✝ Daily Encouragement (1/23/24) "Unwavering Commitment"
Published: Tue, 01/23/24
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 23, 2024
Winter scenes have blanketed many regions this last
week.
Duke, a friend from Delaware, sent us a photo of his walk in the
woods.
"Unwavering
Commitment"
Note:
This week we have developed a four part series based upon four characteristics demonstrated by
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Our first message was "Uncompromising Convictions".
Message summary: There are several things in life that should never be a "phase", the most important being our life-long, unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ.
Listen
to our
message on your audio
player.
"But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up" (Daniel 3:12). We often use the term "going through a phase" in life. This is particularly true in early life, especially teenagers when social pressure and fads are especially prominent. Some we look back on and say, "Did I really do that", like wearing bell bottoms (70's) and men getting permanents (I think Bill Gaither started that).
At least we didn't have fads like boys pretending to be girls or vice versa let alone the unbelievable "furry" fad.
We
wonder
what crazy fad is just around the corner that we can't even imagine
now!
We have also had different interests invarious phases of life. In our twenties and thirties Brooksyne and I both really enjoyed playing tennis. Not so much anymore, actually not at all, due to aging factors
such as knee mobility issues. However this spring we are going to try to play pickleball since we have a long driveway, though not very wide. We'll see how that goes.
Brooksyne recalls her years of counted cross stitching, crafts, calligraphy and sewing her own clothing. That too is a thing of the past. Her sewing machine is used more for repairing than creating these days with a few exceptions. Some of our interest phases were really short lived such as inline skating. We were in our early forties at the time and had seen young people gracefully swoosh by on biking trails. It looked like so much fun! We each bought a pair and still remember that it was the first and last time we tried them on a paved recreational trail near New Bedford, Massachusetts. We were not graceful and we certainly didn't swoosh by anyone. I should have known from my lack of proficiency at roller skating that this was not a good idea. In roller skating I am told my style of roller skating looks more like I'm trying to walk on stilts.That's what it feels like as well. I wobble and stumble my way to the nearest railing, holding on for dear life. Some tell me (including Brooksyne) that I look a lot like Herman Munster out on the rink. In regard to certain expressions of ministry we have also had phases. For the first 25 years we focused on our service to local churches where I served as a pastor. In the last 25 years (which includes some overlap) we have focused on our corporate chaplaincy and this Daily Encouragement writing ministry. But there are several things in life that should never be a "phase", the most important being ourunwavering commitment to Jesus Christ. Today we consider the second of four characteristics Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah demonstrated: unwavering commitment. They faced their biggest test. (In this case it was just Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah better known as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. It is assumed Daniel was away). The ungodly edict was unambiguous and straightforward, "You must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up" (Daniel 3:5). The consequencesof not doing so also left little wiggle room, "Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace" (Daniel 3:6). But these three men made a commitment to their God and surely recalled the first two of the Ten Commandments:
First Commandment: "You shall have no other gods before
me."
Second Commandment: "You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below." To these three young men, following their God was not a phase . They had made a firm commitment and resolved in their hearts and actions to keep it. Thus the message to the king from the troublemaking tattlers was this, "They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up". Years earlier the prophet Elijah had challenged the people, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him" (1 Kings 18:21). "Waver" means to be undecided between two courses of action; be irresolute. Synonyms are hesitate, dither, equivocate, vacillate, waffle, fluctuate. However there is no evidence that these three men of faith wavered at all. Rather they demonstrated unswerving courage as they faced this life or death test which we will share about tomorrow. Are you demonstrating unwavering commitment in your walk with God? If so, you can blend your voice with the apostle Paul in declaring aloud, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12).
Be encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
![]() Study note: In politics it's common to overstate or generalize something to make a point even though the overstatement may not be true. This tactic can be used from both sides of the political spectrum. In today's text notice carefully the first part of the charge against the three Hebrews, "who pay no attention to you, your Majesty". That was not true. In the verses from chapter 2 that immediately precede the test of chapter 3 we read, "Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court" (Daniel 2:48,49). There's no evidence at all they paid no attention to the king or were in anyway derelict in their duties as administrators, but the broad brush smear was very effective then and still is in politics, in the church, the workplace, the family and other areas of life. That's why we need to be thoughtful in our wording and in our discernment as well.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"I Choose Christ" Watch on YouTube
Karen Peck and New River
"I Know Whom I Have Believed" Watch on YouTube Marshall Hall "For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12).
Check out this latest fad among teenagers:
Southern Alamance Middle School removes bathroom mirrors because of
TikTok concerns (video)
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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
https://www.dailyencouragement.net
Mail service provider is aweber.com
495 Kraybill Church Rd
Mount Joy PA 17552
USA
Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options