✝ Daily Encouragement (3/24/23) "The Lord Is Watching"

Published: Fri, 03/24/23

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.

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Friday, March 24, 2023

On a neighborhood bike ride last night I stopped by to visit our neighbor Eli who was planting cabbage. They have just reloaded the planter and are heading to the field to plant more cabbage plugs.
Click on photo to enlarge

"The Lord Is Watching"

Message summary: We greatly rejoice that "The LORD watches over the way of the righteous" . May you find great assurance in this most important truth today!

Listen to our message on your audio player.

“The LORD watches over the way of the righteous” (Psalm 1:6).

In recent years we’ve been hearing about the variety of concern regarding privacy and to what extent we are being spied upon by tech companies, foreign governments and even by our own government (at least here in the USA). The technical capabilities of watching everything we do is growing day by day and has vastly changed in our lifetime, especially the last twenty years.

Yesterday there were hearings in Washington about this and there actually seemed to a bit of bipartisan concern. One wonders where all this will lead. We should have many concerns about these “watchful eyes”.

But today let us consider the divine watchful eyes. Aren’t you glad that the Lord watches over us from the moment of our conception through all eternity.

"The LORD watches over the way of the righteous." The righteous find great assurance in this truth. Among my favorite more obscure verses in the Bible is this promise, “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). The righteous are blessed in the cognizance of God’s watchful care.

But the rebellious do not desire to be “watched over”. One of the first evidences of Adam and Eve’s transgression and rebellion against God was a desire to hide. They didn’t want God watching over them. Rebellion does that. Millions live their lives wanting nothing to do with God. The apostle Paul writes, “For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret” (Ephesians 5:12).

The concept of God watching over His children is a common theme in the Bible, particularly in the Psalms. Here are few verses of reassurance:

“He will not let your foot slip— He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand.”
“The LORD watches over all who love Him.”
“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.”

I trust that I am writing to people today who have accepted by faith the sacrificial death of God’s Son. If so, the Bible describes your understanding and acceptance as “the righteousness that comes by faith".

We have essentially two choices today: to live in submission to God or to live in rebellion toward Him. My decision is to live in submission to God and His Holy Word. Will you join me? In doing so we greatly rejoice that "The LORD watches over the way of the righteous". May you find great assurance in this most important truth today!

Be encouraged today, ( Hebrews 3:13)

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, Your watchful eye brings great assurance to my heart as You lead me in the way of the righteous day by day. You watch over me in my time of recreation and in the midst of my struggles and losses. In times of temptation Your watchful eyes and words of Scripture prevent me from yielding to sin. I invite You to protect me from those who seek to do evil as You watch over me day and night, moment by moment. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Brooksyne’s Note: We choose either to submit to God or live in rebellion toward Him (as indicated in our last paragraph). This reminds me of a message I heard on the radio by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. She told the story of her preacher father who was a tremendous evangelist. He witnessed to folks everywhere he went though Nancy admits that he often used a method that at times would embarrass his children. He would witness about Christ and challenge his listeners to pray the prayer of salvation. He’d then pull out a card and ask them to sign their name to the card that (in effect) said, “Today I accept the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour, to be born again and receive forgiveness for my sins.” But if they were not interested in praying for salvation he’d turn the card over and ask them to sign their name. The message on the other side stated (to the effect), “Today I refuse the offer to be saved. I choose not to receive Christ as my Saviour.” That would really stir some people up as they didn’t want to commit to that message either. But the real fact is it’s one or the other. There are no in-betweens or 'lukewarms" according to Scripture or acceptable to God.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"I've Never Been Out Of His Care" Click to listen on YouTube Dallas Holm

The eyes of God are upon me,
He sees everything I do.
The arms of God are around me,
They keep me safe and secure.

And He knows where I am
Every hour of every day
He knows each thought I think
He knows each word that I might say.
And although there've been times
I've been out of His will
I've never been out of His care.

This changing world alarms me,
With war, with sin, with strife.
But my loving Father charms me,
With joy, with peace, and with life.

Two of the older children place the plants in the ground while Eli directs the team. The cabbage is grown from seed planted in the greenhouse and is ready for planting in the ground at around 4-5 weeks. The family works together and the 20 acre organic vegetable farm is able to provide for the family's needs. During the summer they sell direct to neighbors in a roadside stand as well as wholesale and through the CSA.
Click on photo to enlarge

In the background is the Kleen-Rite company distribution center (red building) where we have served as chaplains for many years and will visit again today.
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Back toward the farmhouse! Eli told me they would work till dark or the rain, which came later. Last year Eli's barn burned down and the community rebuilt it the very next day. We shared about that in a message, "A Lesson From A Barn Fire"
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Sunset across Kraybill Church Road from Eli's farm.
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1956 John Deere tractor on Kraybill Church Road

Another neighbor was putt-putting around his yard in his 1956 John Deere tractor. He is a serviceman for John Deere so I suspect he will be restoring this tractor.
Click on photo to enlarge

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