   A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Archives ·  Archive/print editionWednesday, February 4, 2009  To view this photo in a larger desktop size with a Scripture verse click here. Expectant LOOKING Motivates Enlightened LIVING  Listen to us share this message on your audio player."Obedient Children" "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance" (1 Peter 1:14).  We heat our home with a coal stove which is less expensive than many other heating sources, but it requires daily maintenance in loading the coal hopper and emptying the ashes. When we're out of town for several days we ask our neighbor's son Jason to handle the chore for us. He is a dependable young teenager raised with a strong work ethic and a heart to obey. As I considered today's message with the theme of obedient children he came to mind. What a blessing he is to his parents and others who rely on him, especially his youngest sister who has Down's Syndrome. We often see him taking her for rides and watching over her.But I also consider the heartache a disobedient child brings, whether as a youngster still at home or even more acutely as an adult who chooses the way of rebellion. Through our years of ministry we have often provided support and encouragement to parents with disobedient children, as most all pastors have. Proverbs 10:1 says, "A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother." In today's Scripture text Peter uses a family theme that his readers will identify with in one way or another. He is speaking of our obedience to our heavenly Father as obedient children. John 1:12 teaches that all who have received and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ become children of God. Spurgeon wrote that faith and obedience are bound up in the same bundle. He who obeys God, trusts God; and he who trusts God, obeys God. Obedience means one listens to and follows instructions and is in the state of being in compliance. Peter compares believers to children who obey their parents, using the phrase "obedient children" to introduce the concept of holiness; obedience and holiness being two sides of the same coin. As obedient children we are not to conform to the evil desires we once had when we lived in ignorance. Some readers were raised in godly families and at an early age turned to the Lord. I consider a local friend who shared with me the many generations his family has faithfully served the Lord and today each of his four children and their spouses walk with the Lord. But other readers have had essentially no Christian upbringing and especially identify with the phrase "lived in ignorance." Due to the darkness of our generation, if the church is to grow, more and more will fall into the latter category. We are not to conform to these evil desires. As sojourners in this world we must daily make the conscious, volitional choice to refuse to let an alien society, which is futile and passing away squeeze us into its wicked, corrupting mold. Romans 12:2 has a similar theme, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will." Today let us seek to be obedient children that bring great joy to our heavenly Father! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, as we fully surrender our hearts to You we will no longer conform to the pattern of this world, but we will be transformed because our minds are being renewed by Your Spirit daily. Though we may be rejected by the world we have been chosen by You. Like living stones You are building us into a spiritual house where Jesus is the precious cornerstone. Because of that we are a strong foundation that can withstand the temptations and forces of evil as we declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness. In doing so You enable us to live as aliens and strangers in this evil world so that we abstain from sinful desires. Amen. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Holiness Is What I Long For" Video based on the verse that follows our daily text: "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do" (1 Peter 1:15). Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 01/20/09  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 daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks! See here for details. (2009 YTD financial offerings through 2/3/09: $1,050.00) SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  Were you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net? If you desire you can receive your own free! To receive these "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It was sent to you because you signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed.Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If these messages no longer meets your needs (providing encouragement) you can remove your address by merely use the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who may 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 these messages on! "A Daily Prayer" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. We keep this up each day since it's merely the prayer from the Daily Encouragement Net message! "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. (Actually this is my intent but I haven't done much with it!) "A Little Foolishness" - A humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) I haven't had time or "inspiration" for this for awhile but it has several stories that get regular page views. "Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. We are distributing this CD without charge in our ministry. All of these songs are also available for download on the site. If any reader in this series would like a CD merely write us and request one.  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, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. © Copyright 2009 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us |
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