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&
Brooksyne Weber
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Wednesday,
June 28, 2023
Lancaster
County pond on
Meadow View
Road.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
"Christ
Preeminent"
Message
summary: We
can experience
great comfort
in this
eternal truth;
Christ is
preeminent!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent" (Colossians 1:16-18).
"For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent" (Colossians 1:16-18).
Yesterday
we attended a
memorial
service for
Wendy Gambini,
a longtime
friend and our
former
pastor's wife,
who passed
away on June
8. The service
was held in a
church near
Messiah
University
which has a
two word
slogan I have
always been
blessed by, "Christ
Preeminent".
The
word
"preeminent"
is commonly
used in a
theological
sense. In
sports there
is an acronym
used for a
great player,
GOAT, meaning
Greatest
Of All
Time.
In recent
years it has
been used to
describe Tom
Brady in
football but
of course this
is subjective.
We might refer
to athletes
like him as
being
preeminent in
their sport.
But
today we
consider the
only One who
is preeminent
in all things.
The
daily
Scripture
portion is
like a rich
meal with much
to feed upon.
Note the five
times in these
three verses
we read the
words "all
things" or
"everything".
But today let
us focus on
the final one,
"that in
everything
(all things)
He might be
preeminent".
Preeminent is defined as "having paramount rank, dignity, or importance". (Webster) Preeminent, although used in several prominent translations such as the KJV and ESV, is not a commonly used word and thus other translations (see here) render the passage a bit differently but with the same sense:
- "so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything" (NASB)
- "so that in everything He might have the supremacy" (NIV)
- "so that He Himself will occupy the first place [He will stand supreme and be preeminent] in everything" (Amplified)
The
Greek word
(proteuon)
means “to be
first, to have
the first
place, to hold
the chief
place". God is
reigning as
the preeminent
Being in the
universe. He
always has
been and
always will
be.
I
examine my
life today and
I encourage
you to do the
same. Is
Christ
preeminent in
your life? Is
He the
reigning King
of your
heart’s
allegiance?
May Christ’s
reign and
preeminence be
evident in
each of our
lives today!The
preeminence of
Christ is a
great source
of assurance
in troubling
times. There
are many
things in our
lives that can
bring on
anxiety and
distress. It
may be a
personal
health issue
or a family
matter. It may
be our
finances or
the condition
of the world
with all the
turmoil and
uncertainty.
At the present we don’t know how these and many other issues will all work out. But we can experience great assurance in this eternal truth; Christ is preeminent!
At the present we don’t know how these and many other issues will all work out. But we can experience great assurance in this eternal truth; Christ is preeminent!
Holy,
holy, holy is
the Lord God
Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything and I will adore You
I will adore You
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything and I will adore You
I will adore You
Be
encouraged
today, (Hebrews
3:13)
Daily
prayer: Father,
anything good
or
praiseworthy
in me is
simply a
reflection of
the abiding
presence of
Your Holy
Spirit. I want
to grow in
Your grace and
knowledge, and
will do so
when You are
preeminent in
my life. That
means You will
reign supreme
and be of
first
importance to
me, having
greater
influence than
any other
person,
interest or
cause. I want
to walk in
humility today
as I pray,
“Jesus must
become greater
in my life, I
must become
less.” I
ask You to be
at the center
of my
thoughts, my
attitudes, and
my actions so
that Your
preeminence is
seen in all I
think, do, or
say. In the
name of Jesus
I pray. Amen.Millions declare that Christ is Lord. So today we ask the following heart-probing question to our readers; who is Christ to you?
- For some Christ is popular. An ungodly entertainer may throw a shout-out thanking God at an awards ceremony. A politician may quote a Scripture text to score political points though he or she gives little regard to God in lifestyle choices or life principles. Consider the crowds and disciples that followed Jesus in John 6 at the height of His popularity, but when it got tough they abandoned Him and the cause for which He died. (See John 6:66)
- For genuine followers, Christ is present in your life. The Psalmist declared, “Thou art with me”. Jesus reassured the disciples on the mountain before He ascended to heaven, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Psalm 23:4, Matthew 28:16-20, Hebrews 13:5)
- For some Christ is prominent. By prominent, I mean that it is well demonstrated and evidenced by others that you are a follower of Christ. Your family, co-workers, and neighbors know that you are a Christian. It is commendable that Christ is prominent.
- But a relative few live demonstrating that Christ is preeminent. Yet this alone is the proper outlook for one who claims that Jesus Christ is Lord. This is God’s gold standard concerning what His Son should be to us. Christ Preeminent, what a glorious truth!
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Hymn
of
Heaven/Revelation
Song"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Calvary Church
closing from
last Sunday
includes
closing
prayer.
"God
of the Ages"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Charles
Billingsley
Though
the nations
rage
Kingdoms rise and fall
There is still one king
Reigning over all!
Kingdoms rise and fall
There is still one king
Reigning over all!
"Preeminent
| Colossians
1:15"
Click to
listen on
YouTube
A powerful
reading using
this text.
The
Preeminence Of
Christ
(Colossians
1:15-19)
(Study
from Bible.org)
"Jesus
Built A
Bridge"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Poet
Voices
Our long time
Arkansas
friend, Tommy
Carpenter,
suggested this
song after
reading
yesterday's
message.
Jesus
built a bridge
to heaven
So that I could have a way up to Him
Jesus built a bridge the only way He could
With only three nails and two pieces of wood
With one rugged cross, Jesus built a bridge
So that I could have a way up to Him
Jesus built a bridge the only way He could
With only three nails and two pieces of wood
With one rugged cross, Jesus built a bridge
For
nearly five
years Jim and
Wendy Gambini
served the
pastorate at
Mount Pleasant
where we
attended after
our arrival in
Mount Joy back
in 2001.
Quickly Ester
became very
fond of both
Jim and Wendy
which was a
blessing since
it was the
first time she
had another
pastor rather
than her dad.
As we walked
in the foyer
she didn't
hesitate to
weep on Jim's
shoulder as
she expressed
her love and
appreciation
for Wendy.
After
the funeral
service Ester
was so pleased
to get a
picture of her
with Jim. He
and Wendy
moved to
Georgia to be
near their son
in 2018 so we
hadn't seen
them for many
years, though
they are very
special to us.
Entering
the sanctuary
of the
Grantham
Church
yesterday
morning for
the service
our eyes were
drawn upward
to read Psalm
100
calligraphed
in Timothy
Botts' style
as seen in his
1989 book of
Scripture
verses,
"Doorposts"
(sixty
calligraphic
renderings of
Bible Passages
with notes).
Another
view of the
Lancaster
County pond
scene on
Meadow View
Road.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Last
night I went
for a trail
ride with our
friend Nick
and several
friends from
his church. We
passed this
field
prompting a
consideration
of a Bible
verse. Any
guesses?
See here.
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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
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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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