✝ Daily Encouragement (10/16/23) "Living In The Preface"

Published: Mon, 10/16/23

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

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Monday, October 16, 2023

Scenic view in Vermont
Photo taken by our friend Jim Hain

"Living In The Preface"

Message summary: Today we consider living in the preface of a never-ending book and Christ's command to " lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" . At the moment of Christ's return we realize "nothing else matters".

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"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).

I heard a message by missionary Phil Jackson that illustrated our present life as a brief preface to a book that really has no ending chapter as we live on through eternity. Presently all we know in our own life and that of others is the preface. We have so little comprehension concerning the rest of the book.

This coming Lord's Day I am teaching from our daily passage as part of a church series on the Sermon on the Mount. For this section the main emphasis is "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven". This is vital since we tend to place so much emphasis on the preface of life!

I suspect each living generation considers a special significance to their own. But the Bible tells us, "generations come and generations go" (Ecclesiastes 1:4).

The main thing is preparing ourselves spiritually for what follows this brief life, which is merely the preface of our book. That emphasis should be to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. But so many give little or no thought to this preparation because their minds are on earthly things. And that's a struggle we all have to some degree.

At 40 years of age Moses made a critical decision to identify with God and His people. Essentially he was practicing what Jesus would teach we are to do some 1,400 years later, "laying up treasures in heaven".

"By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward" (Hebrews 11:24-26). The titles, pleasures, achievements, and treasures in his day paled in comparison to God.

I encourage you to ponder this Scripture passage today especially the last phrase, "he was looking ahead to his reward". That ought to also be our primary outlook today. Are we looking ahead to our reward? As we live in the preface of life's book are we laying up treasures in heaven?

Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13 )

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we want to enjoy the lasting pleasure of doing that which is right as we look ahead to our eternal reward. Our lives are but a whirlwind, here today and gone tomorrow. That which we treasured here on earth will break, lose value, turn to dust, rust or disappear. Nothing in all of this temporal world can compare to the sin-free splendor of heaven or hearing Your words of commendation, "Well done, good and faithful servant." May we never lose sight of why we were created nor what our purpose is which is to honor and glorify You. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

Here's the selection of worship songs from the Calvary Church Choir and Orchestra from yesterday's service Watch video on YouTube Brooksyne's note: I always enjoy our worship songs but today I will highlight our third selection, "Holy is He". It's an older song arranged by David Clydesdale. The congregation joins us after a bit with "Holy, Holy, Holy" and the choir sings along. On the third verse of "Holy, Holy, Holy" the sopranos and tenors sing a descant and it was such a special time of worship for me. I hope it will touch your heart as well.

Stephen's note: In the book, "When Christ Comes" Max Lucado describes a grand vision of the Lord's return. He writes that once we get a glimpse of that glorious future event we will realize that "Nothing else matters." He gives a perspective contrasting all the "treasures" that so often consume our minds and hearts on this side of eternity and what will happen at the return of the Lord.

"The angels bow their heads. The elders remove their crowns. And before you is a figure so consuming that you know, instantly you know: Nothing else matters. Forget stock markets and school reports. Sales meetings and football games. Nothing is newsworthy. All that mattered, matters no more, for Christ has come."

The three words that prompted my recollection of this reading are "Nothing else matters". Let us stay faithful today in proclaiming that which really does matter! The following excerpt is from a Max Lucado album from the late 90's. Here's the narration that really touched me: Listen on YouTube

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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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