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Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Wednesday,
January 10, 2024
"The
Challenge Of
God's Plumb
Line"
Message
summary: May
we all set our
standards by
using God's
plumb line.
"Thus
He showed me,
and behold,
the Lord was
standing by a
vertical wall
with a plumb
line in His
hand. The Lord
said to me,
'What do you
see, Amos?'
And I said, 'A
plumb line.'
Then the Lord
said, 'Behold
I am about to
put a plumb
line in the
midst of My
people
Israel'" (Amos
7:7,8).
Yesterday
we had the
electrical
part of our
addition
finished.
Several times
I asked the
electrician,
Aaron, a
friendly man
who has an
amplified
voice like me,
if he was sure
the
receptacle,
switch or
light he was
installing was
level so he
kindly put a
level on it to
make sure or
to slightly
correct his
work.I
suppose if I
were to get
diagnosed I
would have a
slight case of
Obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD)
in regard to
things being
level. I have
been known to
compulsively
straighten
pictures on
the walls in
people's
homes. A
crooked
picture on the
wall really
bothers me!!!
This
characteristic
was observed
by others who
graciously put
up with my
admitted
oddities. When
we left New
England in
early 2001 we
had dinner at
Jeff and Linda
Reid's home,
who had been
very
supportive of
our ministry
and remain
friends to
this day.
When
I walked into
their house
they had
purposefully
made all the
pictures on
their walls
very crooked
and didn't let
on at all. In
their dining
room as we sat
down we saw a
slight smile
on their faces
and a twinkle
in their eyes
as they
tormented me!
I was doing my
best to hear
Brooksyne's
voice in my
head saying,
"Do not touch
those crooked
pictures". I
can't recall
whether I got
up to
straighten
them or not.
Eventually it
became a laugh
out loud joke
they had
pulled on me.
Most
of us have a
pretty good
sense of
whether
something is
straight with
or without
using a level
but we often
use one just
to make sure.
Sometimes due
to my OCD I
use two levels
just to make
double sure.
I
value my tool
collection
I've acquired
throughout my
lifetime,
including a
collection
from my dad
when he was no
longer able to
use his tools.
A
tool I rarely
use is the
plumb line.
Generally a
level works
fine for the
kind of home
maintenance
and
improvement
projects I do.
But for big
projects there
is no
replacement
for the plumb
line such as
the pouring of
concrete for
our new
addition. Our
friend, Jesse,
who not only
is a farmer
but also a
mason worker,
still uses a
plumb line in
his work and I
will likely
see it used to
lay the brick
on one side of
our addition
in several
weeks.The
dictionary
defines a
plumb line as
"a line (as of
cord) that has
at one end a
weight (as a
plumb bob) and
is used
especially to
determine
verticality."
The plumb line
employs the
law of gravity
to establish
what is
"plumb" (that
is, what is
exactly
vertical, or
true). In a
sense, the
plumb line is
the vertical
equivalent of
the line level
which of
course also
works for
vertical.
The plumb line is an ancient tool dating back to biblical times used to determine vertical accuracy. Several Bible texts refer to the plumb line, including our daily text, and Jesus very likely used a plumb line when he worked as a carpenter.
A plumb line is standard. Everyone needs a standard that will keep them on the right track in life. Everyone needs a plumb line. The Word of God is a timeless plumb line for determining a center line in life.
We appreciate these thoughtful words from "I Will Stand", a Gold City song.
Indeed, for so many, truth is like an ocean wave. Paul used the wave as an illustration in Ephesians 4 writing of those who are "tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine".
Today we pray that we ourselves and each of you will regularly examine your life using God's plumb line, the Holy Bible. Its teaching provides an absolute, a center line. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16,17).
Let us determine to live by Biblical convictions, whether popular or not. The song "I Will Stand" has this powerful chorus that speaks of the believer's resolve to stand firm in one's convictions no matter what we encounter because Jesus is our Rock; He is our firm foundation.
The plumb line is an ancient tool dating back to biblical times used to determine vertical accuracy. Several Bible texts refer to the plumb line, including our daily text, and Jesus very likely used a plumb line when he worked as a carpenter.
A plumb line is standard. Everyone needs a standard that will keep them on the right track in life. Everyone needs a plumb line. The Word of God is a timeless plumb line for determining a center line in life.
We appreciate these thoughtful words from "I Will Stand", a Gold City song.
I
see a nation
on the brink,
I see a people
prone to think
That truth is like an ocean wave, changing with the tide.
But for me there has to be an absolute, a center line
And it's the Word of God eternal, the cornerstone of Christ.
That truth is like an ocean wave, changing with the tide.
But for me there has to be an absolute, a center line
And it's the Word of God eternal, the cornerstone of Christ.
Indeed, for so many, truth is like an ocean wave. Paul used the wave as an illustration in Ephesians 4 writing of those who are "tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine".
Today we pray that we ourselves and each of you will regularly examine your life using God's plumb line, the Holy Bible. Its teaching provides an absolute, a center line. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16,17).
Let us determine to live by Biblical convictions, whether popular or not. The song "I Will Stand" has this powerful chorus that speaks of the believer's resolve to stand firm in one's convictions no matter what we encounter because Jesus is our Rock; He is our firm foundation.
I
will stand
upon the truth
of Jesus
He's the reason I'm alive
So how can I not live to make Him known
I will give my all to make it count
With no shadow of a doubt
Who He is, Who I am
I will stand!
He's the reason I'm alive
So how can I not live to make Him known
I will give my all to make it count
With no shadow of a doubt
Who He is, Who I am
I will stand!
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, when
Jesus declared
to His
disciples, I
am the way,
the truth, and
the life a
plumb line was
drawn for them
and for us.
When we want
to know what
is the truth
and what is a
lie, we can
measure it
against the
words of
Jesus, who
Himself is the
truth. Many
people define
truth based on
their
emotions,
opinions,
experience, or
current
philosophical
views. But
Jesus is truth
incarnate—the
perfect
expression of
His Father and
therefore the
absolute
embodiment of
all that is
true. For that
we are
thankful.
Amen. Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"I
Will Stand"
Watch
on YouTube
Gold City
Our
new bedroom is
nearing
completion.
Yesterday the
electrical
work was done
along with the
floor and
trim. In fact
this room is
essentially
finished but
of course when
the
construction
is done we
will remove
the debris
outside and
grade and
reseed the
lawn! This
Friday the
plumbers are
projected to
finish and
then a final
"punch list
with Ed, our
general
contractor.
This
photo is in
the other
direction. We
chose to keep
the original
brick exterior
wall for an
inside wall
and painted
the brick. The
mini split
provides both
heat and air
conditioning.
(Excuse the
worker on our
office side
sweeping!)
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To
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(This will
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Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
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Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
chaplaincy
ministry).Thank
you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Stephen & Brooksyne
2024
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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 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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