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  Listen to this message on your audio player"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth" (Luke 21:33-35). Yesterday I visited with Isaiah and John who were building animal traps in one of the companies we serve as chaplains. They make live animal wire traps as seen in the photo. The trapped animal can be caught without harming it and then released elsewhere, presumably where it will not be nuisance to someone else! They make traps for all kinds of smaller animals including armadillos. I was pleased to hear that they have many orders coming in and are staying busy.  Part of what I like to do in my chaplain care is affirm people for doing a good job, working hard and providing goods and services beneficial to others. Most of us have used an animal trap of some type, probably most notably a mouse trap. We have used many of them through the years! As you might have already guessed, today I want to share a spiritual lesson that speaks of traps. The use of traps, which is also referred to as a snare, goes back early in Bible history. We find this reference in the book of Job, “For he is thrown into the net by his own feet, and he steps on the webbing. A snare seizes him by the heel, and a trap snaps shut on him. A noose for him is hidden in the ground, and a trap for him on the path" (Job 18:8-10). This is in the context of Bildad the Shuhite speaking of the plight of the wicked. Most of the Bible references to a trap are figurative. Today's Scripture text is a part of the Mount Olivet discourse where Jesus is teaching His disciples regarding things to come. Now there are various interpretations of this passage among earnest Christians but most of us see it as an overview applicable to those who follow Christ all through the church age, not merely the original disciples. It deals with living our lives in light of Christ's return. Today's text has a solemn promise and warning. The promise: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." The warning: "Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth." Traps rely on an element of surprise. After all, what animal or person, intentionally walks into a trap! Yet it is conceivable that any one of us might walk into a cleverly disguised trap; even more so when we are walking aimlessly and without purpose. Thus Jesus warned His followers to "be on guard" regarding three specific issues that weigh down the heart;
"That day" in the text refers to the return of the Lord and if you heed His warning it "will not come on you suddenly like a trap." But "it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth." Note the contrast between "you" (the follower of Christ) and "all those who dwell on the face of all the earth." It will come on believers expectantly, but on all other people like a trap. There are many reasons to believe that we are living in a time when that day is imminent. But regardless of how near we are to "that day" the warning from Christ always applies. We need to live with this daily outlook and conform our attitudes to Jesus' teaching: "Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap." Not only will we be ready for Christ's return, but we will live victoriously here and now. Later in the New Testament the apostle Peter, who would have heard this Mount Olivet message, gave us a word that echoes this in a similar context of expectation: "What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming" (2 Peter 3:11b,12a) Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, as believers, we are watching for the return of Christ. We cast aside behaviors and attitudes that distract our minds or weigh our hearts down with the cares and mindset of this world; otherwise we will be caught off guard and fall into the enemy's trap. We want to be sober, vigilant, and living in anticipation for that glorious day when the redeemed will be caught up in the air to meet Jesus. And so we will be with You forevermore. Amen. Here's an idea for multi-taskers who like both golf and fishing.  Yesterday I visited with a friend who will soon be leaving the military and is seeking God's will for his life. I met Brian about five years ago in the course of our chaplain ministry and, although he's been overseas over the past years, we've stayed connected through Daily Encouragement. We had a time of fellowship and prayer at the Village Farm Market. While visiting with Brian another friend dropped in. Doug and I have an interesting association in that we share the very same birthdate; month, day and year. "Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)" Video Casting Crowns "Jesus is Coming Again" Video Wintley Phipps "Jesus is Coming Again" Video Paul Mickelson Choir "I Wish We'd All Been Ready" Video The Hoppers |
 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 7/31/13: $12,.163.00 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  If a friend forwarded this to you, you can subscribe here.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 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: These messages are only sent from us to people who request it; please accept our apologies if it reached you in error. You can unsubscribe from this list at any time. 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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