A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Thursday,
December 9,
2021
Like many places a lot of people decorate for Christmas in San Diego. Since we associate Christmas with northeast winter it took a bit of getting used to seeing the decorations with the palm trees and mild weather! This home is along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard facing the ocean.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
"The Peril Of Boasting"
Message
summary: The daily Scripture
passage is a portion of God's Word that we need to
regularly keep before us. I memorized it as a young
Christian. Today let us just focus on one phrase, a
special peril, "the boasting of what he has and does".
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
"Do not
love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves
the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For
everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the
lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and
does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The
world and its desires pass away, but the man who does
the will of God lives forever" (1 John 2:15-17).
We live near enough to Philadelphia that we get a number of television stations in that market. Since it's on the border with New Jersey we also get commercials for New Jersey. Now some television ads are objectionable but we saw one that was particularly obnoxious, an ad for the gambling industry (the state sponsored lottery if I am not mistaken). It featured a show band gleefully singing the familiar holiday song, "We wish you a ...". If you were to complete the words "Merry Christmas" you would be wrong. No, in this commercial the words were changed to "a million dollars."
Now I realize most of us wouldn't consider this song as a sacred carol but the changing of the words is never-the-less one more of the many insults to the real reason for the season, particularly the greed-based wording and sponsorship by the gambling industry. It runs absolutely counter to the mission of our Lord's giving of Himself to save the world. The Christmas message for the believer should center much more on the giving than the receiving, for "it is more blessed to give than to receive".
The daily Scripture passage is a portion of God's Word that we need to regularly keep before us. I memorized it as a young Christian. Today let us just focus on one phrase, a special peril, "the boasting of what he has and does".
Consider just how much of our human nature is centered on boasting about what we have or what we do (whether an outward or inward boasting). Thus the appeal is there for the ad mentioned at the beginning of this message, "We wish you a million dollars". I recall a simple song that has a tremendous contrasting message titled, "I wish you Jesus" by Scott Wesley Brown.
According to one of my study references the Greek word translated "boasting" in this passage has the sense of "the braggadocio which exaggerates what it possesses in order to impress the people."* Wow, that's the exact intent of what boasting is really all about!
We live near enough to Philadelphia that we get a number of television stations in that market. Since it's on the border with New Jersey we also get commercials for New Jersey. Now some television ads are objectionable but we saw one that was particularly obnoxious, an ad for the gambling industry (the state sponsored lottery if I am not mistaken). It featured a show band gleefully singing the familiar holiday song, "We wish you a ...". If you were to complete the words "Merry Christmas" you would be wrong. No, in this commercial the words were changed to "a million dollars."
Now I realize most of us wouldn't consider this song as a sacred carol but the changing of the words is never-the-less one more of the many insults to the real reason for the season, particularly the greed-based wording and sponsorship by the gambling industry. It runs absolutely counter to the mission of our Lord's giving of Himself to save the world. The Christmas message for the believer should center much more on the giving than the receiving, for "it is more blessed to give than to receive".
The daily Scripture passage is a portion of God's Word that we need to regularly keep before us. I memorized it as a young Christian. Today let us just focus on one phrase, a special peril, "the boasting of what he has and does".
Consider just how much of our human nature is centered on boasting about what we have or what we do (whether an outward or inward boasting). Thus the appeal is there for the ad mentioned at the beginning of this message, "We wish you a million dollars". I recall a simple song that has a tremendous contrasting message titled, "I wish you Jesus" by Scott Wesley Brown.
According to one of my study references the Greek word translated "boasting" in this passage has the sense of "the braggadocio which exaggerates what it possesses in order to impress the people."* Wow, that's the exact intent of what boasting is really all about!
"What
he has" is the sense of personal value based upon
our income and possessions. So many fall into this trap.
Another song comes to mind, "My Worth Is Not In What I
Own".
"What
he does" is the sense of personal value based upon
the type of job we have, our social position, amount of
education, titles and so forth. People are ranked in
each of these categories and this can lead to a source
of pride and boasting.
"The
world and its desires pass away, but the man who does
the will of God lives forever." May we supremely
have a growing desire to do the will of God, knowing that
the eternal impact of doing so far surpasses any temporary
standing or perishable reward.
Centuries earlier the Lord spoke through the prophet Jeremiah, "This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 9:23,24).
Centuries earlier the Lord spoke through the prophet Jeremiah, "This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 9:23,24).
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, the love You offer stands in
great contrast to the love offered by the world. No
matter how many possessions I own or what title I
earn from this life, these can never bring eternal
joy or reconciliation with You. But a repentant
heart does bring about reconciliation and a desire
to do Your will brings great purpose for my life. As
the world is fading away, and everything with it, I
am storing up treasures that are not perishable,
kept in heaven for me for that is where my heart is
also. Amen.* Linguistic key to the Greek New Testament
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"I
Wish You Jesus" Video Scott Wesley
Brown It's nice to see these older
musicians, who were popular (and young) when
we were young, continue to express their faith
as they age!
Today
we will share a few more photos from our
visit to San Diego.
A
view of the cliffs along Sunset Cliffs
Boulevard.
Due
to the cliffs these
steps to the sea are necessary for the
surfers to have access. I walked down and it
was quite a trek back up!
Ester
took this photo of us enjoying the
fireplace with an ocean view. Falcon and
Rosie seemed to enjoying hanging around
with us, usually on our laps or the seat
beside us.
Ester
took this photo from her seat on the plane
after we took off. A couple of days earlier
I had rented a bike and rode on the walkway
beside the beach up to the distant pier.
SeaWorld is at the far right in the photo.
Resources
for Christmas Celebrations
(We
will leave these resources posted
below our daily messages through
Christmas)
Each
year we share several online
resources that we have used over the
years and that may be a blessing to
you, your family or church during
this Christmas season.
"In Remembrance of Me" pdf This is a passion-filled Scripture reading for two adults. Brooksyne and I have used this reading with great receptivity during Christmas Eve services over the years. We suggest, if possible, a musical background as the message is read. It is also a great lead-in to a Communion service. It should be thoroughly practiced and read with great feeling. Here's a great Communion Hymn for Christmas (Video)
"When Christ Was Born" pdf This is an adaptation to the tune of "How Great Thou Art". It's a great song to sing as a congregation since most are familiar with and love the tune.
Responsive Christmas Scripture readings for church or family:
John 1:1-18 pdf
"O Come Let Us Adore Him" pdf
My First Christmas In Heaven This is a blessed reminder for all who lost a loved one this year. We posted this when my Mom died in 2005.
"In Remembrance of Me" pdf This is a passion-filled Scripture reading for two adults. Brooksyne and I have used this reading with great receptivity during Christmas Eve services over the years. We suggest, if possible, a musical background as the message is read. It is also a great lead-in to a Communion service. It should be thoroughly practiced and read with great feeling. Here's a great Communion Hymn for Christmas (Video)
"When Christ Was Born" pdf This is an adaptation to the tune of "How Great Thou Art". It's a great song to sing as a congregation since most are familiar with and love the tune.
Responsive Christmas Scripture readings for church or family:
John 1:1-18 pdf
"O Come Let Us Adore Him" pdf
My First Christmas In Heaven This is a blessed reminder for all who lost a loved one this year. We posted this when my Mom died in 2005.
Finally
today:
Ester
was sad to leave California but also
excited to get back so she could serve
on the "security team" at a Steven
Curtis Chapman concert last night here
in Lancaster County!
"Going
Home For Christmas" Video
Steven Curtis Chapman
Send
a message to Stephen
& Brooksyne
To receive the
"Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday
through email see this
page to subscribe to our email list. You can also
subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or
through a Wordpress email subscription.
(See the email subscription on the right side
after opening this page)
Permissions:
Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and
distribute any material on Daily Encouragement
Net, in part or in whole, in any format,
provided that you do not alter the wording in
any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of
reproduction. It is our desire to spread this
material, not protect or restrict it. We do
request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription
information intact.
We want to thank all who financially
support our ministry. We
realize there are many fine ministries and
causes requesting support but if the Lord
would lead you we surely need and appreciate
the financial support from our readers and
listeners. Our
ministry labor is comprised of approximately
half our time to Daily Encouragement and the
other half to our chaplaincy ministry to
companies for which we receive compensation.
Each of these ministries essentially is the
same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for
each of us. Our goal for many years is that
each would provide half of our ministry
expenses and income.
If you would consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
To donate directly online here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: STEPHEN & BROOKSYNE WEBER SERVING IN SPECIALIZED CHAPLAINCY ID: 700001-237376
If you would consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
To donate directly online here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: STEPHEN & BROOKSYNE WEBER SERVING IN SPECIALIZED CHAPLAINCY ID: 700001-237376
Please Note:
PayPal apparently changed a policy and
is temporarily not working as far as
receiving donations to Daily
Encouragement. We will need to do
some troubleshooting as to why this no
longer works. In the mean time PayPal is
still an option when using this link.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."
© Copyright 2021 Stephen C. & Brooksyne
Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA