Daily Encouragement (Archive Edition)

The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

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Friday, December 4, 2020

Brickerville Restaurant fireplace

"Cover-Up" (Part 2)

Message summary: Since the consequence of sin is not always immediate we may be under the illusion that all is well. But eventually our sin will find us out.

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"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:13).

Yesterday our message dealt with cover-ups and applied to our attempts to cover or conceal our sin rather than the Biblical call to confess our sin. We began the message with an illustration of Brooksyne witnessing a rather nasty whipped cream cover-up many years ago at Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts.

Yesterday morning we enjoyed breakfast at the Brickerville House, a rustic restaurant along 322 north of Lititz, PA. After our meal we engaged in a lengthy conversation with the restaurant owner and afterward a friendly couple named Ron and Judy who were dining beside us (socially distanced of course!) Turns out they were believers and we shared about our chaplain and writing ministries. Brooksyne told the story about her whipped cream experience that was presented on our site that day. Ron then shared his story which we found rather amusing so we follow up with that today.

Ron had visited an ice cream shop and ordered a banana split. He watched the waiter prepare the triple dips of ice cream, split the banana and then generously spray the whipped cream and add toppings to give it the finishing touch. As Ron watched a fly landed smack dab in the middle of the whipped topping. The fly was in for the struggle of its life as it furiously fluttered its wings back and forth trying to escape the fluffy mountain of whipped topping, but it could not dig out. Ron watched in amazement and began to wonder what the waiter was going to do to "fix" this most unappetizing situation.

Much to his shock the waiter set down the banana split in front of him, fly and all. Ron was incredulous and asked him, "What are you going to do about the fly?" "Oh, that!" he said, before using his two fingers to scoop up the struggling fly amidst the whipped topping and flicking the mess to the floor! We can't recall what Ron said he did at this point, but now we wonder if he got a new banana split or just walked away.

For some reason it sounded as though the waiter did not see the fly or chose to look the other way (living in our agricultural area flies abound in the summer and people who live in those settings appear to be oblivious to them).

Now, the story we share today may seem a bit bizarre to point out that some things others might easily see we may miss entirely, whether it's due to our ignorance or willful looking the other way. And then there are those things we are not proud of that we try to hide from other's view. But Hebrews 4:13 states, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account".

Today let us live with the solemn realization that our sin will never go undetected by an all-seeing, all-knowing, all-present, holy God. Indeed, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight". But we also live with the solemn blessing of His forgiveness when we go to Him with a humble and contrite heart.

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Faithful Father, Your Word shows us that obedience brings about blessing but disobedience brings about dishonor. I want to honor You with my life, for there is nothing hidden from Your eyes. Help me to uphold the standards of truth and honesty as revealed through Your unchanging Holy Word. When I'm confronted with my sin help me to have the fortitude and courage to deal with it. May I not cover it up, seek to justify it, blame others, procrastinate or deceive myself. Thank You for granting complete forgiveness to those who come to You with a contrite heart willing to lay down sin and take up righteousness. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"His Mercy Is More" Video Matt Papa & Matt Boswell

"NOT ABOUT PROTECTING JESUS’ REPUTATION" Here's an article Brooksyne read this morning about a woman who covered up her sin and the price she paid for it, how she came to find peace with God many years later and how He is using her to reach others who need God's help in similar situations.

The Brickerville House celebrated 12 years under the leadership of the present owner, a New York City transplant yesterday. The building was built by John and Barbara Bricker in 1753 and located on the main road from Philadelphia to Harrisburg.

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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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