A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Click here to support our ministry.The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archive edition Tuesday, March 12, 2013   Listen to this message on your audio player."Was Blind, But Now I See" "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Periodically we share a more obscure phrase from a familiar hymn and ask our readers if they can identify the hymn. Most of you will recognize our message title as an oft sung phrase from the great hymn "Amazing Grace".  Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,That saved a wretch like me.... I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now, I see. The great hymns are so often filled with imagery from Scripture. The phrase "I once was lost but now am found" may very well have been alluding to the Prodigal son (see Luke 15:24). The phrase "Was blind, but now, I see" could be referring to the blind man in an account from John 9:25 but may also allude to today's Scripture text which speaks of a spiritual blindness which blinds the minds of unbelievers. "The god of this age" is Satan. Such a statement brings a scoffing sneer from the unbeliever. But this false god is very actively at work as demonstrated in the evil we see all around us, including the false, idolatrous religious systems that will "deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord" (Jude 1:4).  The church has been mightily blessed by those with physical blindness such as Fanny Crosby and Gordon Mote, who served as a pianist for many years with the Gaither Homecoming series. We have several blind friends who faithfully serve the Lord including the soloist friend in our wedding who was blind, and we marvel at their overcoming and victorious spirit.But our text speaks of a blinding of the mind, not the eyes, "Has blinded the minds of unbelievers."  Physical blindness is one thing, but blindness of the mind brings on an awful, potentially eternal condition, "So that they (the unbeliever) cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." John MacArthur writes, "Unregenerate people cannot think properly about spiritual truth because they have a "depraved mind" (Romans 1:28). Only God can turn on the light in the human heart so that it can respond in saving faith to the gospel of the glory of Christ."Following his dramatic conversion Paul received a call to ministry directly from the Lord: "I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me" (Acts 26:17,18). May your spiritual eyes be open today making it possible for you to rejoice in "the gospel of the glory of Christ"! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, though You do not walk visibly among us You do reveal Yourself through the minds, the hearts, and the actions of Your followers. May the light of Jesus shine forth from us so that the unbeliever can sift through the confusing ungodly messages of this world and the counterfeits of this age. May they see through our words and actions "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." We especially lift up to You our friends and loved ones who have been blinded by the god of this age. We pray that You would dispel their doubts, fears, and unbelief, replacing these faith destroyers with confidence, courage and peace that comes through believing in and knowing You. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.Further study note: There are basically two outlooks in life: The personal mission statement that we include in the footers with each daily encouragement conveys one. Although a simple statement that certainly does not convey all that's true it simply asserts, "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." The other outlook denies this and so many feel they have been "enlightened" to reject what they see as a very simple and primitive religious expression. To them we are merely a product of evolution and "god" is merely a figment of imagination to the weak, simple, uneducated and unenlightened. However in reality they have not been enlightened, but rather blinded. Indeed, "they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Amazing Grace" Video Wintley Phipps "Story of Open the Eyes of my Heart" Video Paul Baloche (Fuller song version) "Thank You Lord, For Your Blessings On Me" Video Gordon Mote (the blind pianist mentioned in the message) & Jason Crabb This is a good song to get a perspective on our blessings! |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber (Click on photo to enlarge) "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/31/12)  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 an offering 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. Click here to donate online.2013 YTD financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 3/11/13: $3,793.00. 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 to our email list. These messages are never sent by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR it was forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or as an email subscription through Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)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. Other versions are also occasionally used. © Copyright 2013 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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