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Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Hebrews 12:28,29

"He Sees What We Don't"


Message summary: We are receiving this eternal kingdom! It's an absolute certainty.

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"See that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns from heaven. At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, 'Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.' This phrase, 'Yet once more,' indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe" (Hebrews 12:25-28).

There are times in this life when fear is so heavy
And burdens weigh on your mind
You are weak in the knees and no strength can you find
Just hold on, help's right on time, my Jesus is always on time.

In the course of our chaplaincy visitation we meet with people to discuss a variety of life's problems. In the last several weeks we have mentioned speaking to employees with family in Puerto Rico and Mexico. We listen, sympathize, pray, provide counsel, encouragement and follow-up. As we drove home yesterday and I mentally considered the various issues discussed with employees it occurred to me that they were generally "run of the mill" burdens in light of the horrific shooting in Las Vegas. However it's sure not "run of the mill" when you are the person going through it!

We consider our readers, both those we know and so many we don't. Many of you are going through surprises and shakings in life, some for a long time and in severe ways. I have heard it said that reality ultimately consists of just two things; that which can be shaken and that which cannot be. All that we see with our physical eyes can be shaken or completely disappear.

The wonderful twelfth chapter of Hebrews ends with such a powerful, assuring truth expressed in our daily text. The apostle is writing to encourage faithfulness to God's children who were enduring persecution. Their world was truly being shaken. And there are times when our world is being shaken as well! It is during such times of instability that we do well to look to Scripture for spiritual understanding and go to prayer in conversation with God. When we do so it will bring needed perspective and restore our hope as we consider our future "kingdom that cannot be shaken."

Francis SchaefferAfter a similar tragedy years ago I heard an interview with one drastically affected person who spoke of how he intentionally sought to hear the voice of God in the midst of the tragedy. Spiritually speaking, I wonder how intentional we are in listening for the voice of God in the chaos and disorder of our world. Our daily Scripture portion begins with a timeless message from God. "See that you do not refuse Him who is speaking." This brings to mind the title of a Francis Schaeffer book, "He Is There and He Is Not Silent". Yet so very many refuse Him who is speaking.

I’ve seen his children walk thru the darkest of midnight
I’ve witnessed faith put to the test
And I have watched as the storms flew in with the thunder
But in each trial He knows what’s best
And I am so glad He knows what’s best

The daily Scripture text acknowledges the reality of the shaking of the created order that we experience in various ways. Consider your life for a few minutes and look back over those periods of severe shaking, whether it was personal, family or experienced on a national level.
Though we prefer to live comfortably, without these brutal, unexpected, and life-altering interruptions, they are inevitable. But Scripture has a comforting future promise in the latter part of the daily text, "We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken."

We are indeed "receiving" this kingdom and the verb tense is quite significant. Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy kingdom come". Our journey through this life is but a transition to the future Kingdom God has prepared for us. I am convinced that very early in eternity we will recognize just how brief life's journey was, although since it's the only thing we know it seems long and wholly significant. The apostle James wrote, "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14).

Today we encourage each reader to keep this perspective: We are receiving this eternal kingdom! It's an absolute certainty. So "Let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe!"

And though you may see a valley
He sees the mountain you’ll be standing on
When all you can see are the tears falling down
I’m so glad He sees what we don’t.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber


Praying manDaily prayer: Father, help us to seek first Your unshakable kingdom and pray in the spirit so that we can live in victory even while encircled by conflict, danger, and evil. Shakings in this life can bring instruction, correction, and growing faith when we seek spiritual understanding. Though land, dwellings, and people are destroyed due to the hardness and evil within the heart of man, Your kingdom is indestructible. Scripture assures us that we who believe are receiving this Kingdom that cannot be destroyed, so we come with thankful hearts and worship You today with holy fear and awe, for You, our God, are a consuming fire.

In addition today, we pray for those enduring great shakings who suffered loss from the Las Vegas massacre on Sunday night. May they look to You, the eternal One, for strength to cope, for the ability to forgive and healthily grieve their loss from such inexplicable terror. We pray for those recovering from their physical injuries, those struggling with emotional turmoil from the horrible memories of the mass shootings. And lastly we pray for those throughout the land enduring personal shakings of their own. May they find You to be their strength and hope in the midst of their testings as they hold onto the unshakable kingdom that is promised to those who believe. In Jesus' name we pray Amen.



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"He Sees What We Don't"  Video  11h Hour  This is the thoughtful song quoted throughout our message today.

Although any attempt to understand or explain
the evil in tragic events like the Las Vegas massacre will be deficient read here for an interesting perspective by Al Mohler.

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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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