Daily Encouragement Net - A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
Trouble reading this message? Read online or see archives
Trouble reading this message? Read online or see archives
 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Wednesday, January 27, 2010  Driftwood and Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Photo by Howard Blichfeldt  Listen to this message on your audio player. "Trying To Stay Faithful" "And though the LORD has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention" (Jeremiah 25:4). "For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it" (Hebrews 2:1). Yesterday I called a businessman friend of mine. Like so many he's had some major setbacks in this economy and is presently looking for work. I've known him since shortly after moving to the Lancaster area in 2001. He has had several jobs over the past ten years but each company has downsized or eliminated his position. I was calling him about another matter but sensed some discouragement and brokeness in his voice. I asked him, not in a superficial way but in earnest, "How are you doing?" I appreciated his honest reply, "Trying to stay faithful." I had prayer with him over the phone and sought to encourage him. I believe he was heartened, since our burdens are easier to bear when we know others are praying. His experience and some of you reading this is expressed in an old hymn: Just as I am, though tossed about With many a conflict, many a doubt, Fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. Our first Scripture verse today describes the period just prior to God's judgment of His people at the time of Jeremiah. The message of truth had persistently been delivered "again and again" but they did not listen or pay any attention.  Paying attention is a practiced discipline of the mind. There are so many distractions in life. In our electronic age there's more than ever.Electronic gadgets continue to appear that should make us more efficient with our time, but in reality they clutter our schedules and distract us even more than the pre-computer age. I came across this illustrative photo several years ago in a minister's magazine. Thankfully in my preaching I have never encountered inattentiveness as extreme as this but it does illustrate the many distractive elements in modern life. But I do think we'd all agree that congregational members do take "commercial breaks" in their mind during the pastor's sermon! The Holy Spirit inspired writer of Hebrews states, concerning spiritual things, "We must pay much closer attention." There's a tendency to pay less and less attention to that which we are already familiar with as we grow older. But giving our undivided attention to spiritual truth really needs to increase throughout life if we are to be mature believers. When we first moved down to Lancaster County we sat directly behind an elderly couple in church. Al and Thata Book were veteran servants of Christ having served in missions and various other roles of ministry including Bishop. They are both with the Lord now but I recall their very purposeful attentiveness and joyful receptivity as they would listen to the Word being preached. Brooksyne and I looked forward to sitting in their "shadow" so to speak, since their earnest response to God's Word, though well seasoned in their knowledge and teaching of Scripture, was contagious. In contrast there are those who subscribe to the attitude, "I already know that" as they grow older. Such glum or haughty attitudes shut out the refreshing working of the Holy Spirit in one's life. The focus of our attention is to be on "what we have heard." Of course in context this refers to spiritual truths. The Amplified Bible states, "the truths that we have heard." Prior to the printing press and certainly at the time of the New Testament having one's own personal Bible was not possible. But they gathered and heard the Word. Today, most all of our readers can do both; gather with other believers to hear the Word expounded and also individually study the Scriptures in our devotional and prayer closet. We must give unswerving attention to holding onto truth "so that we do not drift away from it." Now I do not feel my friend was expressing this kind of desperation in the sense he was drifting away, but was merely sharing from his heart the discouragement at persistent closed doors. A rather obscure verse in the Old Testament describes the people's response to God's Word during a time of revival as "Ezra read the Book of the Law aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law" (Nehemiah 8:3). A mark of genuine revival is giving proper respect and attentiveness to God's Word! God has called and equipped us to be overcomers in all areas of life including inattentiveness. Depending on the particular circumstance some have more overcoming than others but God is able and willing to meet us in our place of need. Today let us heed the clear warning of the Scripture and let us "pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it"" Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Father, Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Without it we would walk in darkness and be led astray. We want to give attention to Your Word, respect its message, and follow its instruction so that we will not drift from the truth. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. Brooksyne's Study Note: I was further moved by the response of the people as Ezra opened the book and read to them: "The people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, 'Amen! Amen!' Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground." Perhaps this is the passage that prompts some churches to stand during the reading of Scripture. But I especially note the people's physical and verbal response – by lifting their hands and responding together, "Amen! Amen!" followed by bowing down in reverence and worship to God. Most all of our readers have had access to God's Word all our lives, can read it anytime we want, and yet we often neglect to do so. I think of those in closed countries who don't have access to Scripture and how they are so eager to hear the Word. I pray that in my heart I would heed the Scriptures more and be genuinely mindful of the privilege we have of possessing our own Bibles for inspiration and instruction. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources Click on the link to open and play. (In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.) "Find Us Faithful" Video Steve Green "Just As I Am" Video Brian Doerksen "Take My Life And Let It Be" Audio "Hand To The Plow" Audio Vince Stapleton "We're Marching To Zion" Audio Piano instrumental "I Love To tell The Story" Video Brooksyne suggested this song due to the line, "I love to tell the story, for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest." Amen! Here's a nice intrumental version of this hymn Video |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 10/21/09  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.2010 YTD financial offerings as of 1/26/10 $320.00 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 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 update through feedburner. You can also subscribe to Daily Encouragement feed updates by email.Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If these messages no longer meet 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. (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. 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. 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! "A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) Last updated with the story of Mildred Swanson, who joyfully discovers her "spiritual gift" is sending forwarded emails! (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.  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 2010 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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