A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Friday,
August 13,
2021
This vase is filled with purple and white calla
lilies, sweet potato vine and hydrangea blooms. I like to
trim the sweet potato vines frequently and plop them in
water since they sprout within a week and provide new
plantings in various settings.
"A
Grace-filled Valediction"
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
“The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you”
(Romans 16:20).
Today we ask you what verbal expressions do you use when departing from another person? Or I could ask what is your typical valediction (the action of saying farewell)? Of course we often say “goodbye” but we have many other forms of ending our communication such as “See ya later” (or sometimes "see you later alligator"), “Take care” or the vacuous “Have a good one”. We may make it more inspirational with a parting phrase such as “God bless you” or simply “Blessings”. Many who know me personally are aware that I will often put forth a challenge in my farewell such as, “Stay faithful”.
How did Paul end his letters? He wrote thirteen books in the New Testament specifically identifying himself as the writer (sometimes with others). Many also consider him to be the author of the book of Hebrews though the author is not internally identified. Each of these books has a common closing expression at or near the end where Paul expresses a desire that his readers experience God's abundant grace. Check this out!
Forty-eight years ago in August 1973 we both began our Bible School education and we are so thankful for the teachers that helped to instill our love and respect for God’s Word. They stressed the plenary, inerrant inspiration of the Scriptures. The word “plenary” means “full; complete; entire; absolute; unqualified.” Our college education had a very heavy emphasis upon the Bible itself and I frankly grieve at the direction many former Bible Schools have gone with a lesser emphasis on the Holy Scriptures. In fact, our Bible College closed about ten years ago which grieves our hearts when we reflect upon the wonderful life-changing influence it made in our lives.
Today we ask you what verbal expressions do you use when departing from another person? Or I could ask what is your typical valediction (the action of saying farewell)? Of course we often say “goodbye” but we have many other forms of ending our communication such as “See ya later” (or sometimes "see you later alligator"), “Take care” or the vacuous “Have a good one”. We may make it more inspirational with a parting phrase such as “God bless you” or simply “Blessings”. Many who know me personally are aware that I will often put forth a challenge in my farewell such as, “Stay faithful”.
How did Paul end his letters? He wrote thirteen books in the New Testament specifically identifying himself as the writer (sometimes with others). Many also consider him to be the author of the book of Hebrews though the author is not internally identified. Each of these books has a common closing expression at or near the end where Paul expresses a desire that his readers experience God's abundant grace. Check this out!
Forty-eight years ago in August 1973 we both began our Bible School education and we are so thankful for the teachers that helped to instill our love and respect for God’s Word. They stressed the plenary, inerrant inspiration of the Scriptures. The word “plenary” means “full; complete; entire; absolute; unqualified.” Our college education had a very heavy emphasis upon the Bible itself and I frankly grieve at the direction many former Bible Schools have gone with a lesser emphasis on the Holy Scriptures. In fact, our Bible College closed about ten years ago which grieves our hearts when we reflect upon the wonderful life-changing influence it made in our lives.
The daily text is in Romans, the first of
Paul's letters in the New Testament. He concluded with
the brief "Grace to you" valediction used in various
forms at the conclusion of each of his epistles. “The
grace of our Lord Jesus be with you”.
Let us never grow weary of a consideration of
God's grace! We pass Paul's valediction on to each
reader and urge you to keep passing it along to others.
Indeed, grace be with you. And that grace is altogether
sufficient for every one of us and for every situation
we face today or that which we will deal with tomorrow!
So today we use Paul's valediction and express
it using a common definition of grace as we include
various adjectives used in hymns and songs through the
years.
Today may you be fully and continually
cognizant of the amazing, wonderful, transforming,
infinite, marvelous, matchless, all-sufficient,
unmerited and undeserved favor of God!
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, it is by grace that we are
saved, not of works lest we boast of the power
we have to save ourselves. Instead we boast only
in the privilege of knowing Jesus in the power
of His resurrection. You exercise
lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in
the earth and Your grace knows no bounds. We are
grateful recipients of Your boundless grace and
merciful kindness. May it spur us on to exercise
mercy and grace to those around us. In the
gracious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Daily
prayer: Father, it is by grace that we are
saved, not of works lest we boast of the power
we have to save ourselves. Instead we boast only
in the privilege of knowing Jesus in the power
of His resurrection. You exercise
lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in
the earth and Your grace knows no bounds. We are
grateful recipients of Your boundless grace and
merciful kindness. May it spur us on to exercise
mercy and grace to those around us. In the
gracious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.I
still recall a lesson from an enthusiastic
professor sharing that in the Greek language
(which the New Testament was originally written
in) there are two distinct words for the English
word “you”. Singular (su) and plural (humon).*
As I recall this lesson came during a study of
the Pastoral Epistles (I & II Timothy and
Titus).
The professor was emphasizing that although these letters were initially written very personally to these two individuals the use of the second person plural pronoun in the valediction indicated that the Apostle Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) used the plural pronoun to indicate that he actually had a wider readership in mind than merely Timothy or Titus. Indeed we are included in Paul's plural "you" as we read his valediction this morning nearly 2000 years after it were written!
The professor was emphasizing that although these letters were initially written very personally to these two individuals the use of the second person plural pronoun in the valediction indicated that the Apostle Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) used the plural pronoun to indicate that he actually had a wider readership in mind than merely Timothy or Titus. Indeed we are included in Paul's plural "you" as we read his valediction this morning nearly 2000 years after it were written!
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Grace Alone" Video Maranatha! Praise Band
"All I Have Is Christ" Video Sovereign Grace Music
"Grace Alone" Video Maranatha! Praise Band
Grace alone
which God supplies,
Strength unknown He will provide;
Christ in us, our Cornerstone,
We will go forth in grace alone.
Strength unknown He will provide;
Christ in us, our Cornerstone,
We will go forth in grace alone.
"Wonderful
Grace of Jesus" Video Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
"Grace
Greater Than All Our Sin" Video Sovereign
Grace Music
"The
Gospel Song" Video Sovereign
Grace Music
"All I Have Is Christ" Video Sovereign Grace Music
"His
Mercy Is More" Video The
Acappella Company
Today
we share some photos of flowers around our
place taken this morning. We've had very,
very hot weather (105 degree heat index) but
have been getting rain.
I caught Brooksyne gathering a
bouquet of zinnias this morning. She
thought they would grow to be about 3' but
most are 4' or higher causing them to fall
over during these daily storms we are
experiencing amidst all the heat and
humidity.
This is a photo Brooksyne
asked me to take since she has been
excited about this plant all summer. She
explains: These are two Tithonia
plants (Mexican Sunflower Torch) which
are just starting to blossom since I
planted these in late June. I picked up
a package of seeds for $1.00 since they
were cheap and I was curious as to what
this plant looked like. Turns out to be
my favorite plant over the summer having
reached nearly 10' thought the package
indicated it will reach 5' in height.
The best thing is that it thrives in
drier soil so I don't need daily
waterings with this vivacious plant.
We'll have to photograph again in a
month and see if it gets even taller!
These morning glories grow year
after year on our fence. It's like they've
decided to become an annual member of the
Weber flower brigade. Truth be told they
are quite invasive and like to entwine
themselves among some of my other summer
beauties. But that's OK since they're a
member of our ornamental family by now and
I don't have to plant or water them!
On the other side of this Black
Eyed Susan vine is our mailbox. We keep
the front side cleared for our mailman, of
course. As you can see our morning glory
continues to show up here amidst the Black
Eyed Susans but this year I wanted the new
vine to be more prominent so, as you can
see in the photo, I got my way this year!
Another flower setting in our
back yard. Hydrangeas are among my
favorite flowers and Stephen really likes
the colorful coleus as seen in the middle.
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& 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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