A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Thursday,
February 28, 2019
"Genuine
Faith"
Message
summary:
We encourage our readers
to examine the
genuineness of their
faith. In a world with
so much fake we need men
and women of genuine
faith.
Listen to our
message on your audio
player.
"These
(trials) have come so
that the proven
genuineness of your
faith--of greater worth
than gold, which
perishes even though
refined by fire--may
result in praise, glory
and honor when Jesus
Christ is revealed" (1
Peter 1:7).
The
weekend after Thanksgiving
I (Brooksyne) received a
planter filled with
evergreen boughs from my
dear friend, Anna Ruth.
For the past couple of
years she has given me
beautiful arrangements
made by her talented
sister. This year's was
accentuated with a red
candle, ribbon, and
berries and the red
carnations really stood
out. I was amazed at how
fresh they stayed though I
had stopped watering a
couple weeks after
Christmas.
I
took a photo about five
days ago of my arrangement
(shown above) so Anna Ruth
could see just how long
the carnations had stayed
fresh, though the greens
were definitely ready for
the recycle pile. Only
when I pulled the first
carnation stem out of the
Styrofoam did I get
suspicious, and only then
did I realize that all my
carnations had been fake
the entire time! What a
surprise that I had been
fooled. I, who grow
flowers yearly and can
usually spot a fake flower
20 feet away, especially
when a homeowner puts them
in the ground or flower
box and blooming for that
variety is not even in
season.
We
live in a world with an
increasing amount of fake.
Of course in recent years
the word has often been
used concerning the news.
Not
all fake is bad and in
some cases may be helpful
such as in the sense of
being artificial. Even the
artificial flower
arrangement given to
Brooksyne was a good thing
just so it's not presented
as real which she did not.
It's just an assumption
Brooksyne made. We work
with a company that sells
artificial flowers and the
similarity to real is at
times astounding.
However
we are deceived when the
fake is presented as real
and that's a troubling
peril in the spiritual
realm. We always need to
maintain discernment in
this matter. Even in the
New Testament age John
wrote "Do not believe
every spirit, but test
the spirits to see
whether they are from
God, because many false
prophets have gone out
into the world" (1 John
4:1).
There's
much fake faith from those
who use faith to seek
fame, favor or fortune
under a religious
pretense.
Peter
wrote, "These (trials)
have come so that the
proven genuineness of
your faith--of greater
worth than gold, which
perishes even though
refined by fire--may
result in praise, glory
and honor when Jesus
Christ is revealed."
1)
Their faith had proven
genuine. He is
writing to 1st century
believers who were
suffering due to
their faith. This faith
wasn't bringing them fame
or fortune but hardship.
2)
Their faith had greater
worth than gold.
Then and now gold is a
valuable asset but genuine
faith is worth far more.
3)
Their faith results in
praise, glory and honor
when Jesus Christ is
revealed. Notice the
focus here. My faith can
bring praise, glory and
honor to God.
We
encourage our readers to
examine the genuineness of
their faith. In a world
with so much fake we need
men and women of genuine
faith.
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
fake
abounds, and way
too often it is
seen in Christian
circles. It has
left a very bad
taste in the mouth
of unbelievers and
has provided many
an excuse for them
to want nothing to
do with
Christianity. When
we say one thing
but do another we
are harming our
witness and we
bring disgrace to
the body of
Christ. Father,
may the words we
speak and the
actions we carry
out from day to
day honor You and
uplift the body of
Christ. May our
lives never
detract from the
Gospel message but
rather attract
people to the
redemptive message
of salvation
through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Daily
prayer: Father,
fake
abounds, and way
too often it is
seen in Christian
circles. It has
left a very bad
taste in the mouth
of unbelievers and
has provided many
an excuse for them
to want nothing to
do with
Christianity. When
we say one thing
but do another we
are harming our
witness and we
bring disgrace to
the body of
Christ. Father,
may the words we
speak and the
actions we carry
out from day to
day honor You and
uplift the body of
Christ. May our
lives never
detract from the
Gospel message but
rather attract
people to the
redemptive message
of salvation
through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
A
close-up of the
carnation
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
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.)
We realize there are many fine
ministries and causes requesting support
but if the Lord would lead you we surely need
and appreciate the financial support from our
readers and listeners.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.
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"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 2019 Stephen
C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA