A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Tuesday,
August 3,
2021
This colorful water tower is in Mount Jackson in rural northern Virginia along I-81. It would be neat to see how this was painted. When you get up close you can see it is vibrant shades of red apples.
"On
Every Side The Wicked Prowl"
Listen to this message on your audio player.
"On
every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted
among the children of man" (Psalm 12:8).
"On every side the wicked
prowl." You can hardly read or
watch the news without more evidence of the social decay
and rot that is permeating our lost land and world. The
anarchy, especially in our cities, is rampant. The wicked
prowling is becoming more and more brazen with what seems
a fully seared conscience among so many. One example is
the flagrant, shameless shoplifting in some major cities.
A
recent news report from San Francisco stated, "A flurry of
shoplifters in masks and hooded jackets sprinted from a
downtown Neiman Marcus last week and into getaway cars
with armfuls of designer handbags — a scene captured on
video and raising fears that rings of thieves were hitting
retail businesses."
Today’s Bible text is a stunning observation that is
evident all around us. In so many ways the vile is honored
among men. The vile is reckoned as good and is not merely
accepted but even honored. The Amplified Bible uses this
phrase, “Vileness is exalted [and baseness is rated
high] among the sons of men.”
The ancient statement of the prophet Isaiah is so appropriate: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).
"As vileness is exalted among the children of man." When vileness is exalted the wicked prowl. God’s commands are healthy restraints contributing to the good of family and society at large, but the nature of sin is to see these restraints as restricting our freedom and a killjoy to all sources of enjoyment. When these restraints are removed or ignored the wicked freely strut about. Other versions state, “The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.”
Years ago while studying the book of Revelation the study guide asked to “List five things I would never have expected to see in my lifetime". It didn’t take me but a moment to put on my list, “I never expected to see sinful behavior accepted without shame and often displayed as honorable such as sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, the redefinition of marriage, faddishness of gender dysphoria, celebrating abortion, glorifying violence (and the list goes on). Yes, they’ve always existed, but when I was young these were sins that were clearly seen as shameful and dishonorable even to unbelievers.
Today I want to again call my brothers and sisters to obedience to God’s commands, “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life” (1 Thessalonians 4:7).
The ancient statement of the prophet Isaiah is so appropriate: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).
"As vileness is exalted among the children of man." When vileness is exalted the wicked prowl. God’s commands are healthy restraints contributing to the good of family and society at large, but the nature of sin is to see these restraints as restricting our freedom and a killjoy to all sources of enjoyment. When these restraints are removed or ignored the wicked freely strut about. Other versions state, “The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.”
Years ago while studying the book of Revelation the study guide asked to “List five things I would never have expected to see in my lifetime". It didn’t take me but a moment to put on my list, “I never expected to see sinful behavior accepted without shame and often displayed as honorable such as sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, the redefinition of marriage, faddishness of gender dysphoria, celebrating abortion, glorifying violence (and the list goes on). Yes, they’ve always existed, but when I was young these were sins that were clearly seen as shameful and dishonorable even to unbelievers.
Today I want to again call my brothers and sisters to obedience to God’s commands, “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life” (1 Thessalonians 4:7).
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
I resist the lowering standards of this world
and its influence upon my thoughts, words and
actions. Instead I choose to uphold, practice
and teach the timeless and always relevant
truths revealed in Your Word to my family and
all whom I may influence or who seek my
counsel. I will trust You to work in the
hearts of those whom I seek to influence for
Your Kingdom and will do my part to live a
pure and holy life in this decadent age where
the wicked strut about in their disobedient
acts in rebellion to Your commands. The day of
judgment is coming and even now we see in part
Your judgment as we observe the disarray and
aimlessness of those caught up in shameful
behavior which greatly contributes to the
instability of our times. In the name of Jesus
we pray for Your merciful conviction to fall
upon our darkened world. Amen.
Daily
prayer: Father,
I resist the lowering standards of this world
and its influence upon my thoughts, words and
actions. Instead I choose to uphold, practice
and teach the timeless and always relevant
truths revealed in Your Word to my family and
all whom I may influence or who seek my
counsel. I will trust You to work in the
hearts of those whom I seek to influence for
Your Kingdom and will do my part to live a
pure and holy life in this decadent age where
the wicked strut about in their disobedient
acts in rebellion to Your commands. The day of
judgment is coming and even now we see in part
Your judgment as we observe the disarray and
aimlessness of those caught up in shameful
behavior which greatly contributes to the
instability of our times. In the name of Jesus
we pray for Your merciful conviction to fall
upon our darkened world. Amen.
Rural traffic in Lancaster County!
This is an old-order Mennonite
family with the young one in the pick-up bed.
A view from a neighborhood walk
along Carmany Road late yesterday afternoon.
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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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