A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Thursday, July
11, 2019
Scenic farm view in Southern Missouri near the college Brooksyne and I attended.
(click on photo to enlarge)
"Running Well"
Message
summary:
May the Lord help us
all to continue to
run well and one day
be able to declare
like Paul "I have
finished the race".
If any of you
realize you were
running well but
have gotten off
course identify what
is hindering you and
get back on the
right course!
Listen to our message on your audio player.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"You
were running well.
Who hindered you
from obeying the
truth?"
(Galatians 5:7).
One of the
common burdens we
hear in our chaplain
work is a parent's
heartache regarding
wayward children,
which of course also
includes grown
children. Earlier
this week I was
talking to a man
whose grown son has
had a longstanding
addiction battle. He
told me he's back in
rehab, yet again. At
various times during
our discussions he
had been doing
better which was so
encouraging to his
hopeful parents.
In my
observation there
are often a lot of
ups and downs in
fighting and
overcoming
addictions to
alcohol, tobacco and
drugs. That's why we
encourage people to
avoid using any
substance that
provides a "high"
(what a word!),
since you don't know
what substance may
in due time ensnare
you.
In our
lifetime many in the
church have
developed a more
permissive attitude
on matters
concerning the
"moderate" use of
alcohol and now
marijuana,
especially since in
many cases
recreational
marijuana is now
legal. Being legal
does not make
something moral or
advisable.
But we
have no regrets in
practicing and
teaching abstinence
from these three
substances, however
old-fashioned that
may be. After 40
plus years of
ministry and both
coming from families
with alcoholic
relatives we've
chosen not to dabble
in intoxicating
drinks or drugs. We
have seen much ruin
over the years and
have never seen them
make someone a
better person.
In many
years of writing
these messages we
have often referred
to a Biblical
illustration of
living the Christian
life as "running the
race". In fact just
this last May we had
a five part series
on this topic
beginning with this
message.
Today let
us consider a text
from Galatians 5 in
which Paul also
alludes to running.
"You
were running
well." We have
often considered the
start, the course
and the finish but
today's passage
speaks of the race
with a sad four
letter indictment: "You
were running
well." What
especially jumps out
is the word "were",
the past tense. They
had been running
well which implies
they had been doing
well in matters of
faith and obedience.
The specific issue
here is a doctrinal
matter in that they
had fallen for a
false doctrine. We
know people who were
running well but
fell for a false
doctrine contrary to
the Holy Scriptures.
But we
have also seen those
who were running
well but fell in
regard to obedience
such as a moral
failure. As I type
these words several
people come to mind,
some who have
repented and got
back to running
well, although often
still dealing with
sin's inevitable
consequences. Sadly,
others remain out of
the race.
"Who hindered you from obeying the truth?" In the next verse he states, "This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you." In this context Paul is speaking of specific false teachers and the devil himself. We all need to be on our guard against anything that would hinder us from obeying the truth including the false teachers of our age and our adversary, the devil, who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
May the
Lord help us all to
continue to run well
and one day be able
to declare like
Paul,
"I have finished
the race". If
any of you realize
you were running
well but have gotten
off course identify
what is hindering
you and get back on
the right course!
Be
encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we learn throughout Scripture that it's not the one who runs the swiftest, nor the one who runs for a day, but the one who endures to the end that will be saved. Even for those who endure there may be a fall along the way, yet the Psalmist assures us that they are not cast down for You uphold them with Your righteous right hand. You never let them of Your sight, but watch over them and gently woo them back through the working of Your Holy Spirit. Keep our eyes on the goal of living for Christ and our feet planted firmly on the righteous path before us in His name we pray. Amen.
Ecclesiastes
9:11
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental Resources
"Yes
I Will" Video
Calvary Church worship team
with strings (I tried to
post this earlier this week
but the link broke)
One again we devote this to
our friends going through
valleys.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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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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