Daily Encouragement (Archive Edition)

The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

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Friday, May 1, 2020

"Dearly Departed"

Our friend Howard Blichfeldt took this photo in Moab, Utah.

Can anyone think of a suitable Scripture to go with this?

"Age-old Foundations"

Message summary: May God grant us strength to be the faithful remnant in our age who remain true to His ways, so that we witness a restoration of the age-old foundations as prescribed in the Bible!

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“Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell” (Isaiah 58:12). "This is what the LORD says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it'" (Jeremiah 6:16).

We are hearing a lot of talk now about rebuilding in this phase of the coronavirus saga. It will be a massive undertaking to see the economy restored and businesses rebuilt. This is a new month and we are thankful for faith-based optimism. Hopefully we will soon be back to our visitation as company chaplains as the restrictions are eased and church attendance will be restored.

In addition our country (and world) needs another type of rebuilding in a far greater way. We need those from among us who will rebuild the ancient ruins; raise up the age-old foundations; be called the repairers of the breach, the restorers of the streets in which to dwell.

Ruins from stone barn wall in Lancaster County PA

Near Donegal Springs, about 1½ miles from our home, is an old farm with an unusual sight for Lancaster County. A single stone barn wall remains erect, standing for many years after the barn burned down or was otherwise demolished. (We first noticed this sight shortly after we moved to our present home in 2002).

Our region was settled in the early 1700’s so these barn ruins are nothing compared to the “ancient ruins” of the Middle East, yet the stone wall still brings to mind the daily verse which can be understood as the promise of rebuilding a torn-down Jerusalem.

However, in a spiritual analogy, it can also be understood as those who follow the Lord and keep His precepts. They will be the devout followers who rebuild the ancient ruins and raise up the age-old foundations of Biblical truth.

This refers to getting back to the old, Biblically correct ways. Most of us like new products or new methods but newer does not always means better. Jeremiah 6:16 states, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it’”.

One commentator notes, “Those who serve God with sincere hearts and actions also accomplish things for God’s kingdom. They rebuild and raise up, and are ‘called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell’. You can’t build anything for God’s Kingdom on the foundation of a superficial walk with God.”

In our time there needs to be a rebuilding and raising up of age-old foundations. Alan Redpath, a British preacher who lived from 1907-1989 wrote,

“We live in a broken world. In every direction there are breaches which are wide and deep. There are broken hearts and broken homes, and that which once was sacred is but a waste place. Whereas once there was a carefully guarded fence around the sanctity of family life, sex life, and the right to personal privacy, now there is just a waste place. The wall of protection is in ruins, and (for many) life has lost all its meaning.”

Redpath wrote this at least a generation ago, yet his words are far more greatly evidenced today than at the time of his writing!

The Biblical prophet, Jeremiah, lived for God at the time of the fall of Jerusalem and the first period of the exile in Babylon about 2,600 years ago. His writings reveal the horrendous state of Jerusalem during its final days; they were desecrating the Sabbath, shedding innocent lives, sexually immoral, unjust, corrupt in leadership, and worshiping idols to name just a few of their serious offenses.

Fast forward to our generation and consider how much our society parallels Jerusalem just before its fall. Modern man is desecrating the Sabbath, shedding innocent lives, sexually immoral, unjust, corrupt in leadership, and worshiping idols to name just a few of the present day serious offenses.

May God grant us strength to be the faithful remnant in our age who remain true to His ways, so that we witness a restoration of the age-old foundations as prescribed in the Bible!

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, it is through devout godly people that You rebuild, raise up, repair, and restore lives as they uphold the unchanging, ever relevant ancient words of Scripture. It takes faithful watchmen who serve with great vigilance, untiring in their ancient message of salvation to a world that is continuously desecrating that which was once viewed as sacred. Father, help us to be watchmen for our families and friends as we carefully measure the principles of this world by the principles established in Scripture. Grant us courage to speak out when the foundations are being shaken just as the watchmen were not silent night or day. We do not stand in the gap alone but You, our Father, are with us and we stand in Your strength! Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Christ Is Mine Forevermore" Video CityAlight

This morning I took this photo of a purple finch feeding right outside our office window

Click to enlarge

I had my phone camera mounted on a stand near the window and snapped the photo using a bluetooth remote.

Finally today:

Regarding a suitable Scripture for today's lead photo of the bug graveyard in Utah my thought is Ezekiel 37!

Howard Blichfeldt's site

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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."

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