✝ Daily Encouragement (6/3/24) "Learning To Please The Lord"
Published: Mon, 06/03/24
Updated: Mon, 06/03/24
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(Click refresh or reload for current message) Monday, June 3, 2024  Antique
truck and
motorcycle in
Mount Joy
(Click on photo to enlarge) "Learning To Please The Lord" Message
summary:
Today we
consider a
lifelong
learning
pursuit
:
learning to
please the
Lord. Listen to our message on your audio player. “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them” (Ephesians 5:6-11).Yesterday
driving along
Main Street in
Mount Joy we
passed an
old
delightfully unrestored
Ford pickup
truck (our
lead photo).
The old
motorcycle in
the bed adds
to the charm!
Old vehicles
like this can
prompt some
old vehicle
memories. This
photo shows me
crammed into
an old VW
beetle which
prompts a
learning
memory from
over 50 years
ago.
 Brooksyne
grew up on a
farm and by
the time she
was 13 was
driving a
tractor. Since
her dad bought
cars with
manual
transmissions
using a clutch
was her
experience
from the very
beginning.
But
I learned to
drive using an
automatic
transmission
since that's
what my dad
owned.
My
older brother,
Pat, had a VW
beetle with a
manual
transmission
and gave me
permission to
take it for a
drive. He told
me using a
clutch was
different than
automatic and
tried to
explain. But
being a cocky
teenager I
brushed his
advice aside,
confident that
whatever it
was I could
handle it.
So
I went for a
drive with my
Mom and two
other girls
who I can’t
recall. I
thought one of
them was my
younger
sister,
Genelle, but
she couldn’t
recall this
incident and
if she had
been a part of
it she almost
certainly
would have
remembered!
(And this was
before I met
Brooksyne.)
We took off driving around Independence Missouri and what do you know, I kept popping the clutch; I just couldn’t get the hang of it. At
one point I
came to the
railroad
tracks
crossing 35th
Street west of
Noland Road
when of all
things I
stalled on
the railroad
tracks
(they're still
there, see here
on Google
maps)
.
Lo and behold
a huge freight
train was
blowing its
horn and
coming toward
us. I panicked
and couldn’t
get it moving
so I jumped
out and some
other drivers
helped me push
that little VW
bug off the
tracks.
Thankfully the
train was
advancing very
slowly so it
really wasn’t
a close call,
but the pitter
patter in my
heart
convinced me
that it was
only several
yards away.
I managed to make it home and after that frightening experience I got serious and quickly got the hang of using a clutch. Not too many years later I drove a propane delivery truck and farm machinery while in college. For seven years I drove a full size school bus in the early years of our ministry. Although
I haven’t
driven a
manual
transmission
for many years
I am quite
sure I could
resume quite
naturally
without
popping the
clutch! After
getting the
hang of
driving a
clutch it's
kind of like
getting back
on a bicycle
after many
years of not
riding one!
Some skills in life may be a bit hard to learn at first, such as learning to drive with a clutch, or learning to swim, riding a bike or a horse. But once the skill is learned it comes naturally after that and does not need to be re-learned. We don’t forget how to swim or ride a bike even if we haven’t done so for many years. But
in regard to
spiritual
truths and
pleasing the
Lord learning
is a lifelong
pursuit.
Today’s
entire passage
is so powerful
and
informative
though I only
want to focus
on on a single
phrase, “trying
to learn what
is pleasing to
the Lord".
The
Precept
commentary
states:
“Believers
are required
to walk as
children of
light,
examining and
determining
what is
acceptable to
the Lord. They
are to
regulate their
conduct by a
regard to what
is
well-pleasing
to Him. That
is the
ultimate
standard of
judging
whether
anything is
right or
wrong, worthy
or unworthy of
those who have
been
enlightened
from above.
‘Trying to
learn’ means
putting to the
test for the
purpose of
approving,
proving,
commending or
accepting as
good and
authentic. As
our minds are
renewed
through God’s
Word, we prove
in our
experience
what pleases
God.” *
Romans
12:2 states, “Do
not be
conformed to
this world,
but be
transformed by
the renewal of
your mind,
that by
testing you
may discern
what is the
will of God,
what is good
and acceptable
and perfect".
Here are several principles from Ephesians 5 for those who have a heart in “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord”. These can Biblically inform us as to how we may please the Lord regarding any issue we may question: 1)
We are called
to be
imitators of
God. (v.1)
2) There should not be a hint of evil in our behavior. (v.2) 3) We are not to be deceived by empty words. (v.6) 4) The Bible prohibits ungodly partnerships. (v.7) 5) We are called to live as children of light (v.8) 6) We are to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness (v.11) 7) We are to be very careful, then, how we live—not as unwise but as wise (v.15) Today may we all deeply understand just how much our heavenly Father loves and cares for us and again freely submit to Him as obedient children earnestly “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord" . Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13 Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily
prayer:
Father,
we are called
to imitate
You. When we
imitate You
there is not a
hint of evil
in our
behavior; we
are not
deceived by
empty words
but live as
children of
light and have
nothing to do
with the
fruitless
deeds of
darkness but
rather expose
them. Help us
to be careful,
then, how we
live; not as
unwise or
uninterested
learners, but
as wise, quick
and enthused
learners of
that which
pleases You.
We want to
continue to
learn that
which is
pleasing to
You all the
days we
inhabit the
earth. In the
name of Jesus
we pray. Amen. The
version used
today is the
Amplified
which captures
the sense of
active,
ongoing
learning and
discerning. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Holy
Forever"
Watch
on YouTube
From our
service at
Calvary Church
yesterday
(includes
Scripture
reading) 
On
Saturday
afternoon I
took a bike
ride through
the
countryside
between Mount
Joy and
Manheim and
passed this
Amish farmer
along with his
children
assisting him
planting.
(Click on photo to enlarge) 
Yesterday
we had a
Crossroads
class picnic
in a local
park and had
so much
delicious food
that most
still had some
to take home
and eat for
dinner.
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