A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Monday,
October
4,
2021
Operation Babylift
"My
Rescue Story"
Listen to this message on your audio player.
"Grace and
peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from
the present evil age, according to the will of our God and
Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen"
(Galatians 1:3-5).
Yesterday
following our church service I visited with Susanna who has
an interesting rescue story. 46 years ago as an infant she
was a part of a mission that brought plane loads of orphaned
infants out of Vietnam. Operation Babylift was the name
given to the mass evacuation of children from South Vietnam
to the United States and other countries
at the end of the Vietnam War, on April 3–26, 1975.*
Susanna was adopted by a
loving Christian family here in Lancaster County and taught
about the ways of the Lord. Her love for the Lord is seen in
her joyful countenance! In recent weeks she has been sitting
on the front row where she exuberantly sings praises to God.She's very
inquisitive and yesterday when she looked at my suspenders
Susanna she asked, "Are you wearing seatbelts?" Now that's a
pretty interesting observation and I can understand how she
could see the resemblance. Additionally, Susanna doesn't
hesitate to let others know of her mild disability that
affects her sense of understanding about certain matters.
Admittedly, very few men wear suspenders in public (except
the Amish men and boys) and her logic in viewing them as
seatbelts was a very good one.
Susanna has a
very distinct rescue story. Only God knows, but she may have
been one of those babies seen in our lead photo today.
But we all
have a rescue story, whether it is that of a physical rescue
or that of a spiritual rescue. It's a story expressed well
in a Zach Williams song, "Rescue Story".
You are my
rescue story
Lifted me up from the ashes
Carried my soul from death to life
Bringing me from glory to glory
You are my rescue story
Lifted me up from the ashes
Carried my soul from death to life
Bringing me from glory to glory
You are my rescue story
These words in
our daily text describe our great Savior's grand gospel
rescue, "who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from
the present evil age".
"Who
gave Himself for our sins"
J. Vernon
McGee writes,
"Jesus Christ 'gave Himself for our sins'. There is nothing
that we can add to the value of His sacrifice. Nothing! He
gave Himself. What do you have to give, friend? Anything?
Can you add anything to His sacrifice? He gave Himself. How
wonderful and glorious that is! I am speechless when I read
a verse like this. He gave Himself! He couldn’t give any
more."
The
outstanding song, "Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me",
which we concluded our service with yesterday has this line.
What gift of
grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
There is no more for heaven now to give
"To rescue
us from the present evil age". Much of the New
Testament is an emphasis on the significance of the cross
and resurrection in our grand rescue, and how a rescued
people can live as those who will one day inherit and
inhabit a rescued creation. J.B. Lightfoot writes that
"rescue, strikes the keynote of the epistle. The Gospel is a
rescue, an emancipation from a state of bondage".
Have you been
rescued? Call on Jesus today is our plea and He will rescue
you from this present evil age!
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, there is no greater gift of
grace that You can give us than Your only begotten
Son who paid the penalty for our sin, who rescued us
from this evil age. What a glorious rescue unlike
any other. I am reminded of the words of the apostle
Paul, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ,
we are of all men most miserable". But our hope is
not only for the life we live here and now but for
life eternal. Because we are made alive in Christ
and our last enemy, death, will be destroyed we have
a glorious eternal future because of Your amazing
grace. Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Rescue
Story" Video Zach Williams
"Rescue
The Perishing" Video Billy Foote
and Cindy Foote
"Rescuer"
Video
Rend Collective
"Jesus
I Come" Video Scott
Wesley Brown
"Yet
Not I But Through Christ In Me" Video
CityAlight I was so
moved yesterday as we concluded our service with
this song and its thoughtful, theologically rich
lyrics.
What
gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
To
this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh how strange and divine, I can sing, "All is mine"
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh how strange and divine, I can sing, "All is mine"
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
The
night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Saviour He will stay
I labour on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need, His power is displayed
For by my side, the Saviour He will stay
I labour on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need, His power is displayed
To
this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley He will lead
Oh the night has been won, and I shall overcome
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Through the deepest valley He will lead
Oh the night has been won, and I shall overcome
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
No
fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future sure, the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave
The future sure, the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave
To
this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released, I can sing, "I am free"
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released, I can sing, "I am free"
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
With
every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
To
this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
To
this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Video
of this song from yesterday's worship
service at Calvary Church
In
regard to "the
present evil age" this sign expresses
a truth we must remember! Throughout
our area many residents erect these biblical
signs, providing a thought-provoking witness
to passersby. Our friend Nick Nichols took
this photo near Ephrata, PA which is rather
fitting since his wife, Conny, went to be with
Jesus in early September. At Nick's request
Brooksyne sang the classic hymn by the same
title, "This World is Not My Home" at Conny's
funeral service.
Finally
today:
Brooksyne's
note: Cheerful flowers to brighten our
home have been a blessing since I'm spending
lots more time at home than usual. One week ago
I underwent surgery and I'm thrilled that today
I gave myself the last prescribed shot of
lovenox. Now that I've reached that senior age
where blood clots can form after surgery blood
thinner is prescribed, but this time for only
one week which is far better than last November
which was six weeks! God bless and enable those
of you who give yourselves daily shots due to
health matters, as I consider you to be very
brave and strong. For many years, my mother gave
herself four shots a day due to her diabetes
before her death in 2002 and we have a dear
friend, also a reader, that does this everyday
as well. Perhaps you are among those who give
yourself a shot(s) daily, but there's a day
coming, since this world is not our home, when
we will enter a place where medicine, crutches,
injections, hospitals and all that is needed to
nurse injuries or disease will not be present,
nor will there be funeral homes, cemeteries or
any risk of death and I can hardly wait! But
we're on this side right now and I am pleased to
report that I continue to make progress and am
thankful for your prayers and thoughtful notes.
Send
a message to Stephen
& 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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