The
online
Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Thursday,
December 30,
2021
Yesterday it was near 50 degrees so I (Stephen)
decided to ride my bike. I went 30 miles, most of it on
the river trail from Marietta to Falmouth, where I took
this photo of the Shocks Mills Bridge (railroad). It was
nice to see so many people out on the trail. (Editor's
note: Stephen wrote the caption using only "bike" so I
changed it to "ebike" for a clearer perspective on how
hard and fast he pedaled for 30 miles.
"Four Assurances For The New Year"
Message
summary: God has always
called His people to a life of faith where trusting Him is
foundational to our relationship with Him.
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
“See how
great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we
would be called children of God; and such we are. For
this reason the world does not know us, because it did
not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and
it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that
when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will
see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope
fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1
John 3:1-3).
As we face another year prognosticators make bold and often vague predictions concerning the new year. Predictions are made by the "experts" for the market, politics, sports, weather, you name it. But predictions are only correct some of the time, not all the time.
Each New Year we can focus on either God's assurance or man's uncertainty. God's assurance provides security for those who trust in Christ and realize He has everything under control. On the other hand there is much uncertainty in regard to the specifics. We just don’t know what may come our way this coming year. Yet our faith is strengthened and our worries are lessened when we make this acknowledgement:
John is to the New Testament what Malachi is to the Old. Although God surely continued to work among His people between Malachi’s death and the dawn of the New Testament age, there was no prophetic work written during this time period in Scriptures. Likewise, surely God has continued to work among His people these last nineteen hundred years since John wrote, but his inspirational writings are the final record in the Scriptures.
I find a particular portion of today’s passage very interesting. Notice the very candid admission by John in the middle of the verse: "It has not appeared as yet what we will be". God has revealed so much and ultimately all we need but there is still a vast amount of information that He has not yet revealed.
We are eager to know more and many have written books that seek to fill in the blanks, though they can do no more than speculate. John forthrightly tells us, as the final writer of the inspired Scripture, that "it has not appeared as yet what we will be".
God has always called His people to a life of faith where trusting Him is foundational to our relationship with Him. As we face the year ahead let’s rejoice in what we do know as found in the passage (1 John 3:1-3) in outline form. It’s expressed in four simple assurances:
What is our response? "Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." Let us rejoice and act in obedience to the truths that have been revealed to us. May we always trust our ever-loving, ever-dependable Father in regard to what has not yet been revealed!
As we face another year prognosticators make bold and often vague predictions concerning the new year. Predictions are made by the "experts" for the market, politics, sports, weather, you name it. But predictions are only correct some of the time, not all the time.
Each New Year we can focus on either God's assurance or man's uncertainty. God's assurance provides security for those who trust in Christ and realize He has everything under control. On the other hand there is much uncertainty in regard to the specifics. We just don’t know what may come our way this coming year. Yet our faith is strengthened and our worries are lessened when we make this acknowledgement:
Every joy
or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love.
We may trust Him fully all for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love.
We may trust Him fully all for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.
John is to the New Testament what Malachi is to the Old. Although God surely continued to work among His people between Malachi’s death and the dawn of the New Testament age, there was no prophetic work written during this time period in Scriptures. Likewise, surely God has continued to work among His people these last nineteen hundred years since John wrote, but his inspirational writings are the final record in the Scriptures.
I find a particular portion of today’s passage very interesting. Notice the very candid admission by John in the middle of the verse: "It has not appeared as yet what we will be". God has revealed so much and ultimately all we need but there is still a vast amount of information that He has not yet revealed.
We are eager to know more and many have written books that seek to fill in the blanks, though they can do no more than speculate. John forthrightly tells us, as the final writer of the inspired Scripture, that "it has not appeared as yet what we will be".
God has always called His people to a life of faith where trusting Him is foundational to our relationship with Him. As we face the year ahead let’s rejoice in what we do know as found in the passage (1 John 3:1-3) in outline form. It’s expressed in four simple assurances:
1) The
Father has bestowed on us His great love.
2) We are the children of God.
3) He shall appear.
4) We will be like Him.
2) We are the children of God.
3) He shall appear.
4) We will be like Him.
What is our response? "Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." Let us rejoice and act in obedience to the truths that have been revealed to us. May we always trust our ever-loving, ever-dependable Father in regard to what has not yet been revealed!
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, though
there is much yet to be revealed concerning Your
plan for our lives, we’ve been entrusted with a
lifetime of inspired Scripture that guides us each
day on our earthly journey. As we walk in unity with
You we find You to be the Navigator who directs our
paths according to Your Word and in accordance with
Your individual plan for our lives. In the midst of
tumult or uncertainty Your assurance is our anchor
that holds us steady and firm. In the midst of
change You are the changeless One. Thank You for
being that great certainty in our lives. Amen.
Our
kitten likes to get on my desk when I'm working,
including stepping on my keyboard which I hope never
changes something I type!
The
other day I was thanking another blogger for his
faithfulness in providing a daily teaching and
learned how just one letter can make a difference.
I had
intended to write: "Thanks for your faithfulness in
presenting
I caught this before sending: Thanks for your faithfulness in resenting God's Word!" God's Word!
I caught this before sending: Thanks for your faithfulness in resenting God's Word!" God's Word!
Special
Year-end
Financial Note
We
want to thank
all who have
financially
supported our
ministry this
past year (and
some for many
years!). We
realize there
are many fine
ministries and
causes
requesting
support at this
time but if you
would like to
make a donation
to our ministry
see here for
more
information. Like
many ministries,
we typically see
a spike in
giving at the
end of the year
for which we are
most thankful.
Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies from 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.
To
donate
directly online
click here.
This will open
to a page that
designates the
offering to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE WEBER - 700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED CHAPLAINCY
Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies from 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.
To
donate
directly online
click here.
This will open
to a page that
designates the
offering to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE WEBER - 700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED CHAPLAINCY
Please Note: If
you
desire you can donate directly through PayPal
using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber".
We keep this option available due to
the familiarity, convenience, international
supporters, and for those who may not need an
official receipt. You can also set up for
recurring donations. You also can use PayPal on this
link.
Stephen & Brooksyne
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
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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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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