A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Wednesday,
September 15,
2021
Last night
the harvest crews partially harvested the corn from the
large field across from our house and this was our view
from our porch early this morning.
"Be
Steadfast!"
Listen to this message on your audio player.
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Yesterday I
visited with Josh at the Audrey's warehouse. He has worked
there since we started serving as their company chaplains
over 4 years ago. He is a diligent worker and an asset to
the company. I took the photo because I was not aware he is
a special Olympian, having won gold medals in swimming. Josh
also thoughtfully likes to give me ideas for Bible teachings
since I have opportunity to present a brief devotional once
a week for those who choose to attend morning prayers.
After our
chaplain visit we ate a late breakfast with my brother Pat
and his wife Laverne at the Cracker Barrel in Hamburg, PA.
It's sure good to be out with folks whether family or
friends. When we were catching up on family news Pat told us
a story about a company where their daughter works as an
accounting manager. They're having difficulty getting good
workers, like most businesses these days.
Recently a young lady started her new job at a
desk just outside his daughter's work station. The first day on the job someone gave the new
employee a tomato and throughout the morning my niece was
distracted as she positioned the tomato in various settings
and then snapped photo after photo
throughout the morning! Later she headed out to lunch and
called early in the afternoon to inform my niece she was not
coming back and was quitting her newly acquired job. That's
illustrative of what we hear in many places and read on the
news, a rather stunning demonstration of the lack of
personal responsibility and steadfastness. This so prevalent
in our society, over the last year particularly, and sadly
among so many of the younger generation. However, we see
many hardworking younger people as well!
Hearing that
story prompted me to consider the importance of being
steadfast. Today's verse is among my favorites. I memorized
it early on and have attempted to practice it all through
life. I want to finish well when my time comes, being
steadfast to the end!
Let's consider
just two words from today's text, "Be steadfast".
Steadfast is
defined as "resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering".
"Steadfast" is derived from an old English word meaning
"standing firm". Here are some synonyms for steadfast -
abiding, constant, dedicated, dependable, enduring,
established, faithful, firm, fixed, immovable, intent,
loyal, persevering, reliable, resolute, single-minded,
stable, stalwart, staunch, steady, unfaltering, unflinching,
unswerving, unwavering, wholehearted. The underlying Greek
word is found only two times in the NT (also in Colossians 1:23) and conveys "not
capable of being moved from its place".
Being
steadfast" is so greatly needed in every area of life. The
early church "continued
steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42).
What an example for all of us! The
Amplified version states, “And they steadfastly
persevered, devoting themselves constantly". The first
on the list of what they continued to steadfastly practice
was the “apostle’s doctrine”.
Paul wrote to
Timothy, “Watch your life and
doctrine closely” (1 Timothy 4:16). That's a good
exhortation to all of us as well. This means both how we
live "our life" and what we believe "our doctrine".
Are you being
steadfast?
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, we are warned to be on our
guard so that we are not carried away by the error
of unprincipled people and fall from our steadfast
position in Christ. Help us to be led by Your Spirit
and taught by the Scripture to conduct ourselves in
a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ which will
enable us to stand firm in one spirit, with one mind
striving together for the faith entrusted to us.
Through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.
Upon
our return home yesterday afternoon we saw the
field up the road being harvested so we knew the
field across from our house would be next.
Sure
enough, it was dark when the harvest team
began harvesting the corn field across the
road and I took this photo from our porch.
The
harvest resumed this morning just before posting
the message. Thank God for the hardworking
harvesters! I guess this truck driver wanted
some variety so he drove backwards.
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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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