A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Friday, December
7, 2018
"The
Example Of The Centurion"
Message
summary: In
this very broken world
people are still finding
God and getting saved!
Listen to our
message on your audio
player.
"When
Jesus had entered
Capernaum, a
centurion came to
Him, asking for
help. 'Lord,' he
said, 'my servant
lies at home
paralyzed and in
terrible suffering'"
(Matthew 8:5).
In our
chaplaincy role Christian
employees often share with
us about their "prodigals"
and enlist our prayer
support. Yesterday an
employee updated Brooksyne
about her adult son who
has strayed from his
spiritual roots for quite
a number of years, and yet
he still finds himself
surrounded by believers,
evidence that God is still
seeking him out.
The employee
told Brooksyne that her
"prodigal" son's
co-worker is a devout
Christian, and sometimes
the work they do can be
quite challenging. The
Christian co-worker is
upbeat and usually has
an encouraging thought
regarding the matter at
hand. Recently, he
reached out to her
"prodigal" son when he
sensed that he was quite
disturbed about a
problem and asked if he
could pray for him right
there and then. He
consented but did so
very hesitantly.
Well, it just
happens that we are also
chaplains at the company
where her son works and
know the Christian
co-worker she described.
He is a solid believer,
has an active faith, and
often goes on mission
trips. We pray that as
he deals with his less
than receptive fellow
worker he will not grow
weary in well-doing, and
that one day the
"prodigal" co-worker
will tell him that he
planted seeds that led
him to a restored faith
in Christ or perhaps he
may even lead him to
Christ.
The above story reminds me of yet another story I heard years ago. A Christian manager shared with me that he had the duty of dismissing an employee for just cause; a single man living a reckless lifestyle. As he was escorting him to the door he felt the Spirit's prompting to ask the dismissed employee if he could pray for him and the employee consented. He prayed a brief heartfelt prayer and said farewell. Many years later he was eating in a restaurant and the former employee came over to greet him. He was a changed man, now married with children and living a responsible life. He told my friend, "I found God". Only the Lord knows what impact the Spirit-prompted prayer many years earlier had in his change of heart. That is something we just to leave to God. Our call is simply to obey God's leading. God calls us all to express care toward others. Real love is conveyed in expression, words and action which often includes some tangible form of caring. Consider the
centurion in the daily
text. He had many
working under his
authority and was likely
a man of considerable
influence. He could have
been too busy or felt he
was too important to
really pay attention to
the needs of those who
worked for him,
particularly a servant.
But just one of his
"employees", a servant,
was in need. He sought
out Jesus on behalf of
this servant who was "paralyzed
and in terrible
suffering".
Wouldn't you like to
have someone like this
for a boss!
Today we encourage each reader to be sensitive and observant. Look for opportunities to express God's love and care to those in our sphere of influence; much like the centurion did for his needy employee. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
When
Jesus had entered
Capernaum, a
centurion came to
him, asking for
help. "Lord," he
said, "my servant
lies at home
paralyzed and in
terrible suffering."
Jesus said to him,
"I will go and heal
him." The centurion
replied, "Lord, I do
not deserve to have
you come under my
roof. But just say
the word, and my
servant will be
healed. For I myself
am a man under
authority, with
soldiers under me. I
tell this one, 'Go,'
and he goes; and
that one, 'Come,'
and he comes. I say
to my servant, 'Do
this,' and he does
it." When Jesus
heard this, he was
astonished and said
to those following
him, "I tell you the
truth, I have not
found anyone in
Israel with such
great faith. I say
to you that many
will come from the
east and the west,
and will take their
places at the feast
with Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob in the
kingdom of heaven.
But the subjects of
the kingdom will be
thrown outside, into
the darkness, where
there will be
weeping and gnashing
of teeth." Then
Jesus said to the
centurion, "Go! It
will be done just as
you believed it
would." And his
servant was healed
at that very hour.
(Matthew 8:5-13)
We want to thank all who
have financially supported our
ministry this past year (and some for
many years!). We realize there are many
fine ministries and causes requesting
support at this time but if the Lord
would lead you we surely need and
appreciate the financial support from
our readers and listeners. Like
many ministries, we typically see a
spike in giving at the end of the year
for which we are most thankful.
Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive compensation. Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each would provide half of our ministry expenses and income. If you would consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information. To donate directly online here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: WEBER,STEPHEN CHAP, Specialized Chaplaincy Ministry ID: 700001-237376 Please Note: We also provide this easy option due to the convenience, for international supporters, and for those who may not be concerned regarding receiving an official tax deductible receipt. Click here to send an offering using PayPal. This will open to a page that states "Brooksyne Weber" Thank you Stephen
& Brooksyne
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
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