A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Friday, February
1, 2019
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from our home
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"A
Consideration Of Outrage"
Message
summary: Today
we encourage you to
check your distress
level concerning the
darkness that surrounds
you. Like Paul, let us
boldly speak out while
God's light shines
brightly through us! It
isn't enough to speak
the truth, for we must
also live in the truth
of God's Word.
Listen to our
message on your audio
player.
I
(Stephen) enjoy satire
as a means of
stimulating thought
(Brooksyne not so much).
For the last several
years I have read from
the Babylon Bee blog.
The writers have a real
knack at pointing out
the absurdities of
modern life, including
the foibles of the
church and religious
world with satire. I
don't always agree but
they do make you think.I read a
recent article titled "Facebook
To Replace All
Reaction Buttons With
Pure Outrage"
(link below). It makes
fun of the constant
outrage so many seem to
be in, regardless of the
subject. I saw a video
from a college campus
where the speaker
couldn't even speak
because some of the
students were so
outraged at his views,
which were imminently
reasonable and would not
have even been
controversial just 20
years ago.
Some
Christians also seem to
live in state of
distress and outrage as
well. This can sure lead
to a less than positive
witness. But is there
ever a place for
distress and outrage? We
believe there is.
Athens
was an intellectual
and cultural center of
the ancient world, a
beautiful city that is
a popular tourist
destination to this
day. In the providence
of God Paul was led
there and while
waiting for his
ministry associates,
Silas and Timothy, "he
was greatly
distressed to see
that the city was
full of idols".
He sought to minister
truth to the people in
Athens. His "redeeming
the time" while
reaching out to
others' in spiritual
need is a shining
example for us today.
But what struck Paul, recorded by the historian Luke, was his being "greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols". Other versions state, "his spirit was being provoked within him" (NASB), "his spirit was greatly angered" (Amplified), "his spirit was greatly upset" (NET), "he was deeply troubled" (TLB). When we walk in the light we should be distressed by darkness. The verses that follow reveal that this distress did not lead Paul to despair but to a bold proclamation of the truth that brings light.
Paul saw the city from a spiritual perspective. Being grounded in his knowledge of the Law of God he was "greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols" (v.16). I understand these idols are now among the tourist attractions of Athens but to Paul they were a stark reminder of man's ignorance and disobedience to God. Rather than being impressed Paul was distressed. As we walk with a spiritual perspective this should be our reaction as well, even to the many wonders of our modern day "Athens". Like Athens of old many feel so superior in their wisdom and intellectual giftings but we must remember Paul's solemn word to the Romans, "Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures" (Romans 1:22,23).
Paul did not remain silent or intimidated, but "reasoned", first with the religiously inclined "in the Synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks", and then to everyone "in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there". The word translated to "reason" is "dialegomai" from which we get "dialogue" in English. It means "to say thoroughly, i.e. discuss."
We need to realize that in God's providence He has placed each of us where we are and His will is that we walk and speak out as His witnesses. Today look for appropriate times to speak out and express your faith. Many will ignore or mock you. Paul experienced that, "some began to sneer" (v.32a). Others will say, "we want to hear you again on this subject" as they did in Athens (v.32b). And some will believe (v.34).
Today we encourage you to check your distress level concerning the darkness that surrounds you. Like Paul, let us boldly speak out while God's light shines brightly through us! It isn't enough to speak the truth, for we must also live in the truth of God's Word.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
there are
numerous
subject
matters that
are troubling
to the
believer and
can even cause
distress and
outrage as
darkness
continues to
spread
throughout our
land. What a
blessing to
know that the
darkness of
sin cannot
overcome the
light of Truth
revealed
through Jesus
who is the
Way, the
Truth, and the
Life. But we,
as believers,
must be very
careful that
our distress
and even
outrage at
times leads us
to a faithful
witness even
as Paul
demonstrated
in Athens.
Help us not to
distort,
dilute, or
digress from
Your Biblical
instruction.
We ask that
those walking
in darkness
will see the
light of
Christ shining
through us. It
is in Jesus'
name that we
pray. Amen.
- Moses
was "outraged" when
he came off the
mountain and saw the
people worshiping a
golden idol. (Exodus
32)
- Samuel
was "outraged" by
Saul's disobedience.
(1
Samuel 15)
- Various
Bible prophets were
"outraged" at the
idolatry they dealt
with.
- Jesus
was "outraged" at
the carnal
activities of the
temple money
changers. (John
2:14-16) Some
may take offense at
"outrage" used here
but indeed He was.
Today let us
examine a time when
Paul was "greatly
distressed". (Note:
I realize that outrage
and distress are not
entirely synonymous
but both convey a
similar outlook).
Athens
was an intellectual
and cultural center of
the ancient world, a
beautiful city that is
a popular tourist
destination to this
day. In the providence
of God Paul was led
there and while
waiting for his
ministry associates,
Silas and Timothy, "he
was greatly
distressed to see
that the city was
full of idols".
He sought to minister
truth to the people in
Athens. His "redeeming
the time" while
reaching out to
others' in spiritual
need is a shining
example for us today.
But what struck Paul, recorded by the historian Luke, was his being "greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols". Other versions state, "his spirit was being provoked within him" (NASB), "his spirit was greatly angered" (Amplified), "his spirit was greatly upset" (NET), "he was deeply troubled" (TLB). When we walk in the light we should be distressed by darkness. The verses that follow reveal that this distress did not lead Paul to despair but to a bold proclamation of the truth that brings light.
Paul saw the city from a spiritual perspective. Being grounded in his knowledge of the Law of God he was "greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols" (v.16). I understand these idols are now among the tourist attractions of Athens but to Paul they were a stark reminder of man's ignorance and disobedience to God. Rather than being impressed Paul was distressed. As we walk with a spiritual perspective this should be our reaction as well, even to the many wonders of our modern day "Athens". Like Athens of old many feel so superior in their wisdom and intellectual giftings but we must remember Paul's solemn word to the Romans, "Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures" (Romans 1:22,23).
Paul did not remain silent or intimidated, but "reasoned", first with the religiously inclined "in the Synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks", and then to everyone "in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there". The word translated to "reason" is "dialegomai" from which we get "dialogue" in English. It means "to say thoroughly, i.e. discuss."
We need to realize that in God's providence He has placed each of us where we are and His will is that we walk and speak out as His witnesses. Today look for appropriate times to speak out and express your faith. Many will ignore or mock you. Paul experienced that, "some began to sneer" (v.32a). Others will say, "we want to hear you again on this subject" as they did in Athens (v.32b). And some will believe (v.34).
Today we encourage you to check your distress level concerning the darkness that surrounds you. Like Paul, let us boldly speak out while God's light shines brightly through us! It isn't enough to speak the truth, for we must also live in the truth of God's Word.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
there are
numerous
subject
matters that
are troubling
to the
believer and
can even cause
distress and
outrage as
darkness
continues to
spread
throughout our
land. What a
blessing to
know that the
darkness of
sin cannot
overcome the
light of Truth
revealed
through Jesus
who is the
Way, the
Truth, and the
Life. But we,
as believers,
must be very
careful that
our distress
and even
outrage at
times leads us
to a faithful
witness even
as Paul
demonstrated
in Athens.
Help us not to
distort,
dilute, or
digress from
Your Biblical
instruction.
We ask that
those walking
in darkness
will see the
light of
Christ shining
through us. It
is in Jesus'
name that we
pray. Amen.In
studying Acts
17 for this
lesson it's
interesting to
observe that
Luke made
parenthetically
as he later
recorded the
event: "(Now
all the
Athenians and
the strangers
visiting there
used to spend
their time in
nothing other
than telling
or hearing
something new)"
,v. 21. That
sounds like so
much of
academia!
Today
we share some
more photos
from our last
several days
of extreme
cold and snow.
It's still
very cold this
morning but
projected to
rise to a high
of 20°
today. But
Saturday it
rises to 40°!
Our front lawn dogwood tree is starkly beautiful in the snow.
Our
Amish neighbors
were out late
Tuesday
afternoon when
the snow was
really falling
heavy.
This
photo was taken
Wednesday
afternoon when
the winds were
howling.
Mollie
will chase
squirrels in any
weather!
Does
this look cold
or not?
Notice
our recycle bin
emptied and
blown in from
the road.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Who
You Say I Am"
Video
Calvary Church worship team
Over 100 years ago in
1911 GK Chesterton wrote in the
Illustrated London News, "Satire
has weakened in our epoch for
several reasons, but chiefly, I
think because the world has
become too absurd to be
satirized." (see here)
Here are some samples of
Babylon Bee satire articles:
Facebook To
Replace All Reaction Buttons
With Pure Outrage (This is the article
referred to in today's message)
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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