✝ Daily Encouragement (4/27/23) "U-Turn"
Published: Thu, 04/27/23
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Thursday, April 27, 2023
Old Town San Diego
"U-Turn"
Travel note:
Today we are in San
Diego.
Message
summary:
Today, like Paul, we urge each reader to turn from all vain things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in
them.
Note:
Podcast not prepared for this
message.
"We bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them" (Acts 14:15). ![]()
After landing in Omaha most got off the plane while it was refueled and the status in Denver airport was uncertain. The stopover quickly ended after
the weather cleared in the Denver area and our flight headed across Nebraska again, so in the span of just a couple of hours we flew over Nebraska three times! I doubt that any of my relatives who've lived all their lives in Nebraska ever did that before!
*
But the u-turn got me thinking about the most important u-turn we make in life, the u-turn from all the vain things of this life to the living
God.
In the daily text Paul and Barnabas demonstrated a proper response to those who had a very mistaken notion that they were gods, immediately deflecting the people's misdirected praise and pointing them to the one true God who is worthy of all our praise. (Normally we just use the most pertinent part of a Scripture portion but this entire selection is needed here.)
"And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, 'The gods have come down to us in the
likeness of men!' Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 'Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you
should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations He allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet He did not leave himself without witness, for He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.' Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to
them"
(Acts 14:11-18).
Paul and Barnabas had prayed for a man crippled from birth to be healed and God miraculously answered that prayer. But the crowd mistook the miracle from God to be healing power generated from the apostles and considered them to be gods sent from heaven in the form of man. Many of the heathen emperors called themselves gods, so the crowd reasoned why not celebrate these powerful men and declare them to be the newest gods? In their excitement and celebratory mood they did just that and began to prepare sacrifices in Paul and Barnabas' honor. The apostles quickly responded by rejoicing that they were being considered gods. NOT! In reality they responded to the crowd by tearing their clothes. Scripture does not mention that the apostles tore their clothes when they were being reviled. They could face this without disturbance, but when they were being deified they refused to be honored as gods! If Christian workers who are used of God would remain humble and not become crowd seekers or crowd pleasers, but instead give all the glory and honor to Jesus, the kingdom of God would increase and the scandalous stories would diminish.
Today, like Paul, we urge all who read this to make a u-turn from all vain idols (in whatever form they may appear), and turn to the living God, who
made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
Be encouraged today, ( Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
![]()
* Due to our connecting flight also being delayed we were still able to make it to San Diego late Tuesday night, though much later than our original
plan.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"When I Survey The Wondrous Cross"
Click to listen on
YouTube Keith & Kristyn Getty
All the vain things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to His blood Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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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.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
717-823-0592
Daily Encouragement Net
https://www.dailyencouragement.net
Mail service provider is aweber.com
495 Kraybill Church Rd
Mount Joy PA 17552
USA
Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options