A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Wednesday,
October
13,
2021
Rejoicing at the home team's win!
"In
This We Greatly Rejoice"
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials" (1 Peter 1:3-6).
It's a great experience when your team wins. We experienced that on Monday night in Boston. Of course we also saw the look of defeat on the opposing team as they walked off the field. That's the way it is in sports and in many other experiences in life. We all have experienced both the joy of victory and agony of defeat. In life we will have joy and we will have sorrow.
Like many, we are subject to being anxious about the state of our country and world, let alone the specific challenges within our own life and family. We are in for a period of increasing unrest and strife as rebellion against God intensifies. We have our hopes in regard to the temporal future but these hopes are certainly not assured. We pray for a Spirit-filled revival that will provide the only hope for a Christ-centered culture based upon biblical conviction and lifestyle. But whether we live in a peaceful or hostile setting we must fix our hope on the Lord.
We and the majority of our readers live out our lives here in American in relative peace and prosperity, including many of our international readers as well. Of course there are also millions living in persecution throughout the world presently and since the time of Christ's coming to earth. A consideration of the persecuted church reminds us of this (or at least it should).
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials" (1 Peter 1:3-6).
It's a great experience when your team wins. We experienced that on Monday night in Boston. Of course we also saw the look of defeat on the opposing team as they walked off the field. That's the way it is in sports and in many other experiences in life. We all have experienced both the joy of victory and agony of defeat. In life we will have joy and we will have sorrow.
Like many, we are subject to being anxious about the state of our country and world, let alone the specific challenges within our own life and family. We are in for a period of increasing unrest and strife as rebellion against God intensifies. We have our hopes in regard to the temporal future but these hopes are certainly not assured. We pray for a Spirit-filled revival that will provide the only hope for a Christ-centered culture based upon biblical conviction and lifestyle. But whether we live in a peaceful or hostile setting we must fix our hope on the Lord.
We and the majority of our readers live out our lives here in American in relative peace and prosperity, including many of our international readers as well. Of course there are also millions living in persecution throughout the world presently and since the time of Christ's coming to earth. A consideration of the persecuted church reminds us of this (or at least it should).
Arriving in
our mail today was Voice of the Martyrs 2022 Calendar that
features individuals and families who have suffered greatly
for Christ. Each calendar day includes a country or region
undergoing persecution in which we can pray. (For example on
April 1, 2022 KUWAIT, "Pray that persecuted believers who
fled the country will be able to visit their families".) Far
too many have a sense of entitlement that living a life of
prosperity and freedom is our fundamental right but you
won't find this promise in the Bible. Jesus said, "In
the world you will have tribulation".
In today's passage Peter, who himself had suffered persecution, is writing to "God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia" (1 Peter 1:1) which are in modern day Turkey. They were "suffering grief in all kinds of trials". We tend to use the word "trial" rather loosely, sometimes even flippantly, such as an appliance breaking down or losing our electricity for a few hours. But trials (testings) include life's really hard times such as a physical affliction, financial devastation or loss of a close loved one. Certainly this would include persecution on many levels and it is clearly a testing of our faith.
In today's passage Peter, who himself had suffered persecution, is writing to "God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia" (1 Peter 1:1) which are in modern day Turkey. They were "suffering grief in all kinds of trials". We tend to use the word "trial" rather loosely, sometimes even flippantly, such as an appliance breaking down or losing our electricity for a few hours. But trials (testings) include life's really hard times such as a physical affliction, financial devastation or loss of a close loved one. Certainly this would include persecution on many levels and it is clearly a testing of our faith.
We devote this
message to several of our readers who live in an ongoing
state of persecution. We sense such depth of spirituality in
their lives, whether it's reading about them in Christian
articles or hearing from some of them via
Dailyencouragement.net. They don't shrink back in fear of
being called out and "dealt with" as a follower of Christ.
In today's text "trials" most certainly include persecution.
Today, whatever is troubling you, consider the words of our daily text over and over if needed. Plant them deep in your heart and rejoice greatly because we serve a resurrected Savior who has given us an inheritance in heaven that can never perish, spoil or fade. In the end, no matter the in-between, WE WIN not just for a season but for all eternity!
Today, whatever is troubling you, consider the words of our daily text over and over if needed. Plant them deep in your heart and rejoice greatly because we serve a resurrected Savior who has given us an inheritance in heaven that can never perish, spoil or fade. In the end, no matter the in-between, WE WIN not just for a season but for all eternity!
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, we
rejoice in the marvelous fact that we serve a risen
Savior who defeated death and the grave. And we also
rejoice that we walk in His resurrected power giving
us victory over the devil and his kingdom. We can
rest assured that we have a glorious eternal
inheritance in heaven that can never perish, spoil
or fade. But for now we live on this side of heaven
and are subject to those in authority, some who are
led by godly principles and others whose agenda does
not honor You nor does it serve our country well.
Give us wisdom, insight, and courage to do that
which most honors You and provides a settled peace
within our hearts, no matter the unrest or troubles
that may affect us. We can do all things through
Christ who gives us strength. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
These photos were taken during the
spring of our freshman year at CBC with my
three best college friends I hung out with. We
shortened our ties and parted our hair down the
middle for fun. Brooksyne took the photo on the
left where I am on the far left in the very loud
plaid
slacks (I considered them to be very cool at the
time). Bob is leaning back on the tree. I took
the photo on the right probably so I could get
Brooksyne in it, whom I had just started dating
in January!
"The
Church Triumphant" Video Gaither Vocal
Band
"Victory
In Jesus" Video Jimmy Fortune,
Bill Gaither (dedicated to Tina Kester)
Note:
In Monday's message an alert reader pointed out
that we mistakenly had Lisa Hosler's last name
as Hostetter. Both are common Lancaster County
names!
Entering
Fenway Park Monday Evening amidst all the
excitement.
Fenway
Park is famous for obstructed seating and
thus we managed to get seats with a pole
blocking home plate! It didn't really matter
since most of the time we stood and the seat
was very tiny anyway. In fact I wonder how
long since they even changed the seats or if
they're the original seats.
The
pregame included a moving recognition of
survivors living with artificial limbs after the
2013 Boston Marathon bombing. As they walked in
from center field there was such an air of
respect and admiration for these overcomers.
There were many blue and yellow jackets
throughout the stadium worn by participants of
the Boston marathon which was also run earlier
in the day.
The
area around Fenway Park had been revitalized
since we lived in that area in the 90's with
many new buildings. Due to its age and being
right in the heart of the city contribute to
it being a very special ballpark. Just don't
figure on parking near the park unless you
expect to spend really big bucks! Most take
the train to the ballpark since Boston has an
excellent public transportation system.
We
finally got on a very packed T train at 11:30
with a very raucous crowd. The man in the blue
and yellow jacket had run in the marathon.
Finally
today:
On
the way home we stopped by to visit Bob Grant, a
college friend west of Hartford, CT. Pleased to
see him doing well and soon moving to South
Carolina following his retirement.
Finally today #2:
Our
friend
Fran Book went to be with the Lord this past
Sunday.
Ester often called Fran "Grandma" at her
request because she was a very dear older
friend to Ester and to all of us.
The photo above shows Mark Lowry (one of the
musicians seen in the Church Triumphant
song) along with Brooksyne and Fran at a
concert seven years ago at the American
Music Theater. A funny memory from the
concert: She was unable to arrive at
starting time and joined Brooksyne shortly
after the concert began. As she walked down
the aisle Mark Lowry looked straight at her
in front of the entire audience and shouted,
"YOU'RE LATE!" Brooksyne feared that
Fran could have been very embarrassed but it
turned out to be one of the funnier memories
she took away from that concert. It's good
to have a sense of humor, otherwise you
probably wouldn't attend a Mark Lowry
concert in the first place!
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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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