✝ Daily Encouragement (1/2/24) "Steadfast" (Part 1)
Published: Tue, 01/02/24
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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![]() Home Archives About Us ![]() ![]() Tuesday, January 2, 2024
"Steadfast"
(Part
1)
Message summary:
This week we introduce my theme verse for 2024 and will carefully consider the word
steadfast
and urge each reader to make it your aspiration to be
steadfast!
Listen
to our
message on your aud
io player
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Each year I choose a verse to focus on for the new year. This past year it was Lamentations 3:21-23 , "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness". I have used this verse in my teachings, my email sig line and in direct encouragement to others over the past year. Of course I will continue to do so! When I consider an annual verse Earl Martin always comes to mind. Earl, an elderly farmer and preacher, stood up in the rural church we attended in early January 2003 and enthusiastically shared his theme verse for the coming year, "The joy of the Lord is my strength" from Nehemiah 8:9. This verse brings a great spiritual perspective to all ages, including seniors, as was the case for Earl. Little did we know that Sunday morning that Earl would go to be with the Lord that summer and this verse was a backdrop for the theme of his funeral which added special personal meaning. We will never forget his grandchildren singing, "Blessed Assurance" at that service. This year, 2024, my theme verse is today's daily text. It's a verse that has been special to me for 45 years, introduced to me in a most memorable way.
In 1979 I went through the ordination process, which included testing, background checks, references and
finally a meeting with the board of elders (Gr: presbyters). Only 24 years of age, I was sitting at a massive conference table in Camp Hill, PA with the elders who had served in ministry for many years.
*¹
This was the final step in my approval for ordination. The elders asked various questions concerning my call to ministry, Bible knowledge, doctrinal understanding and so forth. It
was very stressful and wearying. I suppose some of them may have relished causing the stress!
But as the meeting came to a close one of the elders, Edward Menaldino, a very distinguished Italian minister who pastored Calvary Temple, a large church on Philadelphia’s south side, slowly stood up, paused, and deliberately made direct eye contact with me. He then solemnly and slowly quoted this Scripture portion from memory with the Spirit’s anointing. It was probably from the KJV. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord".
Perhaps that’s why this passage has stood out over the years as it has been my constant promise through
our years of Christian service. Only God would know that the church we were planting at the time would have many ups and downs, difficulties would abound. Of course that's just part of life and ministry. It's true for all of us.
I would need the Spirit’s prompting to never shrink back, but to
"always give myself fully to
the work of the Lord knowing that my labor in the Lord is not in vain".
But today and all of this week I just focus on one word from the text, "steadfast" Here's a
description.*²
This week we will carefully consider this word and each make it our aspiration to be
steadfast!
Be encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
![]()
*¹ The elders seemed old at that time. Most of them were actually younger than I am
now!
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Stay Strong" Watch on YouTube
Danny Gorkey This song really goes with the message
today and our theme verse for 2024. Here are the lyrics:
I've been waiting for breakthrough
I've been praying for change I know You'll work it out for good, but how long will it take? I've been asking for healing And I'm not gonna lie I'm ready for the miracle, God let it be this time But if I never see the promise On this side of the grave My hope might be shaken But my faith will never break Because I know the day is coming When You'll right all of the wrong So I'll praise You in the waiting And my faith will stay strong Yeah, ooh God, you taught me trust you You showed me how to believe You're the author and the finisher of what You start in me So I'm not gonna doubt it I'm gonna hold on to peace 'Cause If I have You and nothing else, I still have everything 'Cause if I never see the promise On this side of the grave My hope might be shaken But my faith will never break Because I know the day is coming When You'll right all of the wrong So I'll praise You in the waiting And my faith will stay strong I'll count it joy when I am tested 'Cause you bring beauty from my pain It's never wasted But if I never see the promise On this side of the grave My hope might be shaken But my faith will never break Because I know the day is coming When You'll right all of the wrong So I'll praise You in the waiting And my faith will stay strong Because I know the day is coming When You'll right all of the wrong So I'll praise You in the waiting And my faith will stay strong, will stay strong 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.)
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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