✝ Daily Encouragement (9/27/23) "The Sight Of Encouragement"
Published: Wed, 09/27/23
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
You are receiving this email because you have signed up to receive our Daily Encouragement messages or it was forwarded to you. Don't forget to add [email protected] to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! Having trouble viewing this email? Click here.
You are receiving this email because you have signed up to receive our Daily Encouragement messages or it was forwarded to you. Don't forget to add [email protected] to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! Having trouble viewing this email? Click here.
![]() Home Archives About Us ![]() ![]() Wednesday, September 27, 2023
"The Sight Of
Encouragement"
Message summary:
I know many people whose very presence is a source of joy. Just seeing them, even from a distance, brings a measure of encouragement.
Listen
to our message on your audio player.
"The brothers there [Rome] had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged" (Acts 28:15). "He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed" (Proverbs 11:25). ![]()
Joe and Mary Lou Sherer are long time friends that we first met when Joe was
the pastor of Mount Joy Mennonite Church where he pastored for thirty years. For the last ten+ years he has been the pastor in Willow Street, which is south of Lancaster. I have spoken for him in both churches. Turns out he is on a sabbatical and they chose to visit our church this last Sunday!
Joe and Mary Lou are a faithful, steadfast ministry couple who are just a
few years younger than us. When I saw them I was encouraged by their presence, bringing to mind our daily Scripture text. At the mere sight of some people, like Joe and Mary Lou, one is instantly encouraged! I sure hope you have people like that in your life.
Paul's journey to Rome is recorded in the latter chapters of Acts. It was a wearying journey with lots of disruptions along the way, including a harrowing shipwreck. As Paul approached the great city some brethren had heard he was coming. They adjusted their schedules, laid aside other commitments and traveled from Rome so they could come out to personally greet him: "The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us." Today's Scripture portion records Paul's joy-filled response when this group of brothers met him and his fellow workers. Paul had never been to Rome prior to this and these brothers are not identified by name. Perhaps they were men he had met elsewhere in previous ministry locations. However I wonder if he even knew these men. Perhaps he was just overjoyed that the church cared enough to send these Christian brothers out to meet him. "At the sight of these men" Try to picture this scene with us. Before there's any evidence that Paul had even spoken to them his heart must have been warmed at the sight of these welcoming brothers. What an energizing joy this must have brought him. Early on in Paul's Christian walk he was discipled by Barnabas, a man who had attained a nickname meaning, "Son of encouragement". Many passages of Scripture indicate that Paul was a man who encouraged others (e.g. Acts 20:1,2). And now others were encouraging him! That's the real blessing of mutual and reciprocal ministry.
But musing on this passage another detail comes to mind. Several times in
the epistles Paul alludes to having an eye problem. How well did he see? We presume he saw these men coming at a distance. Did he squint and wave as he recognized their good intent? Did those traveling with him say, "Look, Paul, we have a greeting party coming our way!"
I know many people like these men and I hope you do as well. Their very presence is a source of joy. Just seeing them from a distance brings a measure of encouragement.
The term "energy givers" describes these kinds of people. A
reading of Romans 16 will indicate Paul's rich reservoir of human support and friendship among his Christian brothers and sisters in Rome alone.
"At the sight of these men" Paul did two things: 1) "He thanked God."
The sight of these men prompted an
exclamation of thanks to God. Now that's a high standard regarding the impact of our presence to others. When people see us do they thank God?
2) He "was encouraged." Regular readers know this is a major emphasis in my life and that of Brooksyne's. It's at the very heart of our "daily encouragement" ministry. We often pray that our presence may bring spiritual courage to those with whom we interact day by day. We offer several challenges to our readers today:
1) Value the people that God has placed in your life. Are you developing and
adding to those who bless you? Do you recognize them as "instruments sent from God"? Do you thank God for them and let them know how much you value their friendship?
2) Seek to be a friend such as these men whom Paul saw on his way to Rome. Find ways to encourage others and share God's love with a world in need. May we be the sight of encouragement to others! 3) Do not compartmentalize your efforts to be an encourager! Everywhere you go seek to leave your mark; at work, in the marketplace, wherever. 4) Pastors and church folks: Are you visiting the shut-ins, those no longer able to attend regular services who may be homebound or in nursing homes? Many of these places have chaplains, but the importance of continuity from the past cannot be overestimated. You are their connection to the "real world" and their life as they once knew it. Your visit will be a blessing and you will also be refreshed!
Be encouraged today,
(Hebrews 3:13
)
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
![]()
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Let It Start In Me"
Watch video on YouTube Gaither Vocal Band
![]() Willow Street Mennonite Church Years ago we had an opportunity to share our chaplaincy ministry with this congregation which celebrated their 300th anniversary in 2010. The church is pastored by Joe Sherer, whom we wrote about today. I'm pretty sure it is the oldest church in which I have been a guest speaker. It is currently a vibrant, muti-generational church where we received a warm welcome. I was enriched by the history but also the evidence of strong faithfulness to historic Christianity. Sadly many older churches either cease to exist or lose their Biblical foundations. ![]() Even as we prepare our daily encouragement messages together and serve as a team in our chaplaincy work we enjoy making church presentations together.
The theme of the service was the dignity of labor. As we sang a hymn the church folks were asked to bring an item related to their work and place it on tables in the front of the sanctuary. Looking at this photo can you imagine what they represent? (Speaking of peaches, the peach pie was representative of the work done at home. Pastor Joe and Mary Lou got to take this one home with
them.)
![]() Joe and his wife Mary Lou have three daughters.
Over the years Joe Sherer has provided some helpful content on our
website:
A Commitment to Integrity (Wouldn't it be nice if politicians followed this!)
Mary Lou is an outstanding photographer as seen in our lead photo
today.
Finally today:
This was the message that greeted customers yesterday morning at Sunset
Grocery in Lebanon County, PA.
To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see here to sign up for our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)
Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription
information intact.
We want to thank all who financially supported our ministry. We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support but if you would like information about making a donation to our ministry see here.
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world. ![]() ![]()
Thank you,
Stephen & Brooksyne 2023 YTD offerings to Daily Encouragement Net: 15,931.00
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."
© Copyright 2023 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
|
Thanks for reading our message!
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
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