The online
Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home Archives About Us Free email subscription ![]() ![]() Daily Encouragement on ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() <Previous Message Next Message> Message summary: Today let us stay faithful and keep in this greatest contest with perseverance! ![]() "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1,2). I hesitate to use a Super Bowl illustration to begin today's message. After all, many of our readers are international and even here in the states many have no interest at all in football. What's more many of us are rather disappointed at the direction of NFL football. ![]() I enjoy various sports, in my younger years as a participant and now as a spectator, although I still enjoy riding a bike, playing yard games, and throwing a Frisbee over and over for our border collie Mollie to fetch. But I'm way past having any ability or interest in contact sports! Based on the illustrations he uses, I believe that the Apostle Paul enjoyed sports. And the writer of Hebrews (whom many consider to be Paul) uses running a race in our daily text. If he were writing today I think he might use the Super Bowl as an illustration to "connect" with his readers. All of us who follow Jesus Christ are also participating in a great contest. The writer of Hebrews alludes to this in our daily text reminding us that, "We are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses." These witnesses are the men and women of faith chronicled in chapter 11. I believe they are those who have gone on before us after a life of serving the Lord. We are to take this event seriously and are instructed to "Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." This contest is specifically likened to a race, "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." This race is most analogous to a marathon, which begins the moment we accept Christ and continues through our lives until we either meet the Lord at our death or in the rapture. It's a lifelong race! A great character quality essential in any athletic contest, but certainly a long distance race, is expressed in the phrase "Run with perseverance." All great athletes are characterized by perseverance. They overcome pain, rejection and all kinds of setbacks to achieve their goal. Likewise strong, persevering followers of Christ just keep pressing on in spite of the hardship; looking unto Jesus our greatest example, "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Today let us stay faithful and keep in this greatest contest with perseverance! Be encouraged today. Stephen & Brooksyne Weber ![]()
Today's
Suggested Music and
Supplemental Resources
"Too Much to Gain to Lose" Video Mark Trammell Quartet "The Super Bowl, the Bible, and a Winning Marriage" Our friend David Penley's article with some spiritual marriage lessons from the Super Bowl! Christian convert in Uganda loses everything for his faith in Christ ![]() Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.) Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact. 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." © Copyright 2018 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |