraged.”  God loves you today and so do many others. Keep your faith!  God will make a way and be with you always.  Your life, like George Bailey’s, is truly worth living and touching many others.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

PS: While I am away from home for several days Brooksne and I had intended to continue to collaborate on this ministry and she would continue edit the message each day and write a prayer. However this morning she can’t get on the internet at home so I shared the message with her over the phone and we prayed together. Is there someone who needs encouraged that you might pass this encouragement message along to today?  Place a personal note above it and tell them that you're praying for them and make sure and do it!

I am visiting with my brother in California. Yesterday I set his computer up and got him all set to use the internet. I will be teaching him the next several days. I am working this morning looking out a window from his apartment to the Pacific Ocean, quite different than my usual view of Lancaster County farmland!


 

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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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