A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Friday,
March 20,
2020
Bringing a
little of the natural outdoor colors and vegetation on
this indoor cart at "The Carrot Barn" near Schoharie,
NY.
"Keep your
friends close and your farmers closer... a little local
goes a long way."
"You're
Not In This Alone!"
Note:
With the current crisis many people may be more
receptive to spiritual and eternal truths and with
the closing of many church gatherings we
especially encourage our readers to consider how
our messages may bless others you know. We expect
to have messages all next week addressing some
aspect of what we are going through.
The best way is to send an email or text and share the link to the message you feel would be helpful and encouraging. Although a bit more time consuming we suggest individual emails that begin with a personal note from you. The link on our email messages are found at the top right as "Web version of this message" on each email post and as "Archived message" on the website. We do not suggest group forwards especially without a personal note since these appear spammy to many.
The best way is to send an email or text and share the link to the message you feel would be helpful and encouraging. Although a bit more time consuming we suggest individual emails that begin with a personal note from you. The link on our email messages are found at the top right as "Web version of this message" on each email post and as "Archived message" on the website. We do not suggest group forwards especially without a personal note since these appear spammy to many.
Message summary: Today let us
consider a great promise we should already know,
but are we experiencing the assurance it brings?
Jesus said, "I
am with you always".
"And
Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, 'All
authority has been given to Me in heaven and on
earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all
the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and
lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age'" (Matthew 28:18-20).
During
this time of "social distancing" we are especially
sensitive to those who live alone. God designed us
to be social beings and the first "not good"
in the Bible was God's observation that "It is
not good for the man to be alone; I will make
him a helper suitable for him." Now of
course this is primarily referring to God's
immutable design for the sanctity of marriage
between a man and a woman but the principle
extends to our entire social structure. We were
created to live in community; our family,
immediate and extended, friends; church;
marketplace; workplace and so forth.
Due
to restrictions and recommendations our normal
chaplain work visits to companies is now being
impacted but we still have other opportunities to
minister God's love and care through phone, text
and email, including these daily messages.
One
thing we can have regardless of our physical
proximity to other people is an assurance that "We
are not in this alone". Of course this can be
taken in the sense that so many others are
suffering and impacted in various degrees.
But
today let us consider the benefits of God's
steadfast presence based upon five words from our
Lord, "I am with you always".
Here's
a reminder based upon an encouraging song with an
upbeat tempo by a family group called the Browders
(link to song is below).
Let
me remind you Jesus is for you, He’s right
for everything that’s wrong.
I’m here to tell you that He will not leave you, He never abandons His own.
Even though you may not see it right now; you’re not in this alone.
I’m here to tell you that He will not leave you, He never abandons His own.
Even though you may not see it right now; you’re not in this alone.
Our
daily Scripture portion is customarily called "The
Great Commission", among the final words of Jesus
prior to His ascension back to heaven. We normally
focus on the middle portion of this passage, His
command to the disciples (and all of His
followers), "Go therefore and make disciples
of all the nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I commanded
you."
But
today let us examine three truths promised in this
passage that were surely a great source of
assurance for the initial hearers and has been for
each subsequent generation since then and for us
at this time of great uncertainty:
1) "All authority has been given
to Me in heaven and on earth." What a
vitally important truth! Jesus' authority is
inexhaustive, without any limitations. Nothing
happens unless He ordains it. There is much
speculation about the current virus situation, it
utterly dominates the news and most personal
conversations. Suffering and pain are a great
mystery that can leave us with many questions but
we must rest assured in His ultimate authority.
The concept of 'All' dominates Matthew 28:18-20
and ties these verses together: all authority, all
nations, all that I commanded you, all the age.
2) "I am with you always."
This is surely one of the great promises of the
entire Bible. Later in the New Testament the
promise from God is repeated in the book of
Hebrews, in another phrase many of us have
memorized, "I will never leave you, nor
forsake you". The following thoughts are
from Pastor David Guzik's excellent online
"Enduring Word" commentary:
A) His presence is complete.
"The English adverb 'always' renders an expression
found in the New Testament only here – strictly,
‘the whole of every day’. Not just when the
horizon is in view, but each day as we live it."
(Carson)
B) His presence means privilege, because we work with a Great King. Paul understood this principle well in 1 Corinthians 3:9, where he wrote: For we are God’s fellow workers. Since Jesus promised, “I am with you always,” then we work together with Him in all our service. We certainly work for Jesus, but more than that, we work with Jesus.
C) His presence means protection, because we are never out of His sight or supervision.
D) His presence means power, because as we fulfill this great command, we work in His name.
E) His presence means peace, because it always reminds us that the church belongs to Jesus. It is His church, and His work. How, then, can we worry?
B) His presence means privilege, because we work with a Great King. Paul understood this principle well in 1 Corinthians 3:9, where he wrote: For we are God’s fellow workers. Since Jesus promised, “I am with you always,” then we work together with Him in all our service. We certainly work for Jesus, but more than that, we work with Jesus.
C) His presence means protection, because we are never out of His sight or supervision.
D) His presence means power, because as we fulfill this great command, we work in His name.
E) His presence means peace, because it always reminds us that the church belongs to Jesus. It is His church, and His work. How, then, can we worry?
3) "Even to the end of the age."
In case there's any question about it this isn't a
promise solely for the original disciples. It will
last until the end of the age. Then of course we
will be in God's eternal presence in a completely
different way free from all the sin and heartache
of this world that we experience in this current
age.
Day
by day and even hour by hour the news changes and
it can easily lead one to despair, but remember, "You're
Not In This Alone!"
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
Your steadfast presence consoles our fears because
it brings to us privilege, protection, power and
peace. On an ordinary day we look to so many
earthbound sources to provide for our needs
physically, emotionally, financially and in other
ways, but Your steady presence surpasses any
earthbound solution we may seek or rely on. There
is no place, even when quarantined or in
isolation, where You cannot go with us, for You
remind us through Scripture, I will never leave
you nor forsake you, for I am with you even to the
end of the age. What blessed assurance fills my
heart even in troublesome times. Amen.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
Your steadfast presence consoles our fears because
it brings to us privilege, protection, power and
peace. On an ordinary day we look to so many
earthbound sources to provide for our needs
physically, emotionally, financially and in other
ways, but Your steady presence surpasses any
earthbound solution we may seek or rely on. There
is no place, even when quarantined or in
isolation, where You cannot go with us, for You
remind us through Scripture, I will never leave
you nor forsake you, for I am with you even to the
end of the age. What blessed assurance fills my
heart even in troublesome times. Amen.Personal
note: The impact of the virus gets closer
when we begin to hear about people we know
infected. Beginning with unknown people in China
(who are equally loved by God) to celebrities we
may know of. Yesterday we read that the missionary
son and daughter-in-law of our long-time friend
Tommy Carpenter have been infected and today I
read that our Executive Director of World
Missions, Greg Mundis, has tested positive for
Covid 19 and is in critical condition, though he
is making progress.
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"You're
Not In This Alone" Video The Browders
(This
is the song we used in the beginning of our message)
"Christ
Our Hope in Life and Death" Video Keith & Kristyn
Getty, Matt Papa
(This
outstanding new hymn was just posted this morning in
our email. What a blessed reminder!)
"Put It into God's Hands" Video The Browders
On the lighter side today:
The
almost always funny Babylon Bee satire site has
several brief takes on all this current news
including this one: God
To Ignore Quarantine And Continue Being Everywhere
This
video from a dog's perspective: Pluto addresses the internet in
this time of crisis
A final set of photos from my two day trip to upstate New York this last weekend.
A very
tidy greenhouse at "The Carrot Barn" near
Schoharie, NY. It was nice to visit and express
appreciation to the farming family who operates this
property. (The senior member is watering in this
photo.)
Yesterday
we mentioned a belt-powered woodshop that used an old
Train Station in Sharon, NY. This place is very
interesting but with all the old wood and sawdust on
the floor it seems very vulnerable to a fire!
A very
old train car is used for storage. These cars were a
fire hazard and in the late 1960s the Federal Railway
Administration outlawed wooden cars.
Send a message to
Stephen & Brooksyne
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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."
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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