Daily Encouragement (10/4/21) "My Rescue Story"
Published: Mon, 10/04/21
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Monday, October 4, 2021 "My Rescue Story"
Listen to this message on your audio player. "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Galatians 1:3-5).
Yesterday following our church service I visited with Susanna who has an interesting rescue story. 46 years ago as an infant she was a part of a mission that brought plane loads of orphaned infants out of Vietnam. Operation Babylift was the name given to the mass evacuation of children from South Vietnam to the United States and other countries at the end of the Vietnam War, on April 3–26, 1975.*
Susanna was adopted by a loving Christian family here in Lancaster County and taught about the ways of the Lord. Her love for the Lord is seen in
her joyful countenance! In recent weeks she has been sitting on the front row where she exuberantly sings praises to God.
She's very inquisitive and yesterday when she looked at my suspenders Susanna she asked, "Are you wearing seatbelts?" Now that's a pretty interesting observation and I can understand how she could see the resemblance. Additionally, Susanna doesn't hesitate to let others know of her mild disability that affects her sense of understanding about certain matters. Admittedly, very few men wear suspenders in public (except the
Amish men and boys) and her logic in viewing them as seatbelts was a very good one.
Susanna has a very distinct rescue story. Only God knows, but she may have been one of those babies seen in our lead photo today.
But we all have a rescue story, whether it is that of a physical rescue or that of a spiritual rescue. It's a story expressed well in a Zach Williams song, "Rescue Story".
You are my rescue story
Lifted me up from the ashes Carried my soul from death to life Bringing me from glory to glory You are my rescue story These words in our daily text describe our great Savior's grand gospel rescue, "who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age".
"Who gave Himself for our sins"
J. Vernon McGee writes,
"Jesus Christ 'gave Himself for our sins'. There is nothing that we can add to the value of His sacrifice. Nothing! He gave Himself. What do you have to give, friend? Anything? Can you add anything to His sacrifice? He gave Himself. How wonderful and glorious that is! I am speechless when I read a verse like this. He gave Himself! He couldn’t give any more."
The outstanding song, "Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me", which we concluded our service with yesterday has this line.
What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give "To rescue us from the present evil age". Much of the New Testament is an emphasis on the significance of the cross and resurrection in our grand rescue, and how a rescued people can live as those who will one day inherit and inhabit a rescued creation. J.B. Lightfoot writes that "rescue, strikes the keynote of the epistle. The Gospel is a rescue, an emancipation from a state of bondage".
Have you been rescued? Call on Jesus today is our plea and He will rescue you from this present evil age!
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, there is no greater gift of grace that You can
give us than Your only begotten Son who paid the penalty for our sin, who rescued us from this evil age. What a glorious rescue unlike any other. I am reminded of the words of the apostle Paul, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable". But our hope is not only for the life we live here and now but for life eternal. Because we are made alive in Christ and our last enemy, death, will be destroyed we have a glorious eternal future because of Your
amazing grace. Amen.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Rescue Story" Video Zach Williams
"Rescue The Perishing" Video Billy Foote and Cindy Foote
"Rescuer" Video Rend Collective
"Jesus I Come" Video Scott Wesley Brown
"Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me" Video CityAlight I was so moved yesterday as we concluded our service with this song and its thoughtful, theologically rich lyrics.
What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His Oh how strange and divine, I can sing, "All is mine" Yet not I, but through Christ in me The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Saviour He will stay I labour on in weakness and rejoicing For in my need, His power is displayed To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley He will lead Oh the night has been won, and I shall overcome Yet not I, but through Christ in me No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future sure, the price it has been paid For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon And He was raised to overthrow the grave To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea Oh the chains are released, I can sing, "I am free" Yet not I, but through Christ in me With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home And day by day I know He will renew me Until I stand with joy before the throne To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat Yet not I, but through Christ in me To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat Yet not I, but through Christ in me When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat Yet not I, but through Christ in me Yet not I, but through Christ in me Yet not I, but through Christ in me Video of this song from yesterday's worship service at Calvary Church
In regard to "the present evil age" this sign expresses a truth we must remember! Throughout our area many residents erect these biblical signs, providing a thought-provoking witness to passersby. Our friend Nick Nichols took this photo near Ephrata, PA which is rather fitting since his wife, Conny, went to be with Jesus in early September. At Nick's request Brooksyne sang the
classic hymn by the same title, "This World is Not My Home" at Conny's funeral service.
Finally today:
Brooksyne's note: Cheerful flowers to brighten our home have been a blessing since I'm spending lots more time at home than usual. One week ago I underwent surgery and I'm thrilled that today I gave myself the last prescribed shot of lovenox. Now that I've reached that senior age where blood clots can form after surgery blood thinner is prescribed, but this time for only one week which is far better than last November
which was six weeks! God bless and enable those of you who give yourselves daily shots due to health matters, as I consider you to be very brave and strong. For many years, my mother gave herself four shots a day due to her diabetes before her death in 2002 and we have a dear friend, also a reader, that does this everyday as well. Perhaps you are among those who give yourself a shot(s) daily, but there's a day coming, since this world is not our home, when we will enter a place where
medicine, crutches, injections, hospitals and all that is needed to nurse injuries or disease will not be present, nor will there be funeral homes, cemeteries or any risk of death and I can hardly wait! But we're on this side right now and I am pleased to report that I continue to make progress and am thankful for your prayers and thoughtful notes.
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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." © Copyright 2021 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
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