A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Wednesday,
September 9,
2020
Conewago Lake
in Lebanon County
Click on
photo to enlarge
"Remembering
The Afflicted"
Message
summary: Today and every day may the
Lord bring to our remembrance those who are enduring
persecution and affliction so that we are faithful
in praying for their needs.
![]() "Remember
them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and
them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves
also in the body" (Hebrews 13:3).
We
prepare these messages from the peace and comfort of
our home here in rural Pennsylvania. We live in a
very peaceful location on this terrestrial
ball but read about the
turmoil taking place in so many places or we see it
in action via media sources, especially the rioting,
violence, and major destruction in major cities. But
it still seems far away so personal reminders are
needed regarding the hard
times others experience.
![]() "Thanks
a lot for the relentless efforts to ensure we get
daily encouragement regularly. We bless the Lord
for you and may the Good Lord give you more
revelations and deeper insights for the good of
many that read from you!"
But then the tone shifted as Jackline wrote about the violent persecution of a Ugandan congregation: "Though
my husband is a national of South Sudan, I am
Ugandan. I learned a few days ago a church (over
forty years old) near my Ugandan home in the
capital city Kampala was demolished in the wee
hours of the morning. Only
the pinnacle of the church hosting the cross
stands. The Christians are
heavily perturbed. Pray for them."
Indeed
we are praying for these fellow believers and ask
our readers to do so as well. Just imagine what it
would feel like to see your church building in
shambles due to evildoers.
Our
daily text speaks of our need to remember those
suffering two types of persecution; imprisonment and
suffering adversity.
But
today let us focus on the latter part of the text, "as
being yourselves also in the body". This
phrase is interpreted in various ways but primarily
in the sense:
1) To
empathize with those suffering since we all have a
physical body and are fully aware of our body's
strengths and weaknesses, of that which causes
bodily pain and suffering, emotional distress and
otherwise.
2) To
identify with the body of Christ undergoing
distress, as fellow believers who are born again,
redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
Brooksyne
forwarded the note from Jackline to our Zimbabwean
friends and received this thoughtful response from
Tho who speaks also for us regarding our thoughts
and prayers for the persecution of this local
congregation in Uganda:
Thank you so much for sharing this
heartbreaking story about this church in Uganda that
was demolished. Oh my goodness, what on earth is
this!!! Of all the buildings how can he destroy the
church! God forbid! We are praying for these
brothers and sisters who do not have a place of
worship now. We cannot imagine how hurt they are. Oh
Lord have mercy.
Once again thank you, dear, for sharing. We are reminded of John 15:18-19, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you". May the power of the God the Holy Spirit engulf our brothers and sisters at this difficult time of the church family. Today
and every day may the Lord bring to our remembrance
those who are enduring persecution and affliction so
that we may be faithful in praying for their needs.
Be
encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber ![]() Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "People
Of The Cross" Video Selah As
you listen to “People of the Cross,” remember to
pray for believers who suffer daily for their
faith—and let’s stand as one together in Jesus
Christ. Dedicated especially to Jackline and
Moses.
Some
additional thoughts on "as being yourselves also
in the body". The Handbook on the Letter to the
Hebrews summarizes the possibilities…
(1) “Members of the Christian fellowship,” understanding “body” in the figurative sense used by Paul (Jerusalem Bible “since you too are in the one body”), is most unlikely. There is no similar text in Hebrews; there is no definite article for “the” in the Greek, and this explanation does not fit in with verse 3a, which in other ways is parallel to 3b. (2) Many translators think “in (the) body” means “in this mortal life” (compare 2Cor 5.6 and Ro 7.24); Knox “since you are still in the world”; similarly Phillips. (3) Other common language translations, and some other translations, suggest either: (a) that the readers should identify themselves in sympathy with those who are ill-treated: Today's English Version as though you were suffering as they are (similarly German Common Language); Translator's New Testament “as if you too shared their lot”; or (b) that the readers may suffer in the same way in the future: “for the same can happen to you”; “for you may yet suffer as they do.” This is not necessarily implied by the text, though it is perhaps included in (a), which also makes a good parallel with verse 3a, as though. (The United Bible Societies' New Testament Handbook Series) In
the course of preparing for this message
Brooksyne came across a book by an "academic"
titled "The Myth of Persecution", in which the
author, identified as a leading expert on early
Christianity, contends the early church
exaggerated, invented, and forged stories of
Christian martyrs and how the dangerous legacy
of a martyrdom complex is employed today to
silence dissent and galvanize a new generation
of culture warriors. For the discerning reader
this is just another example of post modern,
revisionist history masquerading as
"scholarship". Be on your guard against
deception!
Yesterday
in Lebanon County, PA we saw this outdoor playset, a delightful
wooden replica of a John Deere tractor for any
young boy (or girl, for that matter) growing up in
our agricultural area where noisy tractors and
agricultural farms surround us. Our beautiful
views of farmland is the highlight of living in
this region of PA.
Yesterday
following a chaplain visit we rode on the always
beautiful Lebanon County Rail Trail. Brooksyne is
crossing this old iron bridge in Cornwall, PA
We got
off the main trail and rode though a residential
part of Lebanon. You might think these residents
were tying yellow ribbons round their old oak trees
but it's actually yellow Spotted Lantern Fly Tape
wrapped around the trees due to an invasive insect
known as the spotted lantern fly which is increasing
in our area.
We had
yet another beautiful sunset last night, although we
expect the corn will soon be harvested changing our
view. Stephen took this photo from our front porch
as Ester was just returning from her bike ride.
Over a
mile away Brooksyne was walking the dogs and
enjoying the sunset peering over the soybean field.
After she got home we at our photos and noticed that
his photo was taken only seconds before mine. We
were drawn to the sunset at the same time but in
different places!
![]()
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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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