A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Easy read/print edition Friday, January 4, 2008  Purple finch feeding outside our office window.  Listen to this message on your audio player."The Great Contest" "Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering" (Hebrews 10:32). For those of us living here in America we can sure get a lot of football at this time of year with college bowl games and the professional postseason. I know this is a subject that will not "connect" with everyone so I'll keep the illustrative portion of the encouragement brief! Consider the goal line stand. It's 1st and goal with the ball on the 1 yard line. You are a lineman and your job is to keep the opposing team from moving the ball that one yard, although they have four opportunities to do so. You must stand your ground! The Greek word translated "contest" in the daily text is "athlasis", which surprise… is a root of the English word athlete. We that follow Christ are all involved in what the Apostle Paul calls "The Race" (2 Timothy 4:7). Some approach this contest in a passive sense, as if we are just standing on the sidelines as spectators. Others rightly recognize that we are in the midst of this great spiritual battle and God's call is that we actively stand our ground. The apostle Paul alluded to this stand when he stated that "when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand" (Ephesians 6:13). The early believers to whom the Book of Hebrews addressed were enduring persecution for their stand. Yet they stood their ground even in the face of tremendous suffering. This wasn't "suffering" as we may experience when we see a particularly hard hit in a football game, and say, "OUCH." No, their suffering was a reality. Today so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are standing up against tremendous opposition and facing persecution in this great contest. Using football as an illustration may actually have a sense of trivializing the very real contest in which they battle. As we prepare this message from the comfort of our little home office looking out across peaceful farm fields we feel so far, far removed from their plight. Today may God help each of us to remember them as they stand up in the midst of the great contest. And may the Lord empower each of us with grace to stand in regard to the issues we will deal with today and in this new year. Prepare us, should we be called to face persecution, as so many of our brethren already are. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Jesus, You warned Your listeners as You sat on the Mount of Olives that at the end of the age nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, famines and earthquakes will be commonplace. Believers will be handed over to be persecuted and many will turn away from the faith as wickedness increases. In the midst of such dark desolation we cling to the bright promise, full of hope and motivation for those who walk steadfastly with You; he who stands firm to the end will be saved. We will conquer the enemy, for we do not fight the battle in our own strength, but in Your strength, Lord Jesus. Amen. Brooksyne's Note: Thank you for your generous prayers. I am completely recovered from the 24 hour virus I had Wednesday and I give thanks to God for His healing touch! Stephen's note: Today we will be travelling to North Carolina to visit my sister and family as well as some friends and spend several days in the Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We hope to continue the encouragement series but may not always have internet access. Today's Suggested Music "Everlasting God" (Audio) "Let My Words Be Few" (Audio) "Be Still And Know" (Audio) Info about multi-media files and photos used on daily encouragement. |
Administration Information  Stephen, Brooksyne and Ester Weber "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 11/28/07  Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this encouragement ministry? Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings 1/4/2008 $10.00)Join: To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link automatically placed by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message. Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who do not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Please feel free to pass this message on! "A Daily Prayer" - The daily prayer from each daily encouragement message. "A Little Foolishness" - A collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination. "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the church.  Daily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD!Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity." How to become a child of God 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. Used by permission; and the King James Version. © Copyright 2008 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us  |
