A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Wednesday,
December
9,
2020
"700
Years"
Message summary: Today we look back on that fulfilled prophecy and also look ahead to the yet unfulfilled prophecies of Scripture. Listen
to this message on your audio player.
"For
to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given"
(Isaiah 9:6).
Come,
Thou long expected Jesus,
born to set Thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. A phenomenon of aging is that
life seems to go by faster. Have you noticed that? I
attribute this to when you age each year is a
smaller and smaller percentage of your life. When I
turned ten, a year was 10% of my life (actually even
more in experience since we don't even remember our
first several years). But on my last birthday a year
of my life was just 1.5%. Of
course each year I get older
this percentage will decrease.
I
remember when I was young how far off certain dates
seemed. In high school in the early seventies I read
the science fiction novel, "Nineteen Eighty-Four",
by English novelist George Orwell. Though 1984 was
only some 12 years away it seemed like that year was
way out there in the very distant future. We passed
that date and then it was looking ahead to the new
millennium which seemed so far away but the year
2000 came and now we are over 20 years into the new
millennium.
But
consider 700 years. Looking back that would place us
in the middle ages in 1320. Looking ahead would take
us to 2720!
We are
reading a small advent book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
titled "God Is In The Manger". Yesterday we read a
portion where he shares an interesting perspective
regarding patience in waiting:
"In the midst of the deepest guilt and
distress of the people, a voice speaks that is soft
and mysterious but full of the blessed certainty of
salvation through the birth of a divine child
(Isaiah 9:6-7). It is still seven hundred years
until the time of fulfillment, but the prophet is so
deeply immersed in God's thought and counsel that he
speaks of the future as if he saw it already, and he
speaks of the salvific hour [coming of salvation] as
if he already stood in adoration before the manger
of Jesus."
Not
ambiguous in the least, but with remarkable detail,
Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would have the
characteristics of a king (Isaiah 9), and later
those of a suffering servant (Isaiah 53). He looked
ahead as he declared his prophecy, unaware that it
would be 700 years for his prophecy to be fulfilled.
And yet Bonhoeffer makes this observation: "But the
prophet is so deeply immersed in God's thought and
counsel that he speaks of the future as if he saw it
already."
Today
we look back on that fulfilled prophecy and also
look ahead to the yet unfulfilled prophecies of
Scripture. Our times can be distressing and we
wonder how will all of this work out? Like the
prophet Isaiah, let us immerse ourselves in God's
thought and counsel through Scripture and meditation
so that we may find His peace for today and absolute
confidence in our future residency in heaven. After
all that will take place in far less time than 700
years!
Born
Thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring. By Thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by Thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne. Be
encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, thank You for sending Jesus
who was born to set us free. Just as the angels told
the shepherds not to be fearful for they had Good
News to deliver, we too are recipients of God's
favor provided through the salvation of Jesus
Christ. We need not fear our present or future
circumstances, for You said You will never leave us
nor forsake us, in this life here below. And best of
all You have secured for us everlasting life in the
hereafter. Hallelujah! Amen.
Special Year-end
Financial Appeal
We want to
thank all who have financially supported our
ministry this past year (and some for many
years!). We realize there are many fine
ministries and causes requesting support at this
time but if the Lord would lead you we surely need
and appreciate the financial support from our
readers and listeners. Like many ministries,
we typically see a spike in giving at the end of
the year for which we are most thankful.
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 click 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" Thank you, Stephen & Brooksyne "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus"
Video
Shane
and Shane
The Dutch-Way Farm
Market is in the heart of rural
Pennsylvania in Myerstown, PA. They have
these neat displays hanging out from the
wall all through the store.
Yesterday
morning we joined Ken and Audrey Mull for
breakfast at the Dutch-Way Farm Market.
They own Flower and Home,
a gift and home decor company in rural
Lebanon County where we serve as
chaplains.
An
example of the types of items we see at
Audrey's Flower and Home.
Finally today:
JDM
Outlet is an office supply store
next to the Dutch-Way that is owned by
old-order Mennonites. No question what
this sign means!
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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
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".
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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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