✝ Daily Encouragement (5/1/23) "Watch Yourselves"
Published: Mon, 05/01/23
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Monday, May 1, 2023
Sunset Cliffs Boulevard
Click on photo to enlarge
"Watch
Yourselves"
Travel note:
We were in San Diego through the weekend but today plan
to travel to the Palm Desert area for several days and among other things visit Joshua Tree National Park. We will return to San Diego later this week to attend our friend Marilyn's celebration of life service on Saturday. Since we are at a different time zone than Pennsylvania and working on only one computer the message delivery times may vary, as well as the depth of our messages! Since we are in a motel this week we probably won't post daily but depending on conditions hope to send a
couple of messages out.
Message
summary:
Be sure to keep watching yourself.
Note:
Due to travel the podcast is not prepared for this message.
“Watch your life and doctrine closely” (1 Timothy 4:16a). "Examine yourselves" (2 Corinthians 13:5). "Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward" (2 John 1:8). ![]()
For the last several days we have stayed at our friend's home along
Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, so named due to it being right along cliffs facing the sunset. In this long section of Point Loma the steep cliffs are right at the shore and there are no beaches such as the one in our lead photo today.
There is a walking path between the boulevard and the edge of the cliffs
where many warning signs abound like that seen in the photo to the left. On occasion people tragically fall off these cliffs who ignore the warnings, necessitating a rescue or recovery of their bodies.
It's ironic that some of the most expensive residential real estate and
homes in the world are built along eroding cliffs. In some places the cliffs have eroded right up to the road with homes built some 150 feet away as seen in our lead photo, requiring the trail to be diverted.
But they sure have a good view. In fact we notice as we walk on the upper
streets that each house is designed with many large windows in the multi-level floors as residents seek to get an ocean view!
Walking on the trail beside the cliffs along the ocean is enjoyable but you
sure have to watch your step. I have severe Cremnophobia, that is, a fear of edges or precipices. I am thankful for the warning signs but I would still stay away from the edge without them. Now with Brooksyne, that's another story.
There's a lot of spiritual cliffs in life, some we can avoid, others we
cannot.
Let's hear a word from the two apostles this morning and heed their
simple spiritual warning, "Watch yourselves". We may see it as more spiritual to look to the Lord or more caring to look after others, but here we are told to look inward, to watch ourselves. Paul had said to the Corinthian believers years earlier "Examine yourselves" (2 Corinthians 13:5). Self-examination can be painful; it can be humiliating, or, sadly, it can lead to pride. But if we follow the words of Scripture it can be healthy.
The first text is written by Paul. It's a simple command to understand but it can be very difficult to habitually practice. "Watch your life and doctrine closely". Another way this might read is, "Watch how you live and what you believe". The NASV states, "Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching". We need to continually watch our life and doctrine closely. How does our life reflect the character traits demonstrated by Jesus? How does our doctrine line up with that which is taught in the Holy Scriptures? Our third similar text was written by the apostle John. Some may struggle with the phrase, "that you do not lose what we have accomplished". It just may not fit their neat theology that we can lose or accomplish anything! However I believe we do well to take these words and all Scripture seriously. Never let your theological package blind you to the plain meaning of a text. The context deals with deception and the false teaching that had come into the church and is ever a danger. Today there are many deceptions and false prophets. I want to receive a "full reward". I don't fully understand the nature of rewards in heaven, but the Scriptures clearly indicate that they will have a place. Let's press on today in our faith in God and service to the King! And be sure to keep watching yourself.
Be encouraged today, (
Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
![]() Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
Yesterday we attended church at Shadow Mountain Community Church. We usually
attend this church when we're in the San Diego area.
Click on photo to
enlarge
New song (to us) from the service yesterday.
Click to listen on Vimeo
This is followed by Pastor David Jeremiah's
message.
Here are some more songs from the
Shadow Mountain Community Church Choir
:
"What He's Done"
Click to listen on YouTube
"I Got Saved"
Click to listen on YouTube
"I Speak Jesus"
Click to listen on YouTube
Friends along life's
way:
![]()
Friday evening we enjoyed dinner with Richard and Elnora Dresselhaus, who are longtime friends of our friend Marilyn. In fact Richard was her pastor
for many years and will conduct her service this next Saturday. We first met the Dresselhauses during a visit in 2016 but have been familiar with his ministry for many years before that as Brooksyne and I would read his articles in the weekly Evangel. He still writes abbreviated messages every single day and hasn't missed a single day since 2011 on his One For The Road
blog!
![]()
Saturday evening we joined two longtime Daily Encouragement readers for dinner in Carlsbad, Steve and Betsy Nickless. We have really appreciated
their friendship and earnest walk with the Lord as we've come to know them over the years. Their children are committed to Christ, active in Christian service and raising their children in the ways of the Lord. They celebrate their 41st anniversary
today!
More sights from Southern
California
We took a hike along the tidal pools on Point
Loma.
Click on photo to
enlarge
Ship entering San Diego harbor from Point
Loma.
Downtown San Diego is in the
background.
Click on photo to
enlarge
![]()
Our view from the pool area at the home where we are
staying.
Flowers along the shore are vibrant and plentiful this year due to the abundance of rain. A walk in the neighborhood is so refreshing as flowers of
every color, size and shape along with the multiple types of cactus's accentuate the resident's yards.
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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
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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