The online
Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Wednesday,
December 20, 2023
"Unto
Us"
Message
summary:
Let us rejoice
that God has
indeed spoken
unto us. We
urge each of
our readers to
listen!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6). “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken unto us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe” (Hebrews 1:1,2).
We are in the midst of the busy holiday season and many are still shopping, visiting, cleaning, wrapping and delivering gifts, baking and preparing for the eve of Christmas and Christmas day itself. Many are traveling or expecting guests. We will be visiting my brother Pat and family in Easton, PA on New Years Eve and then on the way home driving through Bethlehem (PA)
As children we looked forward to all the special events that surrounded the holiday. Thankfully we both grew up in Christian homes where we learned much about the first Christmas by playing Bible characters. Brooksyne has fond memories of participating in Christmas plays, including that of an angel who made the glorious announcement, "For unto You is born this day in the city of David".
Not
only were
these plays
performed in
church
settings but,
growing up in
a far less
secular
society, many
of the
Christmas
hymns and
pageantry were
presented in
the public
schools when
we were young.
And now the
very notion
that a candy
cane turned
upside down
may stand for
Jesus is a
source of
controversy.
Today
we want to
encourage you
with the
little phrase
"unto us".
It’s often
repeated
throughout the
season from
the word of
Isaiah the
prophet who
declares, “Unto
us a child is
born, unto us
a son is
given”
which Handel
incorporated
verbatim into
the song.
The challenge during this season is to remember the real message of Christmas. It’s not the gifts we give or receive from others. It’s not the abundance of gadgets that retailers offer to materialistic America. If we base our estimation of Christmas on what we did or didn’t get or what we gave or couldn’t give we’ll be missing the real point of the reason for the season.
The challenge during this season is to remember the real message of Christmas. It’s not the gifts we give or receive from others. It’s not the abundance of gadgets that retailers offer to materialistic America. If we base our estimation of Christmas on what we did or didn’t get or what we gave or couldn’t give we’ll be missing the real point of the reason for the season.
Our
focus needs to
be the gift of
God’s Son to
an
unreceptive,
apathetic,
undeserving,
and mocking
world.
The writer of Hebrews begins his rich epistle in such an interesting and powerful way. All other epistles except 1 John begin with some identification of the human author. Hebrews starts right off in a stately manner dealing with God’s message to mankind and the absolute preeminence of His Son.
However let us notice just one tiny phrase in the daily Scripture text which really is a "Christmas" verse, "He has spoken unto us by His Son". Aren’t you glad God has spoken and indeed continues to speak! I recall a book I read in college by the late Francis Schaeffer titled, “He is here and He is not silent". How very true.
He speaks to us in many ways, but primarily and fundamentally through His Son. What a great blessing it is that He has not ignored us! After the Fall He began His quest for us and called to Adam, “Where are you?” He’s been speaking to His people and calling them ever since. Today He continues to lovingly hearken to the human race, but relatively few pay attention.
What about you? Are you listening? Are you responding in faith and obedience? Let us rejoice that God has indeed spoken unto us. We urge each of our readers to listen!
The writer of Hebrews begins his rich epistle in such an interesting and powerful way. All other epistles except 1 John begin with some identification of the human author. Hebrews starts right off in a stately manner dealing with God’s message to mankind and the absolute preeminence of His Son.
However let us notice just one tiny phrase in the daily Scripture text which really is a "Christmas" verse, "He has spoken unto us by His Son". Aren’t you glad God has spoken and indeed continues to speak! I recall a book I read in college by the late Francis Schaeffer titled, “He is here and He is not silent". How very true.
He speaks to us in many ways, but primarily and fundamentally through His Son. What a great blessing it is that He has not ignored us! After the Fall He began His quest for us and called to Adam, “Where are you?” He’s been speaking to His people and calling them ever since. Today He continues to lovingly hearken to the human race, but relatively few pay attention.
What about you? Are you listening? Are you responding in faith and obedience? Let us rejoice that God has indeed spoken unto us. We urge each of our readers to listen!
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, even
as You spoke
to the
prophets of
long ago You
still speak to
the hearts of
Your people.
You’ve called
us out from
among the
world to stand
for
righteousness
in a godless
society. You
will not be
silenced in a
world full of
noisy gongs
and clanging
cymbals. As we
contemplate
the Christmas
story young
Mary is a
prime example
of one whose
yielded heart
withstood the
ridicule and
awkwardness of
her special
role in the
conception and
birth of the
Savior of the
world. You
continue to
speak to us
who choose to
fear the law
of God rather
than the law
of man. Help
us to turn our
ears away from
perishable and
worthless
noisy gongs.
Instead
captivate our
hearts for all
eternity
toward
Emmanuel, God
with us.Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
Frank
and Steve are
two plumber
friends at JK
Mechanical who
brightened up
the Christmas
banquet the
other night.
Special
Year-end
Financial
Appeal
We want to thank all who have financially supported our ministry this past year (and some for many years!). Like most ministries, we typically see a spike in giving at the end of the year for which we are most thankful. Thus we bump up this appeal on each post through the remainder of the year.
We
realize there
are many fine
ministries and
causes
requesting
support at
this time but
if you would
like
information
about making a
donation to
our ministry
see here.
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.
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.
You
can send a
check payable
to "Daily
Encouragement
Net" to:
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
495
Kraybill
Church Road
Mount
Joy, PA 17552
To
donate
directly
online click
here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering to:
Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
specialized
chaplaincy
(Daily
Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
chaplaincy
ministry).
Thank
you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Stephen & Brooksyne
Offerings
YTD:
$24,631.00
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Wordpress
iHeart
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 and a variety of other versions.
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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