A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Wednesday,
February
19,
2020
The
anchor at Plymouth
Harbor in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
(Photo
taken by Ester in January)
"Christ
the Sure and Steady
Anchor"
Message summary: Rest in this blessed assurance: God and His Word provide the only steady anchor and sure foundation for the soul. Today let us focus on the immutable God whose Word has promised: "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal" (Isaiah 26:3,4).
Listen to this
message on your audio player."We who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:19).
While walking along Plymouth Harbor several weeks ago I quickly spotted one of my favorite seascape sites, the old, very rusty, anchor that has been there ever since we first visited Plymouth in 1993. Hopefully, it isn't among the historic sites vandalized a couple days ago in Plymouth.
The anchor has long been a theme in Christian hymns (see below for a partial list). Recently we have been enjoying music by Matt Boswell and a song titled "Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor".
Christ
the sure and steady anchor,
In the fury of the storm;
When the winds of doubt blow through me,
And my sails have all been torn.
In the suffering, in the sorrow,
When my sinking hopes are few;
I will hold fast to the anchor,
It will never be removed.
In the fury of the storm;
When the winds of doubt blow through me,
And my sails have all been torn.
In the suffering, in the sorrow,
When my sinking hopes are few;
I will hold fast to the anchor,
It will never be removed.
Today
let us consider the anchor for the soul based on
one of my all time favorite Scripture passages.
How thankful we are for the blessed anchor of hope we have in Jesus! This anchor is eternally firm and secure. The daily verse is the only place in the Bible where the word "anchor" is used figuratively. It is also used literally in Acts 27 during Paul's shipwreck (v.29). The Greek word is Aγκυρα, pronounced "ankura" (our English "anchor" is merely a transliteration of this word). The anchor was used in the Greek world as a picture for hope.
How thankful we are for the blessed anchor of hope we have in Jesus! This anchor is eternally firm and secure. The daily verse is the only place in the Bible where the word "anchor" is used figuratively. It is also used literally in Acts 27 during Paul's shipwreck (v.29). The Greek word is Aγκυρα, pronounced "ankura" (our English "anchor" is merely a transliteration of this word). The anchor was used in the Greek world as a picture for hope.
"In
the catacombs of Rome, where Christians hid in
times of persecution, one symbol can be seen
more than any other: the anchor. No matter what
storms come our way, we are anchored in the Word
of God, in the promises He made. We have this
sure hope that He will do what He says. So don’t
go back to temple worship, entreats the author.
Don’t go back to heathen practices, to partying,
to wherever else you came from. Be anchored in
the immutable, unchangeable, sure, and steadfast
Word of God." (Jon
Courson)*
Believers all throughout the ages have received
assurance in their hearts as they consider the
security an anchor provides in the midst of
battering storms. Consider the early part of the
daily verse, "We who have fled to take hold of
the hope offered to us may be greatly
encouraged".
This hope is what the believer has "fled to take hold of". Worldly suggestions for hope are always temporal and short sighted. The hope Jesus offers is the only true and lasting source of hope that is endless. Once we firmly take hold of this hope we are indeed "greatly encouraged".
"Hope", as used in the Bible, is not a wishful thought but a confident expectation of absolute certainty. The Holman Bible Dictionary offers this insight: "Hope is the confidence that what God has done for us in the past guarantees our participation in what God will do in the future."
Perhaps your soul feels pounded upon by a storm of adversity even as you read this. Or there may be a storm on the horizon. If things seem steady in your personal life you don't have to look far to see the unsteadiness in the world around you! Today we want to encourage you to ground your faith in the anchor that is steadfast weathering the worst storms of life. Truly, this anchor of hope we have in Jesus Christ is firm and secure!
Rest in this blessed assurance: God and His Word provide the steady anchor and sure foundation for the soul. Today let us focus on the immutable God, whose Word has promised: "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal" (Isaiah 26:3,4).
This hope is what the believer has "fled to take hold of". Worldly suggestions for hope are always temporal and short sighted. The hope Jesus offers is the only true and lasting source of hope that is endless. Once we firmly take hold of this hope we are indeed "greatly encouraged".
"Hope", as used in the Bible, is not a wishful thought but a confident expectation of absolute certainty. The Holman Bible Dictionary offers this insight: "Hope is the confidence that what God has done for us in the past guarantees our participation in what God will do in the future."
Perhaps your soul feels pounded upon by a storm of adversity even as you read this. Or there may be a storm on the horizon. If things seem steady in your personal life you don't have to look far to see the unsteadiness in the world around you! Today we want to encourage you to ground your faith in the anchor that is steadfast weathering the worst storms of life. Truly, this anchor of hope we have in Jesus Christ is firm and secure!
Rest in this blessed assurance: God and His Word provide the steady anchor and sure foundation for the soul. Today let us focus on the immutable God, whose Word has promised: "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal" (Isaiah 26:3,4).
Christ
the sure of our salvation,
Ever faithful, ever true!
We will hold fast to the anchor,
It shall never be removed.
Ever faithful, ever true!
We will hold fast to the anchor,
It shall never be removed.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, help us not to
resent the storms of life or be fearful of their
effects. Much like we prepare for a ravaging storm
by anchoring valuables to a firm foundation, help
us to anchor our souls in the firm foundation of
Your Word that will help us to withstand the
testings and trials of life that are certain to
come our way. May we have an assurance of Your
absolute reliability, not for the years of time
alone, but for eternity. Amen.Here's
a quote written about 350 years ago by Jeremy
Taylor. It fully embraces the timetable of the
Gospel journey and is a great focus for the
believer using in part an anchor theme:
Contemplate this thought-provoking quote: "In order to realize the worth of the anchor, one needs to feel the stress of the storm." Faith is put to the test and best demonstrated during the deepest of trials.
"Faith is the Christian's foundation,
Hope is his anchor,
Death is his harbor,
Christ is his pilot,
And heaven is his country."
Hope is his anchor,
Death is his harbor,
Christ is his pilot,
And heaven is his country."
Contemplate this thought-provoking quote: "In order to realize the worth of the anchor, one needs to feel the stress of the storm." Faith is put to the test and best demonstrated during the deepest of trials.
*
(Courson, J. Jon Courson's Application
Commentary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson)
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Christ the Sure and
Steady Anchor" Video Matt
Boswell and Boyce College Choir. This
would be a great congregational song!
Matt
Boswell also wrote the song we featured
last week titled "His Mercy Is More".
Video
Here
are some other songs with the theme of
anchor:
"We Have An Anchor" Video Robin Marks I am so very blessed by this grand old hymn.
"The Anchor Holds" Video Written and performed by Lawrence Chewning, includes the testimony behind the song.
"I've Anchored In Jesus" Video Pilgrim Hymns An old song we sang in Bible College.
"Anchored In Love" Video Carter family
Finally
today:
Here's
another photo of the anchor in Plymouth
Harbor I took many years ago.
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 want to thank all who
financially support our ministry. 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.
To donate directly online here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: WEBER,STEPHEN CHAP, Specialized Chaplaincy Ministry ID: 700001-237376
If you would consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
To 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."
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 2020 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