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daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
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Friday,
February
26,
2021
Two days of brilliant sunshine got me (Brooksyne) back into my routine of walking a two mile circle with our dogs in the neighborhood. This is one of my favorite spots near Carmany road, since the bright red barn always stands out in the distance.
"A
Secure Anchor Point"
Message summary: Is
your life firmly secured in the anchor point of
Christ? "Be very sure your anchor holds and grips
the solid rock!"
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
Listen
to this message on your audio player."For
we all often stumble and fall and offend in many
things" (James 3:2 Amplified). "We have this
hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure"
(Hebrews 6:19).
Yesterday
we sat in on a safety meeting at Smucker Home
Improvement where we have served as chaplains for
nearly 10 years.
Yesterday
we sat in on a safety meeting at Smucker Home
Improvement where we have served as chaplains for
nearly 10 years.Brandon,
a project manager for the roofing division and the
safety director, shared a safety video about fall
protection and the various safety methods
available. One was a fall arrest system with a
harness, that is intended to protect the worker
from serious injury if he would fall.
(Brandon is wearing the harness to the left).
Essentially the fall arrest system
involves attaching a lanyard to a secure anchor
point mounted to the structure and then attaching
this lanyard to the harness. Last
night, Mike Gardner, a friend who is an instructor
at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, was
visiting us and pointed out that these anchor
points are designed to support 5,000 pounds.
That's a pretty significant safety factor! Both
the design and installation of these anchor points
are critical to the system working properly.
But
I was spiritually blessed
when the safety video highlighted how critically
important the anchor point is stating, "your
life depends on the anchor point".
When
I heard this I grabbed a piece of paper to write
that down, realizing this will preach (or in my
case serve as an illustration in a Daily
Encouragement!)
The
critical necessity of a secure anchor point is a
vitally important lesson, not only for
construction safety, but for life. Our life
indeed depends on the anchor point.
James
teaches us that in various ways we are all
going to stumble and fall. "For we all
often stumble and fall and offend in many
things". Who among us has not stumbled
and even fallen at various times in life?
Thank God for anchor points!
Today's
second text is one of my all-time favorite
Scripture verses, probably going all the way back
to my Bible school days in the 70's. I have often
used it with an illustration from the nautical
anchor which was likely the original
intent of the writer of
Hebrews. But yesterday's safety meeting prompts
another sense of anchor in the "anchor point"
being firmly attached to a solid structure."Anchor" translates the Greek word ankur (ἄγκυρ). So this is a case when the word sounds the same in English as it would have in the Greek. It is used several times to denote a literal anchor during Paul's shipwreck experience in Acts 27 but Hebrews 6:19 is the only place in Scripture that "anchor" is used figuratively. Yet the anchor theme is popular among devotional writers and songwriters probably because it's such an easily understood illustration and visual as well.
In the Greek secular world during the New Testament age anchors symbolized hope. In the text it is used as a vivid picture of that which supports and keeps one steadfast in the midst of waves of doubt or stormy trials. If you fear, if you doubt, place all your trust in Christ: the Anchor who holds the past, present and future. (Joseph Thayer)
Let us consider four blessings (though there are many more) concerning our hope with Christ as our anchor point:
1)
Our hope in Christ is a secure anchor point.
Many things on earth claim to be secure.
Politicians promise us security, financial gurus
claim to provide financial security, we strive
for job security, companies advertise products
for home security, and here in the US we have a
government program called Social Security and
the list of promises of security goes on and on.
But you know what? None of them are really
secure (as many testify of their experiences
that proved otherwise)! Only in Christ do we
have an anchor point for the hope of real,
lasting security. "We have this hope as an
anchor for the soul, firm and secure"
(Hebrews 6:19).
2) Our hope in Christ is a sufficient anchor point. When we write these messages it's heartening to share truths that are not limited to a specific region, race, language, economic status, education or the scores of other things that differentiate us. If you are reading this our hope in Christ is sufficient for all that concerns us. He is "The hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas" (Psalm 65:5).
3) Our hope in Christ is a fulfilling anchor point. Consider disappointments you've experienced. We've all had them. But be blessed by these two verses! "I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will not be disappointed" (Isaiah 49:23). "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us" (Romans 5:5). (Note: It's a challenge to find a satisfying antonym for "disappoint" but we chose "fulfill"!)
4) Our hope in Christ is a comforting anchor point. We've all experienced disappointments and many have experienced significant losses, including that of a loved one or perhaps the companionship of a spouse due to a break-up. Such a loss can often lead to deep grief and distress. Receive great comfort from this verse, "O Hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress" (Jeremiah 14:8). God's delight is to administer comfort to wounded souls. The Irish poet Thomas Moore wrote it this way in his hymn, "Come Ye Disconsolate", "Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal".
2) Our hope in Christ is a sufficient anchor point. When we write these messages it's heartening to share truths that are not limited to a specific region, race, language, economic status, education or the scores of other things that differentiate us. If you are reading this our hope in Christ is sufficient for all that concerns us. He is "The hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas" (Psalm 65:5).
3) Our hope in Christ is a fulfilling anchor point. Consider disappointments you've experienced. We've all had them. But be blessed by these two verses! "I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will not be disappointed" (Isaiah 49:23). "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us" (Romans 5:5). (Note: It's a challenge to find a satisfying antonym for "disappoint" but we chose "fulfill"!)
4) Our hope in Christ is a comforting anchor point. We've all experienced disappointments and many have experienced significant losses, including that of a loved one or perhaps the companionship of a spouse due to a break-up. Such a loss can often lead to deep grief and distress. Receive great comfort from this verse, "O Hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress" (Jeremiah 14:8). God's delight is to administer comfort to wounded souls. The Irish poet Thomas Moore wrote it this way in his hymn, "Come Ye Disconsolate", "Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal".
Is
your life firmly secured in the anchor point of
Christ? "Be very sure your anchor holds and grips
the solid rock!"
He
will hold me fast, He will hold me fast;
For my Saviour loves me so, He will hold me fast.
For my Saviour loves me so, He will hold me fast.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, there are experiences in our
life's journey that crush our spirit and wound our
souls. There are times when it seems there's no hope
for a situation we're called to endure, but we
believe You are the Healer and the Comforter who
gives us all-sufficient hope to believe even when
matters seem impossible. The Psalmist reassures us
with the consoling words, "He heals the
broken-hearted and they cry no more." You are a
secure anchor point that brings blessed hope and
great encouragement for the days ahead because this
anchor point is timeless, secure, sufficient,
fulfilling and comforting for anything we endure in
life's experience. Keep us steady as we hold to the
Anchor of our soul, who is Jesus, the solid Rock.
Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"He Will Hold Me Fast"
Video
Selah
"Do It Again" Video Michael W. Smith
"Tis So Sweet To Trust In
Jesus" Video Shane & Shane
"In Times Like These"
Video
Blue Rock Mennonite Youth
"Be very sure your anchor holds
and grips the solid rock!"
Yesterday we drove through some back
roads and crossed this old iron bridge over
the Conestoga River. The Conestoga Wagon was
named for this river since it was first made
near the headwaters.
In passing the Turkey Hill dairy
processing plant we easily spotted their
traveling cows.
The company uses these at various events
to promote their product. It's an
interesting sight when you see them on the
road!
Finally today:
Yesterday we stopped by to visit our
longtime friends Jesse and Anna Ruth on the Old
Windmill Farm. I never get tired of
seeing or taking windmill photos!
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a message to Stephen
& Brooksyne
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Weber".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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