✝ Daily Encouragement (6/4/24) "Losing Sensitivity"
Published: Tue, 06/04/24
Don't forget to add
[email protected] to your address book so we'll be sure to
land in your inbox!
Having trouble viewing this email? Click here.
The online
Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Mobile users:
Visit Daily Encouragement on your mobile browser, hit "Add to
home screen" or "Add page shortcut." This creates an instant
Daily Encouragement App!
A new message
is updated
most weekdays,
usually by
Noon Eastern
Time (USA).
(Click refresh or reload for current message) Tuesday, June 4, 2024  Shenk's
Mill Covered
Bridge
(Click on photo to enlarge) "Losing Sensitivity" Message
summary:
Today,
as God’s
standards of
morality are
mocked and
shrugged off
by
defiance or
indifference,
many have lost
all
sensitivity to
evil.
Let us not
lose our
sensitivity to
evil. Listen to our message on your audio player. "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned" (Ephesians 4:18-20). Brooksyne
bought an
interesting
plant aptly
named
"sensitive
plant" (Mimosa
pudica).
It's also
known as
sleepy plant,
action plant,
humble plant,
touch-me-not,
or shame
plant. If you
touch the
leaves the
leaves on the
stem you touch
immediately
droop down and
sometimes the
entire stem
drops down
from an
uplifted
position. It
is that
sensitive to
touch. But
leave it alone
for a few
minutes and
return to
their proper
position (see
video below).
Although
we should be
sensitive to
others and
normally
appreciate
those who are,
we've also met
people who are
overly
sensitive and
are easily
offended. I
recently heard
a story about
a man who was
leading a
group and saw
several
unfamiliar
faces. He said
"I see we have
several
strange faces
with us this
morning". He
was using the
word
"strangers"
for newcomers
but as I
understand the
newcomers took
it to mean he
was saying
they had
strange faces
and were
personally
offended!
In
reality we can
err in being
too sensitive
or not
sensitive
enough both in
regard to how
we treat
others and how
we respond to
others.
Today
let us
consider a
verse that
speaks of
losing
sensitivity to
God's moral
standards, a
condition that
is pandemic in
our age.
"They
are darkened
in their
understanding
and separated
from the life
of God because
of the
ignorance that
is in them due
to the
hardening of
their hearts.
Having lost
all
sensitivity,
they have
given
themselves
over to
sensuality so
as to indulge
in every kind
of impurity,
and they are
full of greed.
That, however,
is not the way
of life you
learned"
(Ephesians
4:18-20).
"Having
lost all
sensitivity"
Other versions
use phrases
like:
"They
have become
callous" (ESV)
they
no longer have
any sense of
shame" (GWN)
Their
sense of right
and wrong once
dulled" (NJB)
"being
past feeling"
(KJV)
Pastor
Steven Cole
describes the
gradual loss
of
sensitivity,
The
first time a
person commits
a sin, he
thinks, “I’ll
just do it
this once.”
But, after he
does it, his
conscience
bothers him.
He feels
guilty. But,
the next time,
it’s a bit
easier. He
rationalizes
it by
thinking,
“Well, others
do worse!”
Each time, it
becomes easier
to sin as his
conscience
develops a
spiritual
callous.
Finally, he
gives himself
over to sin
with abandon.
He has no
shame about
it.
The
verse
continues, "they
have given
themselves
over to
sensuality so
as to indulge
in every kind
of impurity,
and they are
full of greed".
Today, as
God’s
standards of
morality are
mocked and
shrugged off
bydefiance or
indifference,
we see this
spiritual
insensitivity
and
callousness
toward evil
growing at a
fevered pitch.
Thus we
frankly ponder
what the next
frontier will
be when that
which is
presently
considered
deviant
becomes
socially
acceptable and
then
celebrated
(although not
by all). It
may be
something we
can hardly
imagine but
just think
about where we
are now and
that which was
unimaginable
only a few
years ago, by
Christian and
non-Christian
alike.
Just consider the moral anarchy in our own lifetime. More will always be needed, a new way of doing evil will have to be invented. This can be seen in so many of Satan's vices such as gambling, alcohol, drugs, pornography, and sexual immorality. Brooksyne recently heard on the Christian news about a drag queen in Australia invited to an elementary school who not only promoted her lifestyle as a drag queen but went on to introduce bestiality to the young students. Parents were up in arms, but who knows what's next around the pike. Each
vice so often
begins with a
"harmless",
scaled down
introduction
but will so
often become
the master to
many and take
them where
they never
intended to
go, keep them
much longer
than they ever
intended to
stay, and
change them in
ways they
never
expected.
Do
people
actually set
goals for
themselves to
live in the
gutter? No, of
course not,
but remember
Satan distorts
his evil plan
so that, if
we're not
careful, even
those who
profess to
follow Christ
will be
brought down.
"That, however, is not the way of life you learned" . This is the last part of our Scripture selection today. Let's be on the look-out, avoid evil and walk in the path of righteousness. Let us not lose our sensitivity to evil. Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13 Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, we're warned in Proverbs 4:27 that we must avoid evil and walk straight ahead, not taking one step off the right way. Help us to be sensitive to Your Holy Spirit that keeps us on track helping us to avoid that which would lead us astray from the righteous path laid out for us. We want to be sober and alert, never hardening our hearts but always seeking to be sensitive to that which You want to teach us so that we will fully conform to Your will for our lives. Amen. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources Sensitive
Plant (Mimosa
pudica) short
video 
Yesterday
I took another
bike ride
through the
countryside
along with a
ride on the
Lancaster
Junction rail
trail.
(Click on photo to enlarge) 
Along
the rail trail
is an Amish
farm and the
children have
a small stand
selling
seasonal
veggies,
plants, cut
flowers and
cold drinks,
all on the
honor system.
The
tiger lilies
are blooming!
(Click on photo to enlarge)
To
receive the
"Daily
Encouragement"
each
Monday-Friday
use our
sign-up form
or this
page to
subscribe to
our free email
list. You can
also subscribe
through a Wordpress
email
subscription.
(See the email
subscription
on the top
right side
after opening
this page.)
We
want to thank
all who
financially
support our
ministry.
We realize
there are many
fine
ministries and
causes
requesting
support but if
you would like
information
about making a
donation to
our ministry
see here.
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
You
can send a
check payable
to "Daily
Encouragement
Net" to:
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
495
Kraybill
Church Road
Mount
Joy, PA 17552
 To
donate
directly
online click
here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering to:
Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
specialized
chaplaincy
(Daily
Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
chaplaincy
ministry).
Thank
you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
2024
offerings YTD:
$10,040.00
Daily Encouragement on:  Wordpress
 iHeart
radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact. 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 and a variety of other versions. 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." © Copyright 2024 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |
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