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online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
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Tuesday, June
13, 2023
We
received ˝"
rain in our
area yesterday
for which we
are very
thankful. On
Saturday our
Amish
neighbors on
Kraybill
Church Road
had two teams
out doing some
field work.
Chris is
working with
his young sons
as is common
among the
Amish children
- learning to
work hard from
youth on.
(Click to enlarge)
"Hating
Good, Loving Evil"
Message
summary: For
the serious
follower of
Christ,
whether in
leadership or
not, hear this
word from the
Apostle Paul,
"Hate what
is evil; cling
to what is
good"
(Romans 12:9).
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“Listen,
you leaders of
Jacob, you
rulers of
Israel. Should
you not
embrace
justice,
you who hate
good and love
evil” (Micah
3:1). “Woe
unto them that
call evil
good, and good
evil; that put
darkness for
light, and
light for
darkness; that
put bitter for
sweet, and
sweet for
bitter!”
(Isaiah 5:20).
"Hate
what is evil;
cling to what
is good"
(Romans 12:9).
Over
the last two
weeks I have
taught from
the book of
Micah in our
Adult Bible
Fellowship.
Among what I
called a mega
theme in the
book is
Micah's strong
rebuke of
corrupt
leadership. I
teased the
class and told
them this is
sure something
we aren't
dealing with
in our time.
Well, of
course, we are
dealing with
corrupt
leadership,
which I am
sure has
always been
the case to
some degree.
Lord
Acton
(certainly not
the
Lord in a
theological
sense) who
lived in the
1800's wrote,
“Power tends
to corrupt and
absolute power
corrupts
absolutely."
The
Bible is a
long record of
mostly corrupt
leadership in
both the Old
and New
Testaments.
This is true
of the
leadership in
both Israel
and Judah with
rare
exceptions and
secular
leadership all
through
history to our
present time.
Of course even
the best
leaders were
flawed.
Corruption in
leadership has
persisted
through the
ages.
Micah
wrote, “Listen,
you leaders of
Jacob, you
rulers of
Israel".
He's writing
to the
leadership of
both the
northern and
southern
kingdoms. Both
needed to hear
his courageous
rebuke.
"Should you not embrace justice..." Later in the book Micah lists three qualities that the Lord says are good, that He requires of each one of us. The first is "to do justice".
"Justice
is a major
theme in
Scripture,
which contains
many calls for
justice and
commands to
worship God
for His
justice.
Justice has to
do with
conduct in
relation to
others. Just
behavior
accords with
what is
morally right
and fair.
Justice is the
quality of
doing what is
right." (from
the
gotquestions.org
teaching site)
*
Justice
is certainly
lacking in our
country and
world today.
In recent
times, like so
many words,
the meaning of
"justice" has
been hijacked
and its true
meaning has
been altered
to fit a
particular
narrative. In
many ways
justice, as
defined in the
past, has
actually
become
injustice.
But
in my study
the phrase
that really
jumped out as
being so
timely for our
day is this
description, "you
who hate good
and love
evil”.
This is
demonstrated
increasingly
in our country
and spreads
rapidly when
it is
evidenced in
those who hold
powerful
positions.
Today many of
our leaders
demonstrate
hate of the
good and love
of the evil.
Examples
abound. Sadly
listing them
will be seen
as "political"
and that has
silenced many.
I have chosen
not to let it
silence me;
I'm only
running one
race:
- Parents expressing justifiable outrage concerning the gross immorality their children are being taught and exposed to in public education have been harassed and arrested.
- Pro-life demonstrators have been harassed and arrested for peaceful protests, in some cases just praying in front of an abortion mill.
- In California a law is being considered that will make failing to affirm your own child's faddish delusion regarding their gender, perhaps due to being groomed at school, a crime of child abuse!
- In Reading, PA, a city just northeast of us, a Christian seeking to bring truth into the public square was arrested for reading a Bible verse at a "pride" event that was found offensive.
- All
over the
country the
perversion
pride flag is
being flown
and in some
cases saluted
to, but
especially
grievous it is
to see it
flown front
and center in
a position of
prominence at
the White
House.
The
list goes on
and on and on.
Time and space
does not
permit me to
elaborate on
each point,
but if you
doubt any of
the examples
above, I can
direct you to
the story so
you can see
for yourself.
Isaiah's
timeless "woe"
is so apparent
today, “Woe
unto them that
call evil
good, and good
evil; that put
darkness for
light, and
light for
darkness; that
put bitter for
sweet, and
sweet for
bitter!”
(Isaiah 5:20).
Be assured;
just as there
has always
been judgment
there always
will be
judgment.
Finally,
for the
serious
follower of
Christ,
whether in
leadership or
not hear this
word from the
Apostle Paul,
"Hate what
is evil; cling
to what is
good"
(Romans 12:9).
Daily
prayer: Father,
we benefit so
much from the
many examples
given in
Scripture of
those who were
courageous and
committed to
Your truth
amid a society
that practiced
deceit and
fabrication,
such as the
prophet
Micaiah in I
Kings 22. He
committed
himself to
listen to You
and repeat
only what he
heard from
you. He could
have followed
in the steps
of the 400
prophets who
said what King
Ahab wanted to
hear, but he
didn't cave
in, which is
one of the
reasons the
king hated
him. Micaiah
serves as a
model for us
as believers
to stand up
for truth when
others fall
for the latest
deceptive
philosophy
based on the
spiritual
forces of evil
in this world
rather than on
Christ, our
Savior. Keep
us on our toes
so that we
stand firm and
unswayed by
human
traditions and
fine sounding
arguments
pinned against
the unchanging
truths found
in Scripture.
In Christ's
name we pray.
Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
What
does the Bible
say about
justice? (gotquestions.org)
The
Pequea Creek
rail trestle
was our turn
around point
on our 19 mile
trail ride
this last
Saturday.
Years ago
arsonists
burned the
wood deck of
the bridge but
it was
replaced with
concrete and
steel.
Our
trio of small
dogs: Falcon,
Rosie, and
Sadie in back.
Never is there
a dull or
quiet moment
at the Weber
household,
though we do
our best to be
good neighbors
and keep our
dogs quiet - a
challenge to
say the least!
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In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
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)
If
you desire you
can also
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,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
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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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