A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Wednesday,
September 19, 2018
Listen
to
our message on your audio player.
"John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey" (Mark 1:6).
Last night and again early this morning I was outside and heard the distinct sound of hundreds, or more likely, thousands of insects. As the days get shorter and nights cooler the sounds are fading compared to the volume heard in August. It's a sound I recall hearing wherever I have lived. There is actually a field of science devoted to these sounds known as bioacoustics.
One of the
critters making the noise is the locust
which brings to mind the colorful
prophet John the Baptist. Probably the
thing we find most interesting in the
daily verse is that John the Baptist ate
locusts. After all, we still wear
clothing made with animal hair and
leather belts. Most of us also enjoy the
sweet taste of honey (which is
essentially bee spit). We spread honey
last night on our corn bread and this
morning we're enjoying honey butter on
our biscuits.
But most in our culture draw the line at eating locusts. Entomophagy is the scientific name for insect eating. There are more than 1,450-recorded species of edible insects, many of which are lower in fat, higher in protein, and have a better feed to meat ratio than beef, lamb, pork, or chicken. So locusts were actually a good diet choice for an active prophet!
John the Baptist is one of the most interesting characters in the Bible. His start in life was unusual and his death gruesome. He was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, a godly infertile couple, who were both "well along in years" (or as the KJV colorfully puts it "well stricken in years").
Zechariah was a priest who had a mighty encounter with an angel of the Lord informing him that he would have a son. I've wondered what in the world his wife thought when her speechless husband got home and had that twinkle in his eyes! Anyway, she became pregnant and they received a blessing they surely hadn't planned for.
John's mission in life was very clear and he fulfilled it well in his brief lifetime. His mission was summed up in the words, "Prepare the way for the Lord." Jesus commended him with these words, "Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist." John died in his early thirties as a result of his stern rebuke of Herod followed by Herod's order to have him beheaded. (Matthew 14:10)
On this day, as we live out our lives and seek to please God in a world with many Herods, let us recall the faithfulness of John the Baptist. I note particularly his bold declaration to Herod, renouncing his sin. He was not interested in being liked or living on the politically safe side but in speaking out for God's truth. And for that he literally* lost his head.
May the Lord empower us today to stand as John did no matter the consequences! As the apostle Paul said "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
we count our lives on earth as nothing
compared to the glory of heaven where we
will worship You for all eternity. Among
us will be John the Baptist who will
tell us of the way He was used to
prepare the way for Christ's mission on
earth. We'll listen with keen interest
as Elizabeth tells of how the disgrace
she felt among family and peers due to
her barren state was lifted after
learning of her miraculous pregnancy.
Zechariah will speak of his amazing nine
month silence before baby John arrived.
Heaven will be filled with people
through all the centuries who have
amazing stories to share. We will be in
personal fellowship with each of them;
no longer will the time line separate us
nor the geographic location. What a
glorious day it will be when we come
together around Your throne singing Your
praise with every generation blending
their voices together. We give glory to
the Holy One of Israel right now and for
all eternity. Amen.
* Literally has become one of the most overused and misused words in the English language. It seems so often when it's used it's really not literally true. However even the dictionary now has this informal meaning: "used for emphasis or to express strong feeling while not being literally true." For further study see this article Did We Change the Definition of 'Literally'?
Herrs
Mill is one of many historic grist mills still
standing in Lancaster County.
(Click
on photo to enlarge)
"The
Man Who Ate Locusts"
Message
summary: May
the Lord empower us today to stand as
John did no matter the consequences! As
the apostle Paul said "For me to
live is Christ, to die is gain"
Listen
to
our message on your audio player."John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey" (Mark 1:6).
Last night and again early this morning I was outside and heard the distinct sound of hundreds, or more likely, thousands of insects. As the days get shorter and nights cooler the sounds are fading compared to the volume heard in August. It's a sound I recall hearing wherever I have lived. There is actually a field of science devoted to these sounds known as bioacoustics.
One of the
critters making the noise is the locust
which brings to mind the colorful
prophet John the Baptist. Probably the
thing we find most interesting in the
daily verse is that John the Baptist ate
locusts. After all, we still wear
clothing made with animal hair and
leather belts. Most of us also enjoy the
sweet taste of honey (which is
essentially bee spit). We spread honey
last night on our corn bread and this
morning we're enjoying honey butter on
our biscuits.But most in our culture draw the line at eating locusts. Entomophagy is the scientific name for insect eating. There are more than 1,450-recorded species of edible insects, many of which are lower in fat, higher in protein, and have a better feed to meat ratio than beef, lamb, pork, or chicken. So locusts were actually a good diet choice for an active prophet!
John the Baptist is one of the most interesting characters in the Bible. His start in life was unusual and his death gruesome. He was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, a godly infertile couple, who were both "well along in years" (or as the KJV colorfully puts it "well stricken in years").
Zechariah was a priest who had a mighty encounter with an angel of the Lord informing him that he would have a son. I've wondered what in the world his wife thought when her speechless husband got home and had that twinkle in his eyes! Anyway, she became pregnant and they received a blessing they surely hadn't planned for.
John's mission in life was very clear and he fulfilled it well in his brief lifetime. His mission was summed up in the words, "Prepare the way for the Lord." Jesus commended him with these words, "Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist." John died in his early thirties as a result of his stern rebuke of Herod followed by Herod's order to have him beheaded. (Matthew 14:10)
On this day, as we live out our lives and seek to please God in a world with many Herods, let us recall the faithfulness of John the Baptist. I note particularly his bold declaration to Herod, renouncing his sin. He was not interested in being liked or living on the politically safe side but in speaking out for God's truth. And for that he literally* lost his head.
May the Lord empower us today to stand as John did no matter the consequences! As the apostle Paul said "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
we count our lives on earth as nothing
compared to the glory of heaven where we
will worship You for all eternity. Among
us will be John the Baptist who will
tell us of the way He was used to
prepare the way for Christ's mission on
earth. We'll listen with keen interest
as Elizabeth tells of how the disgrace
she felt among family and peers due to
her barren state was lifted after
learning of her miraculous pregnancy.
Zechariah will speak of his amazing nine
month silence before baby John arrived.
Heaven will be filled with people
through all the centuries who have
amazing stories to share. We will be in
personal fellowship with each of them;
no longer will the time line separate us
nor the geographic location. What a
glorious day it will be when we come
together around Your throne singing Your
praise with every generation blending
their voices together. We give glory to
the Holy One of Israel right now and for
all eternity. Amen.A
very early Sunday morning on the way to
choir sound check along Donegal Springs
Road in Mount Joy. The sun was seeping
through the fog and it turned into a
refreshing sunny morning after many dismal
days of cloud and rain.
Another
view of Herrs Mill built in the 1730's
(Click
to enlarge)
The
Old Windmill Farm is on a long gravel farm
lane. These young Amish boys are using it as
a shortcut on their way to youth group,
which is a rite of passage for Amish young
people and a means of solidifying the social
units. We have been to Amish youth groups
which begin Sunday afternoon usually with
field games such as volleyball and ends in
the evening with a hymn sing. Of course they
have a huge meal as well!
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Jesus, Only
Jesus/Majesty/Cornerstone" Video Medley from
Sunday's service with the Calvary Church
Choir and Orchestra
* Literally has become one of the most overused and misused words in the English language. It seems so often when it's used it's really not literally true. However even the dictionary now has this informal meaning: "used for emphasis or to express strong feeling while not being literally true." For further study see this article Did We Change the Definition of 'Literally'?
Yesterday we shared a photo of two horses
peering out of a barn window. Ed,
from northern Pennsylvania suggests a
caption with the horses saying, "We would
like to order 3 8X10's and 20 wallet
size".
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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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