A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archive edition Tuesday March 13, 2012  We pass this stately farm on our walk along Donegal Creek.  Listen to this message on your audio player."The Lord Will Repay" "Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done" (2 Timothy 4:14). Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord" (Romans 12:19). "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" (Genesis 18:25). Brooksyne and I reconnected with an old friend we had not talked to for many years. In the course of catching up we learned that he had experienced a tremendous loss in his life that has affected his family, vocation and finances. Especially painful was the violation of sacred trust among those closest to him. It remains a very painful trial for him but he has maintained his good disposition and a positive faith in the Lord. As we talked there appeared to be no bitterness or desire for revenge on his part, but rather a committing of the matter to the Lord. I realize how hard it is being wronged or treated unjustly. The passionate response to these wrongs and injustices can bring about a desire for revenge. Today let us consider the Biblical concept that "the Lord will repay" in matters of unfairness. I realize that at the root of the issue (for me anyway) is having faith that this is really so, that God really will repay. What can be particularly troubling is when the offender seems not to be dealing with consequences and judgment, but rather appears to be getting by with it. In fact that's what my friend is experiencing. In the first daily verse Paul is writing from his own experience. It's his final letter and he writes: "Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm." This may have been the same Alexander he wrote of in 1 Timothy 1:19,20 who had rejected solid teaching and shipwrecked his faith, and had been "handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme." Alexander had caused Paul "a great deal of harm." No further detail is offered but we can see that Paul had been very hurt. He goes on to warn Timothy: "You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message." It would appear, especially if this is the same Alexander mentioned in 1 Timothy, that he was spreading doctrinal error which was bringing confusion and leading people astray and that would have been very grievous to Paul, a stalwart defender of the Faith. But in spite of this great hurt Paul practiced his own earlier teaching from his letter to the Romans when he acknowledged: "The Lord will repay him for what he has done." It would be great to have the original audio version as read by Paul for this phrase. Did he read it with an angry, spiteful, vengeful tone or with humility in recognition of God's most certain future judgment on this matter? (I believe it was the latter.) The verse from Romans is in a teaching section regarding personal revenge when one is wronged. We are to "leave room for God's wrath" and this is actually followed by a direct quote from the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 32:35: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord." This is not normally the type of passage we would list as a promise but I believe it really is. We've all been wronged in various ways and our response to those wrongs is a key expression of our faith. Today some of you are personally impacted by the theme of this encouragement. You have been wronged and perhaps you have an intense desire for revenge. I know in my life if certain things happened this would be a real battle for me and applying the concept of "leaving it in the Lord's hands" might be very hard. But I also know that God wants me to trust Him in this regard as well. He promised that He will never give us more than we can endure. And the key to this endurance is possible only when we cast all our cares on Him and lay our burdens at the feet of the Burden Bearer. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily Prayer: Father, in our attempt to get even with our offender, we can do irreparable harm not only to our wrongdoer, but most especially to ourselves. Instead of having a spirit of forgiveness we harbor a vengeful heart. Our hearts harden and take on the character of the enemy instead of the Savior who loved us even while we were dead in our transgressions and sins. Our debt of sin He paid, freeing us to break the chains of sin that had long held us bound. Father, You heal the broken-hearted and console the wounded as they seek You in the midst of their affliction, whether it is a fresh wound or an old injury. Our affliction from others is earthbound, but our affection for You is heavenbound where there will be no more heartaches, pain or wrongdoing of any kind. Keep us steadfast and faithful till that appointed time. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources Finding music specifically relating to today's theme was a challenge. Perhaps our readers could suggest a song! However I will share several songs of assurance: "Lay Your Burden Down" Video Chuck Girard "Lay Your Burdens Down" Video Great lyrics, singer not specified "Be Still My Soul" Video Selah "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" Video Selah |
 Weber family Christmas 2011 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/11)  Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. We ask you to consider making a donation to Daily Encouragement Net so that we can continue to prepare and provide this daily resource which is accessed by believers and seekers all over the world. Daily Encouragement Net relies solely on the generosity and financial support of its readers and podcast listeners. See here for more information on supporting this ministry. Gifts are tax deductible.2012 financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 3/12/12: $2,842.00 We express thanks to all who support our ministry! 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 by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed or as an email subscription through feedburner.Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If you no longer desire to receive these messages you can remove your address from the list by merely using the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Weekly Version: The weekly version is intended for those who may not check their email regularly or who may desire less frequent mailings. It is Friday's message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. Daily Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter:  The daily message and prayer on Facebook. The daily message and prayer on Twitter.Reader Survey: Please take a few minutes to assist us in improving our ministry effectiveness by filling out this online reader survey. To take the survey click here. Please feel free to pass these messages on! Our other blogs: "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! "A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) (Note: This material is satire!) "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!) "Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. All of these songs are also available for download on the site. 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 2012 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us  Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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