Daily Encouragement

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Tuesday, June 7, 2022

A portion of the Appalachian Trail in Berks County, PA

"The Tyranny Of The New" (Part 2)

Standing At The Crossroads

Message summary: The Lord called the kingdom of Judah and He calls us to “Stand at the crossroads and look".

Listen to this message on your audio player.

This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it'" (Jeremiah 6:16).

Yesterday’s message dealt with the obsession our society has with the "new" specifically in regard to material things. I tend not to be an "early adopter"; that is, embracing the new as soon as it comes out. I figure someone else can do the beta testing.

However if you visit our home you’ll see that we have many modern conveniences such as indoor plumbing and electricity, something relatively "new" in human history, along with a lot of other new stuff unique to our generation.

We expect to use our daily text for several messages. As I studied and considered the verse phrase by phrase it was just getting too long for a typical Daily Encouragement message.

Today let us consider "the crossroads". We have a local church just up the road from us named Crossroads and it is also the name of our present Sunday School class, which they call Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF) in our church. A crossroad is a point of decision in life or a critical juncture. We've all had major crossroads in life such as a career choice, marriage, purchase of a house, etc.

We value all the teaching in the Scriptures, though some parts we understand better than others. Some may not seem as applicable to our day as others but sometimes we just have to wait in life for clarity. For instance a likely overlooked text from the Old Testament law is really applicable due to the gender anarchy of our age, "A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this" (Deuteronomy 22:5). But that's a text for another message!

Today's text begins, "This is what the LORD says:" Now we should pay attention to all Scripture but hearing these words, "what the LORD says" should really alert our ears.

The Lord called the kingdom of Judah to “Stand at the crossroads and look". At this time historically Judah was near collapse. In fact Jeremiah lived at the time of the Babylonian conquest and exile. As I consider this text I believe the message is both for the nation and the individual.

Nationally the initial message went unheeded. The people said, "We will not walk in it". Judgment came to Judah in the form of a brutal conquest and exile. We should consider this message in regard to whatever country we may live in. Of course we live in the US and feel this message "Stand at the crossroads and look" is so pertinent today. We seem to be at a crossroads and in a very similar condition that Judah was when this verse was written.

Individually this initial message also, by and large, went unheeded. But there was a remnant who stayed faithful through the conquest and exile. We even know some of their names; "Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah" (see Daniel 1:6). Surely there were many others as well.

Each one of us is standing at the crossroads. In a sense each day is also a crossroad as we decide whether or not we will follow and obey the Lord. Joshua gave a crossroads appeal when he challenged the people, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Now "this day" initially referred to the very day the challenge was issued by Joshua but it's wise to see this verse's application day by day as "we live out our time as foreigners here in reverent fear" (see 1 Peter 1:17).

Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we all come to the crossroads at various age intervals in our earthly walk and we must choose which path we’ll take. Help us to be careful of the untested path that disregards all that our forefathers taught us either by their example or in some instances their lack of wisdom or self-control. We thank You for all that You have for us now and for that which is carefully handed down to us from our Christian ancestors. May we honor You in the way that we choose to honor them. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"How Firm a Foundation" Video Congregational singing

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Stephen & Brooksyne

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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