Daily Encouragement

The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

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Monday, June 3, 2024

Main Street Mount Joy truck and motorcycle

Antique truck and motorcycle in Mount Joy
(Click on photo to enlarge)

_{^{"Learning
To Please The
Lord"}}

Message summary: Today we consider a lifelong learning pursuit: learning to please the Lord.

Listen to our message on your audio player.

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them” (Ephesians 5:6-11).

Yesterday driving along Main Street in Mount Joy we passed an old delightfully unrestored pickup truck (our lead photo). The old motorcycle in the bed adds to the charm! Old vehicles like this can prompt some old vehicle memories. This photo shows me crammed into an old VW beetle which prompts a learning memory from over 50 years ago.

Brooksyne grew up on a farm and by the time she was 13 was driving a tractor. Since her dad bought cars with manual transmissions using a clutch was her experience from the very beginning.

But I learned to drive using an automatic transmission since that's what my dad owned.

My older brother, Pat, had a VW beetle with a manual transmission and gave me permission to take it for a drive. He told me using a clutch was different than automatic and tried to explain. But being a cocky teenager I brushed his advice aside, confident that whatever it was I could handle it.

So I went for a drive with my Mom and two other girls who I can’t recall. I thought one of them was my younger sister, Genelle, but she couldn’t recall this incident and if she had been a part of it she almost certainly would have remembered! (And this was before I met Brooksyne.)

We took off driving around Independence Missouri and what do you know, I kept popping the clutch; I just couldn’t get the hang of it.

At one point I came to the railroad tracks crossing 35th Street west of Noland Road when of all things I stalled on the railroad tracks (they're still there, see here on Google maps). Lo and behold a huge freight train was blowing its horn and coming toward us. I panicked and couldn’t get it moving so I jumped out and some other drivers helped me push that little VW bug off the tracks. Thankfully the train was advancing very slowly so it really wasn’t a close call, but the pitter patter in my heart convinced me that it was only several yards away.

I managed to make it home and after that frightening experience I got serious and quickly got the hang of using a clutch. Not too many years later I drove a propane delivery truck and farm machinery while in college. For seven years I drove a full size school bus in the early years of our ministry.

Although I haven’t driven a manual transmission for many years I am quite sure I could resume quite naturally without popping the clutch! After getting the hang of driving a clutch it's kind of like getting back on a bicycle after many years of not riding one!

Some skills in life may be a bit hard to learn at first, such as learning to drive with a clutch, or learning to swim, riding a bike or a horse. But once the skill is learned it comes naturally after that and does not need to be re-learned. We don’t forget how to swim or ride a bike even if we haven’t done so for many years.

But in regard to spiritual truths and pleasing the Lord learning is a lifelong pursuit.

Today’s entire passage is so powerful and informative though I only want to focus on on a single phrase, “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord".

The Precept commentary states:

“Believers are required to walk as children of light, examining and determining what is acceptable to the Lord. They are to regulate their conduct by a regard to what is well-pleasing to Him. That is the ultimate standard of judging whether anything is right or wrong, worthy or unworthy of those who have been enlightened from above. ‘Trying to learn’ means putting to the test for the purpose of approving, proving, commending or accepting as good and authentic. As our minds are renewed through God’s Word, we prove in our experience what pleases God.” *

Romans 12:2 states, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect".

Here are several principles from Ephesians 5 for those who have a heart in “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord”. These can Biblically inform us as to how we may please the Lord regarding any issue we may question:

1) We are called to be imitators of God. (v.1)
2) There should not be a hint of evil in our behavior. (v.2)
3) We are not to be deceived by empty words. (v.6)
4) The Bible prohibits ungodly partnerships. (v.7)
5) We are called to live as children of light (v.8)
6) We are to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness (v.11)
7) We are to be very careful, then, how we live—not as unwise but as wise (v.15)

Today may we all deeply understand just how much our heavenly Father loves and cares for us and again freely submit to Him as obedient children earnestly “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord".

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we are called to imitate You. When we imitate You there is not a hint of evil in our behavior; we are not deceived by empty words but live as children of light and have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness but rather expose them. Help us to be careful, then, how we live; not as unwise or uninterested learners, but as wise, quick and enthused learners of that which pleases You. We want to continue to learn that which is pleasing to You all the days we inhabit the earth. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

The version used today is the Amplified which captures the sense of active, ongoing learning and discerning.

* Precept commentary notes on Ephesians 5:10

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Holy Forever" Watch on YouTube From our service at Calvary Church yesterday (includes Scripture reading)

On Saturday afternoon I took a bike ride through the countryside between Mount Joy and Manheim and passed this Amish farmer along with his children assisting him planting.
(Click on photo to enlarge)

Yesterday we had a Crossroads class picnic in a local park and had so much delicious food that most still had some to take home and eat for dinner.

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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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