"The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them" (Psalm 34:7).
 
"Digital Angel." That's a spiritual sounding contemporary title to today's devotional isn't it?  It sounds like something that surely must be really good.  Actually it's the name of a technological system that the company feels has a potential global market exceeding 100 billion dollars!  Essentially it's a microchip that can be worn on or implanted in the body. With an antenna linked to GPS satellites the precise geographic location of the chip as well as other information can be derived.  To us old-timers this sounds like something from a Chick tract from the mid-seventies.  But it's not.
 
The company website describes itself this way: "Digital Angel Corporation develops advanced RFID and GPS technologies that enable rapid and accurate identification, location tracking, and condition monitoring of high-value assets. Applications for our products include identification and monitoring of pets, humans, fish and livestock through our patented implantable microchips as well as monitoring of aircraft and crew in remote locations through integrated GPS and geosynchronous satellite communications systems." *
 
You can imagine the potential for this device and some of you readers have already made the possible connection. Since the time of Christ each generation has been interested in filling in the blanks concerning what we don't yet know about the future.  One of the most intriguing of prophetic Biblical passages is the nature of the "mark of the beast" and the meaning of "666" as found in the book of Revelation (chapter 13).
 
Only God knows how it will all work out in the end and I don't know whether the "digital angel" is a harbinger of how the "mark" will eventually come about. But I do know our responsibility is to believe and stay faithful to God.  I will say this, though; this old-timer is sure not going to allow any tracking device to be planted under my skin!
 
I am already being tracked just fine by the One who loves and knows me best. "O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways" (Psalm 139:1-3).  This remarkable tracking detects when I lose a single hair (Matthew 10:30)!  And I'll stick with placing my confidence in the angel mentioned in Psalm 34.  My responsibility is to keep a reverential fear of Almighty God.  As I do this the great Bible promise tells me that "the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him." Though it is possible that I might be out of the sight of all humans, I am never beyond the sight of the all-seeing omnipresent God I serve.
 
He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.
He's behind me, He's before me, He's ever my Friend.
Whatever I do, wherever I go,
Jesus is my source and my goal.
 
 
Be encouraged today,
 
 
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
 
Daily prayer:  Father, the words of the great hymn, "Amazing Grace" reveal a dual purpose of Your sovereign grace. "'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved.  How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed."   I so appreciate Your loving grace that taught me to fear not just that which brings danger in this mortal life, but more importantly to fear the unending horrors of eternal damnation if separated from You for all eternity. Thank You for revealing my need for salvation, for delivering me from the domain of darkness, and for transferring me into the kingdom of Your beloved Son.  In doing so You changed my cringing fear into a trusting, holy fear of a loving, righteous, and all-powerful God who has sent forth a messenger from heaven to personally watch over me day and night. Thank You for Your loving protection.  

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* Several weeks ago I was discussing the gps tracking concept with a long-time friend who is an electrical engineer.  Apparently there is already some discussion about making this implantation mandatory and some are preparing for opt-out clauses. We shared, apart from the spiritual issue mentioned in the body of the message, the fact that no electronic device is foolproof and there is always the possibility of sabotage.  Here's the company website.

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Upon returning home last night from our brief getaway in Virginia we received word that a friend of ours passed away. We visited Craig as chaplains to a local company and became friends with him and his wife Linda.  He has been ill for several years.  He lived on this side with a vibrant faith in the Lord and we will be attending his service this afternoon. Craig's illness prevented him from walking the past couple years. When we read the first line of his obituary the  description of his new life brought special joy to our hearts; "he went to his eternal home to walk with Jesus."

Today's suggested music:
"Prepare A Place" (Audio)
"Everlasting God" (Audio)
We especially consider our friend Craig's wife and family as we post these songs today.

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