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&
Brooksyne Weber
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Monday,
January 30, 2023
This
bluebird is a
regular
visitor at our
neighbor's
house, a
welcome
colorful sight
on a cold
winter's day.
"Let
Us Be
Steadfast!"
Message
summary: We
will face many
bumps along
the road of
life.
Christians are
certainly not
immune to
having these
bumps and
regardless of
how big or
small, they
can be
discouraging.
Consider how
often
discouragement
is based on
the sense of
futility in
life and in
our service
for the Lord.
Paul, inspired
by the Holy
Spirit, tells
us it’s “not
in vain”. But
do you know
that? I hope
so. Keep
pressing on.
Serving.
Loving.
Showing the
light of
Christ to a
dark, often
unreceptive
world. Your
work counts
for all
eternity! Let
us be
steadfast!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
We
are in an
Adult Bible
Fellowship
(Sunday School
class) with a
similar age
group (most of
us in our 60's
and 70's).
Recalling back
to our young
adult years
just a very
short 40 years
ago we would
have seen this
group as the
old people.
Now, at our
age, "old
people" are
those in their
80's and 90's,
since we
perceive old
people to be
those older
than us at the
present time!
The fact is;
getting old is
an inevitable
consequence of
staying alive.
Yesterday
in our class
time we had a
time of
sharing and
testimony,
including two
couples who
were
interviewed.
They shared
how they
originally
met, about
their children
and grands,
and their
testimony of
steadfastness
to God when
they endured
very difficult
trials. These
are people who
have faced the
bumps of life
in varying
ways and
to various
degrees yet
have overcome.
This
morning we
watched a
service
in Kansas City
for my cousin
Terry, who
went to be
with the Lord
last week. Her
death was a
complete shock
to the family,
who are surely
going through
a very bumpy
time right
now, but
nevertheless
the service
expressed
their faith.
A
song we sang
yesterday in
our church
service speaks
of the way
believers must
deal with
their doubts
and fears in
times of
confusion,
lack of
clarity and
when we face
the hard
times.
I
am holding on
to faith
Cause I know you’ll make a way
I don’t always understand, I don’t always get to see
But I will believe it, I will believe it
Cause I know you’ll make a way
I don’t always understand, I don’t always get to see
But I will believe it, I will believe it
I
will speak to
my fear, I
will preach to
my doubt
You were faithful then, you’ll be faithful now
You were faithful then, you’ll be faithful now
Years
ago I was
visiting with
a father whose
son was on a
wrong course,
breaking his
parent's
hearts. The
father
explained,
“My son just
has a hard
time managing
the inevitable
bumps along
the road of
life.”
That’s
an insightful
concept.
Everyone hits
bumps in the
road, sooner
or later, and
admittedly
some have a
much bumpier
ride through
life than
others.
Consider the
blessing there
is in learning
how to manage
these bumps;
holding
steady,
learning how
to really
depend upon
and trust God,
and learning a
few things in
the process
that will
serve us well
during the
next bump that
is certain to
come.
Certainly, my
heart goes out
to those who
struggle when
they hit a
bumpy patch,
whether due to
circumstances
beyond their
control or, as
is often the
case, because
of their own
poor choices.
As
the Apostle
Paul concluded
his first
letter to the
Corinthians in
chapter 15
dealing with
the doctrine
of the
resurrection
one study
Bible notes:
“Doctrinal
declarations
should always
lead to
dutiful
directives.
Stated another
way, our sure
future hope
(resurrection/glorification)
should serve
to animate and
energize our
present
ethical
behavior.”
Paul
ends the
chapter with a
verse that I
suppose is my
singular
life’s verse.
In fact, the
church that
Brooksyne and
I established
and served for
nearly 16
years in
northern
Pennsylvania
(1977-1993),
gave me a
clock with I
Corinthians
15:58
inscribed on
it. It hangs
in our office
to this day
where we see
it daily.
Today let us consider just two words from the text, “steadfast, immovable”. These two characteristics are much needed today. Warren Wiersbe observes: “Christians can be steadfast and immovable, because they know that if their worst enemy (death) has been overcome, they need fear no other enemy. They can abound in Christian service, for that work will count for eternity.”
Don’t forget that important truth! We will indeed face bumps along the road of life. Christians are certainly not immune to having these bumps and regardless of how big or small, they can be discouraging or wear us down. Consider how often discouragement is based on the sense of futility in life and in our service for the Lord.
Today let us consider just two words from the text, “steadfast, immovable”. These two characteristics are much needed today. Warren Wiersbe observes: “Christians can be steadfast and immovable, because they know that if their worst enemy (death) has been overcome, they need fear no other enemy. They can abound in Christian service, for that work will count for eternity.”
Don’t forget that important truth! We will indeed face bumps along the road of life. Christians are certainly not immune to having these bumps and regardless of how big or small, they can be discouraging or wear us down. Consider how often discouragement is based on the sense of futility in life and in our service for the Lord.
Paul,
inspired by
the Holy
Spirit, tells
us it’s “not
in vain”.
But do you
know that? I
hope so. Keep
pressing on.
Serving.
Loving.
Showing the
light of
Christ to a
dark, often
unreceptive
world. Your
work counts
for all
eternity!
Let us be
steadfast!
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, we
desire to be
steadfast,
immovable
always
abounding in
Your work.
There are
always things
to be done,
someone to
see, goals to
be met, places
to be, and on
and on the
list goes.
Then we hit a
bump in the
road and it
seems like all
comes crashing
down around us
and there is
nothing we can
do – we’re
stuck. Yet
Your Word
tells us that
we are to
remain
steadfast. So
even in the
bumps of life
we can remain
steadfast in
our Christian
witness,
prayerful in
all matters,
faithful in
our example to
others, and in
trusting You
to guide us
over the bumps
so that we are
once again on
a level plain.
Keep us steady
we pray, in
the name of
Jesus. Amen. Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Faithful
Now"
Video
Vertical
Worship
(The song
alluded to in
the message)
Brooksyne’s
Note:
Sometimes the
most
challenging
bump in the
road is when
you’re stuck,
can’t go
anywhere or do
anything. You
just have to
hold on,
remain steady
in your
temperament
and
responsibilities,
and wait. For
those who’ve
sung in a
choir or
ensemble at
times you have
a stanza that
requires you
to sing the
same note over
and over,
maybe six or
more times,
particularly
when it’s
harmony. It
can be quite
boring singing
the same note
over and over.
In fact it’s
very difficult
to do since
we’re so
accustomed to
singing our
music to a
melody that
has us going
up and down an
octave on the
keyboard.
Often the
singer will
get off pitch
because it’s
hard to remain
steady by
singing the
same exact
note
repeatedly.
It’s analogous
to us
remaining
steady,
holding on,
and trusting
God when we
hit the bump.
We’re very,
very tempted
to work things
out in our own
way trying to
force change
when it’s the
bump God is
allowing in
our life so
that He can
get our
attention and
teach us about
trusting Him
in all things,
as well as
giving us
proper
guidance in
His time and
in His way.
C.H. Spurgeon in his sermon “Stand Fast” writes that:
C.H. Spurgeon in his sermon “Stand Fast” writes that:
“The
battle does
not end when
by a desperate
rush a man has
come to
Christ. In
many it
assumes a new
form; the
enemy now
attempts to
drag the
trembler from
his refuge,
and eject him
from his
stronghold. It
is difficult
to get at the
hope of the
gospel; but
quite as
difficult to
keep it so as
not to be
moved away
from it. If
Satan spends
great power in
keeping us
from the hope,
he uses equal
force in
endeavoring to
drag us away
from it, and
equal cunning
in endeavoring
to allure us
from it. Hence
the apostle
tells us not
to be moved
away from the
hope of the
gospel: the
exhortation is
needful in
presence of an
imminent
danger.
Do not think that in the moment when you believe in Christ the conflict is over, or you will be bitterly disappointed. It is then that the battle renews itself, and every inch of the road swarms with foemen. Between here and heaven you will always have to fight more or less, and frequently the severest struggle will be at a time when you are least prepared for it. There may be smooth passages in your career, and you may for a while be like your Savior in the wilderness, of Whom it is said, “Then the devil departed from Him, and angels came and ministered unto Him”; but you may not therefore cry, “My mountain standeth firm, I shall never be moved”; for fair weather may not outlast a single day. Do not grow secure, or carnally presumptuous. There is but a short space between one battle and another in this world. It is a series of skirmishes even when it does not assume the form of a pitched battle. He that would win heaven must fight for it. He that would take the new Jerusalem must scale it, and if he has the wit to take Jacob’s ladder and set it against the wall and climb up that way, he will win the city. “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” At this time our subject is not the winning, but the wearing; not the taking but the holding of the fort: “Be not moved away,” you that have come to it, “Be not moved away from the hope of the gospel.”
Do not think that in the moment when you believe in Christ the conflict is over, or you will be bitterly disappointed. It is then that the battle renews itself, and every inch of the road swarms with foemen. Between here and heaven you will always have to fight more or less, and frequently the severest struggle will be at a time when you are least prepared for it. There may be smooth passages in your career, and you may for a while be like your Savior in the wilderness, of Whom it is said, “Then the devil departed from Him, and angels came and ministered unto Him”; but you may not therefore cry, “My mountain standeth firm, I shall never be moved”; for fair weather may not outlast a single day. Do not grow secure, or carnally presumptuous. There is but a short space between one battle and another in this world. It is a series of skirmishes even when it does not assume the form of a pitched battle. He that would win heaven must fight for it. He that would take the new Jerusalem must scale it, and if he has the wit to take Jacob’s ladder and set it against the wall and climb up that way, he will win the city. “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” At this time our subject is not the winning, but the wearing; not the taking but the holding of the fort: “Be not moved away,” you that have come to it, “Be not moved away from the hope of the gospel.”
Yesterday
was Stephen's
fist time back
to a church
service since
January 1. We
both assisted
in
distributing
baby bottles
for Align
Life
Ministries,
a local
pro-life
organization.
Following
our potluck
brunch
Brooksyne led
out in several
old-time hymns
as she
interspersed
them with
classmates
giving
testimonies of
faith in our
class
yesterday.
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radioPermissions: 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.
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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