✝ Daily Encouragement (12/20/23) "Unto Us"
Published: Wed, 12/20/23
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Wednesday, December 20, 2023
 "Unto
Us"
Message summary:
Let us rejoice that God has indeed spoken unto us. We urge each of our readers to
listen!
Listen
to our
message on your audio player.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6). “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken unto us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe” (Hebrews 1:1,2). We are in the midst of the busy holiday season and many are still shopping, visiting, cleaning, wrapping and delivering gifts, baking and preparing for the eve of Christmas and Christmas day itself. Many are traveling or expecting guests. We will be visiting my brother Pat and family in Easton, PA on New Years Eve and then on the way home driving through Bethlehem (PA) As children we looked forward to all the special events that surrounded the holiday. Thankfully we both grew up in Christian homes where we learned much about the first Christmas by playing Bible characters. Brooksyne has fond memories of participating in Christmas plays, including that of an angel who made the glorious announcement, "For unto You is born this day in the city of David".
Not only were these plays performed in church settings but, growing up in a far less secular society, many of
the Christmas hymns and pageantry were presented in the public schools when we were young. And now the very notion that a candy cane turned upside down may stand for Jesus is a source of controversy.
Today we want to encourage you with the little phrase "unto us"
. It’s often repeated
throughout the season from the word of Isaiah the prophet who declares, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” which Handel incorporated verbatim into the song.
The challenge during this season is to remember the real message of Christmas. It’s not the gifts we give or receive from others. It’s not the abundance of gadgets that retailers offer to materialistic America. If we base our estimation of Christmas on what we did or didn’t get or what we gave or couldn’t give we’ll be missing the real point of the reason for the season.
Our focus needs to be the gift of God’s Son to an unreceptive, apathetic, undeserving, and mocking
world.
The writer of Hebrews begins his rich epistle in such an interesting and powerful way. All other epistles except 1 John begin with some identification of the human author. Hebrews starts right off in a stately manner dealing with God’s message to mankind and the absolute preeminence of His Son. However let us notice just one tiny phrase in the daily Scripture text which really is a "Christmas" verse, "He has spoken unto us by His Son". Aren’t you glad God has spoken and indeed continues to speak! I recall a book I read in college by the late Francis Schaeffer titled, “He is here and He is not silent". How very true. He speaks to us in many ways, but primarily and fundamentally through His Son. What a great blessing it is that He has not ignored us! After the Fall He began His quest for us and called to Adam, “Where are you?” He’s been speaking to His people and calling them ever since. Today He continues to lovingly hearken to the human race, but relatively few pay attention. What about you? Are you listening? Are you responding in faith and obedience? Let us rejoice that God has indeed spoken unto us. We urge each of our readers to listen!
Be encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, even as You spoke to the prophets of long ago You still speak to the hearts of Your people. You’ve called us out from among the world to stand for righteousness in a godless society. You will not be silenced in a world full of noisy gongs and clanging symbols. As we contemplate the Christmas story young Mary is a prime example of one whose yielded heart withstood the ridicule and awkwardness of her special role in
the conception and birth of the Savior of the world. You continue to speak to us who choose to fear the law of God rather than the law of man. Help us to turn our ears away from perishable and worthless noisy gongs. Instead captivate our hearts for all eternity toward Emmanuel, God with us.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
Frank and Steve are two plumber friends at JK
Mechanical who brightened up the Christmas banquet the other night.
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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
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495 Kraybill Church Rd
Mount Joy PA 17552
USA
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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