A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Monday,
May
24,
2021
Early Sunday
morning I (Stephen) took a solo ride on the Northwest
Lancaster Rail Trail along the Susquehanna River between
Marietta and Bainbridge. Being a train enthusiast I have
wanted a photo of a train crossing this bridge (Shocks
Mill Railroad Bridge) over the river. I was about 2 miles
away when I heard a train on the other side of the river
and rushed down for the photo but alas, I only caught the
end of the train! Maybe next time.
Click on photo for larger view "Is
Jesus Worth It?"
Listen to this message on your audio player. "But
whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of
Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of
the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus
my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all
things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may
gain Christ" (Philippians 3:7,8).
On the way
to church yesterday we were able to listen to the latter
part of a sermon from another local church, Westminster
Presbyterian, just up the road from the church we
attend. The pastor shared an expression concerning
suffering for Christ that intrigued both of us. Speaking
on facing persecution he shared an illustration about a
missionary who posed the question, "Is Jesus worth
it?"
Only a few minutes later we were
seated in our pew at Calvary Church witnessing a mission
commissioning service for Lance and Jessica Kanagy, a
young couple going into missions work in Papau
Indonesia*. They both grew up as
missionary kids and Jessica is a fourth generation
missionary. Lance will be
serving as a pilot with Missionary Aviation Fellowship
and they will both assist with Bible translation as
well. The pastor spoke realism in his prayer for them
especially in this phrase: "We know that as sent ones
they will experience joys and sorrows, triumphs and
disappointments, blessings and sufferings."
It
occurred to us, now looking back on many years of
ministry and our relatively minor sufferings for Christ,
how appropriate this prayer was. May they and all of us
be firmly convinced that regardless of what we face, Jesus
is worth it!
In a
context reflecting upon his sufferings for Christ and
the Gospel Paul wrote of "the surpassing worth
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord". Surpassing means
outstanding, exceptional, rare, phenomenal, stellar,
transcendent, unrivaled, incomparable, matchless, and
the list of synonyms will go on and on forever in
eternity! Hallelujah!
The
Precept Austin Online commentary observes,
Knowing
Christ is of incomparable worth--of more value than
anything! The unfathomable riches of Christ (Ephesians
3:8) surpass the value of anything and everything. If
you are struggling with angst and anxiety and worry over
your earthly possessions (that are possessing you!),
memorize Paul's great words in Philippians 3:7-10. Ask
the Spirit of Christ to saturate and renew your mind
with these profound truths regarding our greatest
Possession, our priceless, incomparable Lord Jesus
Christ. As you rest in this truth the Spirit will make
the things of this earth grow strangely dim in the light
of His glory and grace. Amen.
Turn your
eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth Will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace. Today, and
for the remainder of our life on this earth, regardless
of what we providentially face, may we have an assurance
of and boldness to declare, Jesus is worth it!
Be
encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
what great assurance fills our hearts when we
consider that nothing can separate us from Your
love; no tribulation, distress, persecution,
peril, or sword can take away the redemptive and
sacrificial love that was delivered to us when
You gave Your own Son to die for us. Even if the
enemy seeks to conquer us by forcing us to
forsake You we will overwhelmingly conquer him
because we give our all to Jesus, even if it
means laying down our life as millions and
millions have done over the centuries because Jesus
is worth it! Amen.
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
*
Normally you read about Papau New Guinea which shares the same island as Papua
Indonesia. (See here on Google map) For those who
may be interested here's the commissioning
service (video cued to that part of
the service). We were impressed with the photos
of Jessica's parents, grandparents and
great-grandparents as they also served the Lord
in missionary service.
"My
Worth Is Not In What I Own" Video Shane & Shane
"Turn
Your Eyes Upon Jesus" Video Shane and
Shane
"Worth"
Video
Jason Crabb
"All
for Jesus" Video Michael
Lining Brooksyne's note: This was
written by Mary D. James. This hymn came to mind
as we considered our message theme today, "Is
Jesus worth it?" (It's also one of my favorite
hymns going back to the beginning of my learning
to play piano for our congregation.) Mary wrote
"All For Jesus" as a New Year's resolution while
writing a New Year's letter for 1871. She
rejoiced in the effectiveness of her work for
Jesus the previous year: "I have written more,
talked more, prayed more, and thought more for
Jesus than in any previous year, and have had
more peace of mind."
One writer describes Mary this way: "In the Sunday school, the prayer meeting, and in private conversation, Salvation dwelt upon her tongue; none could pronounce the word more sweetly''. In requesting her friend to preach at her funeral Mary said: "Please don't exalt me, but exalt Christ. I am of no account; let Christ be all in all." What a wonderful example to all who follow Christ! Late Saturday afternoon these sheep
were feeding in green pasture near Chickies
Creek along the Junction Rail Trail.
Click on photo for larger view It was over 90 yesterday afternoon and
the same sheep were laying in the green pasture
near Chickies Creek along the Junction Rail
Trail.
Click on photo for larger view Yesterday afternoon Chickies Creek
looked appealing on a hot summer-like day!
Click on photo for larger view Finally
today:
Last
Friday we shared a photo of the newly
hatched robin chicks in a nest over a porch
light that included two unhatched eggs. This
morning I observed all four chicks have
hatched. We are wondering if the mother
robin may be having trouble finding worms to
feed them due to how dry it is. Worms seem
pretty gross to us. Do you suppose they
would enjoy gummy worms better?
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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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