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&
Brooksyne Weber
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Monday, October
10, 2022
Ester took this scenic view of
rural Lancaster County on a hayride last Saturday.
Click
on photo to enlarge
"Persevere!"
Message
summary: May God help each
of us to stay faithful and stay the course, for both
ourselves and for our hearers! "God, help me to stay the
course and persevere today!"
"Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Timothy 4:15,16).
A
familiar part of the standard safety announcement on
commercial airline flights has to do with oxygen masks.
The flight attendant instructs that you are to place the
mask on yourself first, then any children who might be
with you. Initially
this seems to be contrary to the "put others first"
ethos. However, it's altogether proper. By assuring that
you stay conscious you're able to help those around you
who may be unable to place the masks on by themselves.
Yesterday
I used this illustration in my Sunday School class and
prior to the class spoke with a retired Southwest
Airlines captain. He went to the Air Force academy and
was initially trained as a military pilot. He shared how
they had some kind of chamber to simulate rapid
decompression in an aircraft.
At
cruising altitude of 35-40,000 feet you literally have
just seconds of useful consciousness if there is a
decompression. You can go from a normally rational
person to someone so helpless you can’t even deal with
the mask yourself due to hypoxemia (lack of oxygen), let
alone to help others, even if your life and theirs
depends on it.
That's a
principle vital to ministry as well. The daily verse
reminds us that we must be diligent and stay in good
spiritual condition if we are to effectively influence
others for Christ and eternity. "Be diligent in
these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that
everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and
doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you
do, you will save both yourself and your hearers"
(1 Timothy 4:15,16). We've all seen examples of those
who didn't and its effect not only on them but also on
those around them.
It is a heavy call to all who minister for Christ whether vocationally or as dedicated lay people. Paul is writing instructions regarding church life and ministry to young Timothy and through the Holy Scriptures to all of us.
"Be diligent" means "having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties". Diligence is “focusing my effort on the work at hand".
"These matters" certainly include the immediate context, but I believe also the entire content of the letter and to all of Scripture. True ministry is a very serious calling. I'm so glad our Lord has provided such an adequate instruction manual for those who serve Him!
It is a heavy call to all who minister for Christ whether vocationally or as dedicated lay people. Paul is writing instructions regarding church life and ministry to young Timothy and through the Holy Scriptures to all of us.
"Be diligent" means "having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties". Diligence is “focusing my effort on the work at hand".
"These matters" certainly include the immediate context, but I believe also the entire content of the letter and to all of Scripture. True ministry is a very serious calling. I'm so glad our Lord has provided such an adequate instruction manual for those who serve Him!
We are
called to devote ourselves "wholly" to this call.
Whatever your form of service for Christ may be give of
yourself wholly to that which God has called you to do.
May those to
whom we minister see our "progress". This translates a
wonderful word ("prokope"). In fact, Warren Wiersbe, for
many years had a newsletter with this title. It
essentially conveys advancement and increase. Is your
faith and the character traits of Christ advancing in
your life? Do others see this increase? Peter's final
charge at the conclusion of his second letter was "But
grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!
Amen" (2 Peter 3:18).
May those to
whom we minister see our "progress". This translates a
wonderful word ("prokope"). In fact, Warren Wiersbe, for
many years had a newsletter with this title. It
essentially conveys advancement and increase. Is your
faith and the character traits of Christ advancing in
your life? Do others see this increase? Peter's final
charge at the conclusion of his second letter was "But
grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!
Amen" (2 Peter 3:18). "Watch
your life and doctrine closely." That is, pay
close attention to how you live and what you
believe. So many start the race well but some neglect
sin or doctrinal aberration creeps in. We know those who
have served for a "season". I sadly consider fellow
Bible College students and associates in ministry who
have not "stayed the course".
About
thirty-five years ago I went out to Kansas City to visit
my folks. Connecting in Pittsburgh I providentially met
Paul Grabill, a pastor friend who was headed to
Springfield MO, but we had the same flight to KC. He
told me about a close pastor friend who had a very
successful ministry and pastored a large church who had
just fallen into moral failure. I recall how
brokenhearted Paul was and how hard it was for him to
believe that his pastor friend (whom I didn't know) had
so grievously failed.
May God help us to regularly examine our lives (how we live) and our doctrine (what we believe) closely and frequently. In doing so may it incentivize us to persevere in doing what is right! Don't let downstream culture sway you. God's Word is settled once and for all; its truths and principles apply to every generation.
The final phrase is amongst the most sobering in the Bible: "because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers". I certainly don't believe this negates other teachings about salvation through Christ by grace. Of course Paul is not saying that we save ourselves. That would contradict his other writings such as Ephesians 2:8,9. Only Christ can save.
But our influence on others is great, both for good and bad. Certainly there are those who have abandoned the faith after their major disappointment with fallen preachers, Christian leaders and trusted peers. That's why we emphasize that our standards of holiness are not based on the behavior of other Christians leaders or lay persons, but they're based God's established commands presented in Scripture. May God help each of us to stay faithful and stay the course, for both ourselves and for our hearers!
About
thirty-five years ago I went out to Kansas City to visit
my folks. Connecting in Pittsburgh I providentially met
Paul Grabill, a pastor friend who was headed to
Springfield MO, but we had the same flight to KC. He
told me about a close pastor friend who had a very
successful ministry and pastored a large church who had
just fallen into moral failure. I recall how
brokenhearted Paul was and how hard it was for him to
believe that his pastor friend (whom I didn't know) had
so grievously failed.May God help us to regularly examine our lives (how we live) and our doctrine (what we believe) closely and frequently. In doing so may it incentivize us to persevere in doing what is right! Don't let downstream culture sway you. God's Word is settled once and for all; its truths and principles apply to every generation.
The final phrase is amongst the most sobering in the Bible: "because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers". I certainly don't believe this negates other teachings about salvation through Christ by grace. Of course Paul is not saying that we save ourselves. That would contradict his other writings such as Ephesians 2:8,9. Only Christ can save.
But our influence on others is great, both for good and bad. Certainly there are those who have abandoned the faith after their major disappointment with fallen preachers, Christian leaders and trusted peers. That's why we emphasize that our standards of holiness are not based on the behavior of other Christians leaders or lay persons, but they're based God's established commands presented in Scripture. May God help each of us to stay faithful and stay the course, for both ourselves and for our hearers!
Our
prayer: "God, help me to stay the course and
persevere today!"
Be
encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
doctrinal error or disobedience to
truths expounded upon in the Word of
God will lead us off course. There are
many situations that contribute to our
getting off the straight and narrow
path of righteousness, if we're not
wholly intentional in denying
ourselves, taking up our cross daily,
and walking in the ways of Christ.
There are tremendous disappointments
we will experience, whether it's
related to our work situation, our
family, our church, financial
restraints, our relationships with
others, health crises or painful loss.
Through it all we know that You will
lead us daily and give us grace for
every trial if we just stay the
course and musically proclaim with
hymn writer Fanny Crosby,"All
the way my Savior leads me,
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.
Amen.
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.
Amen.
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
It's always encouraging to
hear a children's choir in any church
and it sure leads to a full house! Video from
yesterday's service at Calvary Church
in Lancaster.
*
"Paul Grabill... His Life and
Legacy" with background song "You
Hold Me Now" Video Paul Grabill stayed the
course and passed on after a lengthy
battle with cancer 11 years ago.
This was the video tribute
at his memorial service I attended and is, in our view, an excellent
example of a video tribute ending with
a powerful reminder. I shared about
this service in this Daily Encouragement
message.
For additional study:
Paul's prediction in 1 Timothy 4:1
sure seems to be the case today. "But
the Spirit explicitly says that in
later times some will fall away from
the faith, paying attention to
deceitful spirits and doctrines of
demons."
In Ephesians 4:14 he writes of those who are "tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming." Today we see a departure from the course that our forefathers could hardly have imagined. Even in my own lifetime who would have imagined that something so foundational as the basic constitution of holy marriage set forth in the beginning of creation would be a serious issue of departure. And now all this absolute demonic nonsense about something as basic and evident as God creating us male and female!
In Ephesians 4:14 he writes of those who are "tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming." Today we see a departure from the course that our forefathers could hardly have imagined. Even in my own lifetime who would have imagined that something so foundational as the basic constitution of holy marriage set forth in the beginning of creation would be a serious issue of departure. And now all this absolute demonic nonsense about something as basic and evident as God creating us male and female!
Our
longtime friend Galen pulling a hay
wagon filled with young and old alike:
a highlight for any church fall
festival.
Yesterday
after our church service we went
over to visit with the Lapp family
on the Old Windmill Farm. We always
like to see the new animals such as
these 6 day old piglets. Jesse told
me he expects a very busy week on
the farm due to a Jewish festival
called Sukkot which began in the
evening of Sunday, October 9 and
ends in the evening of Sunday,
October 16. Orthodox Jews from the
New York metro area will come out to
the farm and set up tents where the
men will eat a meal in the tent and
pray. I hope to get over later this
week to take some photos and perhaps
I'll have opportunity to speak to
some of them.
"Sukkot
is a weeklong Jewish holiday that
comes five days after Yom Kippur.
Sukkot celebrates the gathering of
the harvest and commemorates the
miraculous protection G‑d provided
for the children of Israel when they
left Egypt. We celebrate Sukkot by
dwelling in a foliage-covered booth
(known as a sukkah) and by taking
the “Four Kinds” (arba minim), four
special species of vegetation." (From this site)
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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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