The online Bible teaching
ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Monday,
January
10,
2022
Early
yesterday morning at sunrise for just a few minutes we had
a winter rainbow in front of our home!
"One
Thing I Do Know"
Message
summary: Today, above all may we all have an
experiential knowledge about the most important matter in
life: our heart’s condition with God and His only remedy
for that condition.
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
“One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25).
As
John Newton, who wrote Amazing Grace, aged his memory
began to fail him. This is dramatized in a poignant scene
from the movie "Amazing Grace" when Newton is shown in his
aged condition declaring, “Although my memory is fading I
remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner
and Christ is a great Savior.”His sight is
also fading when he quotes a line from his most famous
hymn, “I once was blind but now I see”. He then asks, “Did
I write that?” He was assured, “Yes, indeed, you wrote
those very words.” Newton responded, “Now at last it’s
true.”
What do you know today? Well, surely that varies among our readers. Some of you know a little about a lot of different subjects; others know a lot about only a few subjects. Experts abound, but in many cases "experts" spout entirely contrary positions. We see this often in the media, in the courtroom, in medicine, and even when it comes to matters of faith.
What do you know today? Well, surely that varies among our readers. Some of you know a little about a lot of different subjects; others know a lot about only a few subjects. Experts abound, but in many cases "experts" spout entirely contrary positions. We see this often in the media, in the courtroom, in medicine, and even when it comes to matters of faith.
Yesterday
our pastor shared about an experience in seminary when he
was faced with a faith crisis. Essentially he was troubled
that earnest Christians were not in agreement on a number
of secondary issues. In working through his faith crisis
he finally found peace when he realized there was
agreement on the main things and it's the main thing that
counts. So it's vitally important to understand the main
things!
Though there
may be variances among the Christian population regarding
particular matters of the faith there must be agreement
about the most important matter in life: our heart’s
condition with God and His only remedy for that
condition.
John 9
records the miraculous healing of a man blind from birth.
Although the account clearly deals with a literal physical
healing of blindness it is very instructive in regard to
spiritual healing of blindness as well.
Jesus had
wondrously healed and saved this man, who then became the
subject for various attacks from the Pharisees. After his
healing, instead of rejoicing, the religious leaders
(experts in the law) picked this man and his healing
apart! What’s the man's background? What was the cause of
his blindness? Did he know the background of the one who
healed him?
Well, the
formerly blind man knew the answers to some of these
questions but to others he hadn’t the faintest idea.
That's the way it is in life. Do you know everything?
His
response to the critical, negative religious leaders is so
powerful: “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I
see!” This is experiential knowledge. He knew the
physical condition of his life before the healing; he
was blind. And he certainly experienced his
radically changed condition afterwards; he could see!
His
response to the critical, negative religious leaders is so
powerful: “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I
see!” This is experiential knowledge. He knew the
physical condition of his life before the healing; he
was blind. And he certainly experienced his
radically changed condition afterwards; he could see!Attacks
against our faith in Christ abound just as they always
have. This is especially true today as we’re seeing more
and more attacks through the media, entertainment and
academia. Sadly our own government and public education
system here in America is increasingly part of the attack.
People of faith in Christ are often portrayed as ignorant
and out of touch. As the pace of decadence hastens,
sometimes referred to as the moral cliff, those who hold
to Biblical standards are portrayed as hateful,
mean-spirited and intolerant.
The attacks will also come as you live out your Christian experience. How vital to have a bedrock knowledge of the spiritual reality and assurance of our salvation. Much like a machine gun the devil barrages us with his bullets of fear, doubt, jealousy, strife and a host of other emotions seeking to diminish or fully abolish our hope and lead our soul astray.
The attacks will also come as you live out your Christian experience. How vital to have a bedrock knowledge of the spiritual reality and assurance of our salvation. Much like a machine gun the devil barrages us with his bullets of fear, doubt, jealousy, strife and a host of other emotions seeking to diminish or fully abolish our hope and lead our soul astray.
In response
to the enemy’s attacks let us declare along with the
healed blind man, “One thing I do know. I was blind
but now I see!”
If we, like
John Newton, remember nothing more at the end of our lives
than this spiritual truth: “I am a great sinner and
Christ is a great Saviour” we have remembered the
most important truth of our human existence. It loosens
our chains that held us captive to sin and is the key to
life evermore with our Great Savior where we will
experience His unending love, His amazing grace, and His
splendid provisions for all eternity.
Be
encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, I thank You for the
marvelous transaction that took place when You
delivered me from the domain of darkness and
transferred me into the kingdom of Your Son in whom
I have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. There is
no earthly transaction that will ever bring about
such a major change in my life or affect my future
such as Your mighty deliverance. I was lost in
darkness without hope but now, because of Your
glorious deliverance and transfer, I walk in endless
hope in the radiant light of Jesus. I once was blind
but now I see and have been found by Your love and
kept by Your grace. Praise be to Your name! Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Amazing
Grace" Video 50 Countries
Sing Amazing Grace ALL OVER the WORLD
Amazing
grace! How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see. (Newton)
My chains are gone, I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me.
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace. (Tomlin)
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see. (Newton)
My chains are gone, I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me.
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace. (Tomlin)
"Approach
My Soul, The Mercy Seat" Video Jamie Barnes
(Song written by John Newton) Lois
introduced this song to us with this comment,
"The lyrics feed my soul- another reminder for
me and why I can remain unshaken."
"He
Saw It All" Video The Booth
Brothers Songwriter Daryl C. Mosley
captures the miraculous setting of Jesus
healing the man blind from birth especially in
this line, "Ask the blind man, he saw it
all..."
Our
neighbor
Jeanette Rutt saw the same rainbow I did
yesterday morning but managed to get the
entire arch from her backyard.
Looks
like this female cardinal is getting her
fill of bird seed while the ground is
covered in snow. Photo taken by Lamar
Dourte.
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& Brooksyne
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