A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Wednesday,
August 7, 2019
Hibiscus
bloom.
"But As For You, Continue"
Message
summary: Today,
we urge you to
continue in your
personal resolve
to faithfulness.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:14-15).
Recently a prominent former minister/author made the news with the announcement that he had departed from Christianity and essentially renounced much of what he had formerly believed and taught. Blogger Chelsen Vicari observes, I believe correctly, "Perhaps it is better for him to denounce the faith altogether (and hopefully temporarily) than to distort it and mislead another generation of young Evangelicals."
This is always disappointing but should not be surprising. It has happened all through my lifetime. I recall about ten years ago when a long-time favorite Christian singer/songwriter departed from the faith and embraced the "alternate" lifestyle.
This has been the case all through the church age going back to the New Testament period. A verse that many of us have probably not purposefully memorized is from Matthew 24:10 where Jesus said concerning the last times, "At that time many will turn away from the faith". This falling away was demonstrated by Paul's ministry associate Demas who had deserted Paul because he loved this present world (2 Timothy 4:10).
Paul spoke of this in 1 Timothy 1:19,20 in a somber challenge to Timothy (and us), "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme". Like Timothy our somber calling is to "hold faith and a good conscience".
But today let us consider a challenge to continue in just the first portion of today's Scripture text. We'll examine more from this passage on Thursday and Friday.
"But as for you." This sets up an emphatic contrast with the evil men and impostors described in the previous verse (2 Timothy 3:13) . In that time and today many will plunge deeper and deeper into the cesspool of deception and darkness. But Timothy is to stand firm on the solid rock of God's unchanging word. This verse begins with the emphatic "you". The man of God must pay careful attention to himself in aligning with the Scriptures if he is to resist the enticing lure of doctrinal and moral infidelity. As opposition increases, the Scriptures become the believer’s reliance and bulwark.
"Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of." Today let us just consider the word "continue" which most Bible versions use. Other versions render it "Keep on being faithful" (CEV), "But you must keep on believing" (TLB).
It is in the present imperative and calls for a constant, habitual way of life. Bible teacher William Kelly translates the word, "continue" as "stand by". He comments that "Perhaps one of the severest tests of a believer's character and loyalty is to 'stand by' the side of known truth while alluring and scintillating heresies are paraded in front of us. It is no small feat to remain faithful to God's eternal Word throughout one's lifetime and many there are who have left its ranks." *
God spoke to wayward Israel through the prophet Jeremiah, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you shall find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16).
Today, we urge you to continue in your personal resolve to faithfulness.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
Prayer: Father, we thank
You for the godly
people who have
taught us unchanging
eternal truths of
Scripture. Not only
did they teach us by
instruction but they
taught us by their
consistent example.
Like Timothy, we
want to continue
in what we have
learned and become
convinced of,
because we know
those from whom we
learned the Holy
Scriptures which
are able to make
us wise for
salvation through
our faith in
Christ Jesus our
Lord. It is in His
name that we pray.
Amen.
* Kelly died on March 27, 1906. Shortly before his death, he said "There are three things real — the Cross, the enmity of the world, the love of God."
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:14-15).
Recently a prominent former minister/author made the news with the announcement that he had departed from Christianity and essentially renounced much of what he had formerly believed and taught. Blogger Chelsen Vicari observes, I believe correctly, "Perhaps it is better for him to denounce the faith altogether (and hopefully temporarily) than to distort it and mislead another generation of young Evangelicals."
This is always disappointing but should not be surprising. It has happened all through my lifetime. I recall about ten years ago when a long-time favorite Christian singer/songwriter departed from the faith and embraced the "alternate" lifestyle.
This has been the case all through the church age going back to the New Testament period. A verse that many of us have probably not purposefully memorized is from Matthew 24:10 where Jesus said concerning the last times, "At that time many will turn away from the faith". This falling away was demonstrated by Paul's ministry associate Demas who had deserted Paul because he loved this present world (2 Timothy 4:10).
Paul spoke of this in 1 Timothy 1:19,20 in a somber challenge to Timothy (and us), "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme". Like Timothy our somber calling is to "hold faith and a good conscience".
But today let us consider a challenge to continue in just the first portion of today's Scripture text. We'll examine more from this passage on Thursday and Friday.
"But as for you." This sets up an emphatic contrast with the evil men and impostors described in the previous verse (2 Timothy 3:13) . In that time and today many will plunge deeper and deeper into the cesspool of deception and darkness. But Timothy is to stand firm on the solid rock of God's unchanging word. This verse begins with the emphatic "you". The man of God must pay careful attention to himself in aligning with the Scriptures if he is to resist the enticing lure of doctrinal and moral infidelity. As opposition increases, the Scriptures become the believer’s reliance and bulwark.
"Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of." Today let us just consider the word "continue" which most Bible versions use. Other versions render it "Keep on being faithful" (CEV), "But you must keep on believing" (TLB).
It is in the present imperative and calls for a constant, habitual way of life. Bible teacher William Kelly translates the word, "continue" as "stand by". He comments that "Perhaps one of the severest tests of a believer's character and loyalty is to 'stand by' the side of known truth while alluring and scintillating heresies are paraded in front of us. It is no small feat to remain faithful to God's eternal Word throughout one's lifetime and many there are who have left its ranks." *
God spoke to wayward Israel through the prophet Jeremiah, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you shall find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16).
Today, we urge you to continue in your personal resolve to faithfulness.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
Prayer: Father, we thank
You for the godly
people who have
taught us unchanging
eternal truths of
Scripture. Not only
did they teach us by
instruction but they
taught us by their
consistent example.
Like Timothy, we
want to continue
in what we have
learned and become
convinced of,
because we know
those from whom we
learned the Holy
Scriptures which
are able to make
us wise for
salvation through
our faith in
Christ Jesus our
Lord. It is in His
name that we pray.
Amen.* Kelly died on March 27, 1906. Shortly before his death, he said "There are three things real — the Cross, the enmity of the world, the love of God."
Ed, a
reader from
northern PA sent
this photo.
He was
one of several
alert readers who
are
Lepidopterologists
and pointed out
that yesterday's
butterfly photos
were of a
Swallowtail
butterfly not a
Monarch. I'll have
to blame Brooksyne
for that one. I
had written
"butterfly" in the
caption and she
added Monarch when
she edited! (Brooksyne's
excuse:
I like to be
specific when
possible but
thought after I
wrote "monarch"
that I wasn't
certain. Intending
to look it up I
walked away from
the message and,
zoom, Stephen sent
it off. It came to
me again later
that morning but I
knew a careful
reader would
correct my work if
I was wrong, and
wrong I was!
Thanks, Ed and
other observant
readers.)
We sure
enjoy our
neighborhood
produce wagon
which offers fresh
home-grown fruits
and vegetables at
a very reasonable
price. The wagon
uses the honor
system with
shoppers dropping
off their money in
a slotted
enclosure. We are
also blessed by
the expression of
faith on the sign.
"Trust in the
Lord and do
good; dwell on
the Lord and
feed on His
faithfulness"
(Psalm 37:3).
Click
to enlarge
One of
our favorite
summer dishes is a
plate of sliced
tomatoes garnished
with feta cheese,
bacon and basil.
Today we'll enjoy
it again with a
little balsamic
vinegar sprinkled
on top.
In this
photo it appears
that our young 7
month old puppy,
Sadie (left), is
sharing some juicy
gossip with Roxie,
who will turn 15
this October.
Early
yesterday morning,
in our chaplaincy
role, we visited
Audreys "Your
Heart's Delight",
a wholesale
distributor of
home decor items.
Brooksyne was
amused and puzzled
by this sight. It
looks like some
stuffed animals
are at a protest.
See below.
We meet
a lot of people
and everyone has a
story. The
third worksite we
visited yesterday
uses a lot of temp
workers; with many
of them getting
back into the work
force after being
in some type of
trouble. We've
visited Steven for
several weeks now
and yesterday
heard some of his
story and he gave
us permission to
share it on DE. He
was released from
prison last
October after
many, many years
of incarceration
having first went
to jail at 15. We
talked with him
about his mother
who is now about
90 years old and
Brooksyne asked,
"How often did you
see your mother
while in prison?"
Without hesitation
he responded, "She
came to visit me
every week." You
could see in his
expression how
meaningful it was
to have such a
loving, devoted
mother continuing
to be supportive
even during his
years of
incarceration.
Steven is a few
months younger
than me and a few
months older than
Brooksyne. We
encouraged him to
place his faith in
Christ and set out
to live the
remainder of his
life to honor God.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental Resources
"Faith To Be
Strong" Video
Andrew Peterson
Brooksyne's Note: We
dedicate this song to
several friends going
through critical health
challenges. I heard "Faith
to Be Strong" on the radio
this morning for the first
time and it spoke to my
heart in such an impassioned
way, especially the
following line: "Give us
faith to be strong and
strength to be faithful.
This life is not long, but
it's hard."
I believe the
words will be of blessing to
you if you're enduring an
ongoing trial or you know
someone else who needs to
hear these words.
Andrew Peter, who sings and
wrote this song, came to our
attention with the song he
wrote, "Is He Worthy". We
have featured that in the
past.
"Build My Life"
Video
Calvary Church worship team
from Sunday's service
(includes short intro)
"Legacy"
Video
A great followup to
yesterday's message. A
tremendous missions story.
Study
notes on today's text from
Precept Austin Bible
Commentary
Finally today: Yesterday's aerial photo was over the central valley in California.
Finally today: Yesterday's aerial photo was over the central valley in California.
From the photo
above the shopping carts had
what looked like stuffed
protestors holding up blank
signs. Once Brooksyne turned
a cart around we saw that it
was snowmen holding signs,
"Winter Blessing and Let It
Snow"! One of the
distinctions of a four
season warehouse is that you
see items all the time that
are not necessarily in sync
with the season you walk
through.
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.
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"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