A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Tuesday,
June 15,
2021
Doris High posted this photo of a
Rose-breasted grosbeak and makes this interesting
observation: Grosbeaks are famous for their melodic song
and during the mating season males may sing up to 689
songs in a day while advertising their breeding
territories.
"A
Trustworthy Saying"
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
“Here
is a trustworthy saying that deserves full
acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).
Ester (pronounced E-stair’, or as she likes to say, “Like Fred Astaire), celebrated her 32nd “American birthday" yesterday. On June 14, 1989 she first arrived in America from Guatemala. She still loves to celebrate even at thirty-two years of age. Perhaps it’s because she’s crossed so many arduous health milestones during her life, much more than Brooksyne’s and mine combined, especially the severity of her health matters. Arriving
from Guatemala as a 5½# very sick baby girl at 3
months of age, she was rapidly dying of a congenital
heart problem. In fact the flight attendant who
escorted her to the US was concerned that she would
even make it through the flight since the doctors in
Guatemala had their doubts as well. Within three days
of her arrival she was admitted to Geisinger Medical
Center, a major hospital 3½ hours from our home in St.
Marys, PA, where she underwent two open heart
surgeries followed by numerous complications which
contributed to her remaining in the hospital for three
very long months.
In addition to her March 9th birthday and June 14th “American” birthday she likes to celebrate her adoption day and her American citizenship day. I don’t know if it’s because she’s an only child but she feels we need to make a fuss over her on all these days no matter her age. We recall a somewhat humorous teaching moment that happened on her "American" birthday when she was ten. I asked her to pray at the dinner table and she prayed, “Thank you, God, that I’m alive and that I came to this earth”. Well I was also thankful that Ester was alive, and that she came to this earth. I’m just not sure she understood at the time that both Guatemala and America are on the same earth! I chuckled after her prayer and commented, "I’m sure glad you didn’t arrive in Jupiter". On a far more serious note we consider another One who came to this earth, over 2000 years ago. Clothed in flesh Jesus would now reveal the loving heart and holy character of His Father who is not willing that any should perish, so He provided a way to be saved. “Here
is a trustworthy saying”, the
apostle Paul wrote initially to Timothy, that remains
a trustworthy saying
deserving full acceptance
and is true today and every day. This phrase
"trustworthy saying" is used 5 times in the Pastoral
epistles. Of course the entire Bible is trustworthy
but this is likely a creedal
phrase of the early church.
"That deserves full acceptance" Indeed it does! “Christ
Jesus came into the world”. In the
incarnation Christ Jesus came to this earth. He said
of Himself, “I am the living bread that came down
from heaven” and “I came from the Father and
entered the world”. Jesus clearly knew His
mission, “for this cause came I into the world,
that I should bear witness unto the truth”.
"To
save sinners" In a key verse recorded by
Mark we read, "For even the Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to serve, and to give his
life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). And in
Luke, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save
the lost” (19:10). "But God demonstrates His
own love for us in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
I’m
forever grateful and desire to express my gratitude
today by living for the One who came to earth to save
me! Can you say “Amen” if that’s your heartfelt
response to Christ descending to earth on your behalf
as well!
You did
not wait for me to draw near to You
But You clothed Yourself with frail humanity. You did not wait for me to cry out to You But You let me hear Your voice calling me. And I’m forever grateful, to You I’m forever grateful, for the cross I’m forever grateful, to You That You came to seek and save the lost. Be
encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Today we appeal to all reading this. Have you believed in Jesus Christ and accepted His generous provision for your salvation?
Daily
prayer: Father, we are eternally grateful
that You sent Jesus to earth to seek and to save
those lost in their transgressions and sins. You
received people like Nicodemus, a man of
authority, who secretly came to Jesus in the
night where he sought answers to life’s most
important questions. You sought out people, like
the Samaritan woman, despised by the Jews and an
outcast among her own as she lived a promiscuous
life. Their stories represent various ethnic,
economic, and lifestyle choices but the one
common thing they shared is true of all
humankind. They both had a sin problem that
could be cured only by Jesus, the One who wants
to heal our soul’s diseases. Thank You for
Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, who came down
from heaven, into the world, bearing witness
unto the truth that we are indeed sinners in
need of forgiveness. Thank You for providing the
answer through Jesus. Amen.
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Forever Grateful" Video Integrity's Hosanna! Music "I Got Saved" Video Selah
"Sinner Saved By Grace"
Video
Gaither Vocal Band
"Such Love" Video Just a
group of people singing! Considered
this song for the line, "That God should
love a sinner such as I". I suppose there
are others that will recall singing this
song.
"A Trustworthy Saying" -
Yesterday we shared about the lobster
diver who claims he was taken in by a
whale. Now it seems some question the
story. I still think it may very well be
true but do understand the incentive on
social media to exaggerate and even make
stuff up to get fame and attention.
Although there has been lying ever since
creation it sure seems lying has increased
a lot in the internet age. Thank God for
the truth and reliability of the
trustworthy sayings of the Bible and for
the entire Bible and that's the reliable
message we seek to proclaim in our daily
encouragement ministry!
Finally
today:
We received word that Connie went home to be with the Lord this week. In this photo she is getting her Pastor's hug from our friend, John Keefer, at the end of a service. Connie who lived to be 60 years old was loved and valued most especially by her mom and dad, but also other family members, friends and the family of God.
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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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