A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Tuesday, January
8, 2019
The Sam
Wagner Covered Bridge over the Chillesquaque Creek on
the Northumberland/Montour County line in
north-central PA.
"The
Blessing Of Politeness"
Message
summary:
Some of you can sense
persistent knocking of
the Polite Gentleman but
have not responded. We
earnestly urge you do so
today.
Listen to our
message on your audio
player.
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20).
Many have noticed the growing incivility in our age, especially as it pertains to politics. Incivility is defined as rude or unsociable speech or behavior, an impolite or offensive comment. This is not a one-sided issue and there's enough incivility on every side to go around. But incivility can also be seen at many levels. Last week an angry driver sped up and tried to side swipe me when I attempted to move into the left lane to make a left turn that was coming up. As he passed us I didn't look over at him but Brooksyne said he was waving his arms angrily at me though there was no reason for his anger, much less his dramatic incivility.
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20).
Many have noticed the growing incivility in our age, especially as it pertains to politics. Incivility is defined as rude or unsociable speech or behavior, an impolite or offensive comment. This is not a one-sided issue and there's enough incivility on every side to go around. But incivility can also be seen at many levels. Last week an angry driver sped up and tried to side swipe me when I attempted to move into the left lane to make a left turn that was coming up. As he passed us I didn't look over at him but Brooksyne said he was waving his arms angrily at me though there was no reason for his anger, much less his dramatic incivility.
For
about ten years we've
gone to a very kind
dentist who has a most
pleasant disposition.
Yesterday Ester and I
had our exams and
cleanings. The culture
of kindness in his
office is extended
through his office
staff, dental
assistants, and
hygienists.One way Dr.
Dinse demonstrates his
kindness is his
politeness not only to
his patients but also
his staff. Many years
ago Brooksyne worked for
a short time with a
doctor who, due to his
vacillating temperament,
was often not
polite or kind, either
to his patients or staff
(That's why she only
worked for him a short
time!)
For instance
when Dr. Dinse is
working on your teeth he
repeatedly asks if you
are comfortable and
constantly thanks his
assistant whenever she
hands him an instrument.
He must say "thank you"
hundreds of times a day.
Perhaps he's trying to
make up for so much
incivility out there or
perhaps his mother
really did a great job
teaching him good
manners!
Have
you ever considered how
polite Jesus is? He has
been described as the
Perfect Gentleman. The
daily text describes His
work among the human
race in the lives of
millions and millions of
people to this day.The Apostle John received this remarkable revelation from the ascended Lord, "I stand at the door and knock". The Greek tenses can be rendered, "I am persistently standing at the door and am persistently knocking." An older, expanded translation (Wuest) which states, "I have taken my stand at the door and am politely knocking".
And Jesus is doing just that in a spiritual sense. I recall an early effort at personal evangelism when I quoted this verse and a man earnestly felt his chest and said, "I don't feel anything".
But here's our
favorite story on this:
A
children's nurse had
an interesting
approach in calming
children. Before
listening to the
little ones' chests,
she would plug the
stethoscope into their
ears and let them
listen to their own
hearts. Their eyes
would light up with
awe, though she never
got a response equal
to a little four-year
old's comment. Gently
she tucked the
stethoscope into his
ears and placed the
disk over his heart."Listen", she said quietly, "What do you suppose that is?" The little boy drew his eyebrows together in a puzzled line and looked up as if lost in the mystery of the strange tap - tap - tapping deep in his chest. Then his face broke out in a wondrous grin with big eyes as he curiously asked, "Is that Jesus knocking?" Apparently the little boy had heard a lesson on today's text or more likely had sung the little children's song based on the verse.
Some of you can sense the persistent presence of the Polite Gentleman but have not responded. We earnestly urge you to respond today to the Polite Gentleman by hearing His voice and opening the door of your life. Following this message is a brief prayer that expresses faith in Christ and has been repeated by millions in opening their lives to the Lord. Most of you have heard His voice and have opened the door of your heart and surrendered your life to Him. You are experiencing the wonderful fellowship with the One who promised, "I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me." And that is life's greatest blessing, not just for the here and now, but for all eternity!
Be encouraged
today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Here's a common prayer
that expresses faith
in God's plan of
salvation through
Jesus Christ. If you
have not done so
already, I urge you to
pray this prayer from
your heart today."Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner. I believe that You came to this earth and died on the cross as a substitute for me and my sin. I place my faith in You and what You have done for me. I receive You into my life and choose this day to follow You and serve You all the days of my life. Thank You for hearing my prayer. I will look to the Bible and find out what Your purpose is for my life. Amen."
Another
knocking memory:
Years ago Brooksyne
led a choir
comprised of over
thirty singers from
several churches in
a Christmas Musical
titled "Hope Has
Hands". What a
blessing to see the
cooperative labors
of multi-generations
sing their praises
to God (there were
singers from ages 14
to 84 – singers
represented from
each decade of
life).
The choir concluded with a beautiful number titled "Come", which is a stirring invitation to come to Christ. They were completing the song by singing the compelling words, "Come" three times, each time getting softer, when suddenly there came a loud, rhythmic knocking from the back of the church. It was one of those experiences where everyone hears it, but out of respect for the setting, people try to stay focused and ignore the obvious which is what the choir and congregation did momentarily. But the knocking persisted and filled the entire sanctuary.
Brooksyne told me later, "After it persisted I began to wonder if it was God knocking as my thoughts were drawn to the time when the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall in the royal palace. As the mysterious knocking persisted my knees were just about to start knocking together just like the king who saw the handwriting on the wall in Daniel."
Well, finally the mystery was solved when a perceptive observer discovered that it was a child who had a toy hammer and was knocking on the Plexiglas that separated the nursery window from the sanctuary. The curtains were drawn so we couldn't see the child who was hammering. It sure served as an interesting beginning to my devotional calling to mind our daily text, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock".
The choir concluded with a beautiful number titled "Come", which is a stirring invitation to come to Christ. They were completing the song by singing the compelling words, "Come" three times, each time getting softer, when suddenly there came a loud, rhythmic knocking from the back of the church. It was one of those experiences where everyone hears it, but out of respect for the setting, people try to stay focused and ignore the obvious which is what the choir and congregation did momentarily. But the knocking persisted and filled the entire sanctuary.
Brooksyne told me later, "After it persisted I began to wonder if it was God knocking as my thoughts were drawn to the time when the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall in the royal palace. As the mysterious knocking persisted my knees were just about to start knocking together just like the king who saw the handwriting on the wall in Daniel."
Well, finally the mystery was solved when a perceptive observer discovered that it was a child who had a toy hammer and was knocking on the Plexiglas that separated the nursery window from the sanctuary. The curtains were drawn so we couldn't see the child who was hammering. It sure served as an interesting beginning to my devotional calling to mind our daily text, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock".
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
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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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