“Consider Christ”

Monday, April 3, 2023

Daffodils alongside Donegal Creek

Message summary: This week we will “consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men”. Let us stay faithful to the One who suffered for us, “so that we will not grow weary and lose heart”. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world. He had fulfilled His Father’s purpose and was Victor over sin. Jesus loved His own, and in laying down His life for us, He showed us the full extent of His love. Today, let us show the full extent of our love for Christ and live for Him who died for us.

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“As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). “As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it” (Luke 19:41). “Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love” (John 13:1). “Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3).

Yesterday, on the Lord’s day, churches highlighted the historic events that unfolded during Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem as He rode on the colt of a donkey in fulfillment of  prophecy given in Zechariah 9:9. He was lauded with glory, honor and praise from the crowd of onlookers. Palm branches, a Jewish symbol of victory were spread before Him which is why we also use the term “Palm Sunday”. The crowds cried out, “Hosanna!”, a cry for salvation and declaration of praise. This was, of course, the beginning of the final days that led up to Jesus’ crucifixion.

Have you wondered why Christ’s entry into Jerusalem is referred to as the “Triumphal Entry” when Scripture reveals that over the next few days anguish, sorrow, and death would overshadow any potential sense of triumph and victory? Because, in the midst of the evil and cruelty that is about to unfold, God’s plan to provide salvation for the human race was not thwarted, but divinely fulfilled. Christ’s triumphal entry was truly triumphant because He came into Jerusalem:

• As a victor not a victim.

• To fulfill the ultimate plan of God.

• To demonstrate the full extent of His love.

In the first daily text Luke’s narrative glimpses into the Lord’s deep resolve to fulfill His Father’s mission, “As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem”. The Amplified Version states, “He steadfastly and determinedly set His face to go to Jerusalem”. The NASV uses this description, “He was determined to go to Jerusalem”.

Bible teacher Albert Barnes comments on this passage: “The time appointed for Him to remain on the earth was about to expire, and He resolved to go to Jerusalem and die. And from this we learn that Jesus made a voluntary sacrifice; that He chose to give His life for the sins of men.”

“Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem”. This is the beginning of a new section of the gospel. Knowing the difficulty that would soon come to pass Jesus remained determined and steadfast during His long and final journey. Bible teacher David Guzik observes, “There are two kinds of courage – the courage of the moment, which requires no previous thought, and a ‘planned’ courage, which sees the difficulty ahead and steadfastly marches towards it. Jesus had this kind of planned courage; He could see the cross in the horizon, but still steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.”

Before Jesus was taken up into heaven He, once for all, made the final blood sacrifice by shedding His own blood for our sins. That sacrifice would take place through Jerusalem. We will see this resolution most powerfully demonstrated through the events that unfold this Passion Week.

Just prior to the Triumphal Entry we read in Luke 19:28: “He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.” The phrase “going up” is very purposeful, translating the Greek “anabaino”, the same word used when Zacchaeus “climbed” the sycamore tree. The King James Version translates it “ascending”.

Geographically there was an elevation but we believe “going up” also holds a deeply spiritual meaning as well. Luke reveals the spiritual heartbreak of Jesus in the following statement, “As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it” (19:41). His heart was broken for the lost and dying world which He came to save!

Today we invite you to “Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3). Pastor Steven Cole writes, “While rejection is always difficult to handle, if our Lord was rejected, we can expect the same treatment in this wicked world. He deliberately steeled Himself for the coming rejection in Jerusalem. As His followers, we must steel ourselves for rejection and not take it personally, even if it is meant that way.”

Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world. He had fulfilled His Father’s purpose and was Victor over sin. Jesus loved His own, and in laying down His life for us, He showed us the full extent of His love. Today, let us show the full extent of our love for Christ and give Him our all by living for Him who died for us.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay

The Debt of love I owe;

Here, Lord, I give myself away,’

Tis all that I can do.

Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer:  Father, our hearts are stirred as we consider the extent of Your love in sending Jesus to die for our sins. As He wept over Jerusalem we see His tender humanity in relation to our sin problem. How grateful we are that Jesus yielded Himself fully to be a sin sacrifice, once for all, not just for Jerusalem but for peoples of every tribe, tongue, and language; for all generations prior to His sacrificial death and for all who follow. Jesus’ sacrifice was once for all adequate to satisfy Your justice and to supply forgiveness to all generations. Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Amen.

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“Jerusalem” Click to listen on YouTube   CityAlight   Outstanding lyrics taking us through the events of Holy Week.

Lift your voices to the One
Who is seated on the throne
See Him in the new Jerusalem
Praise the One who saved us

“You’ve Already Won”  Click to listen on YouTube    Shane and Shane    Just a good reminder!

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Major Events of the Passion Week

The 4 gospels cover the life of Christ, a period of about 33 years. Most of this material deals with the 3½ year period of His ministry. However an astounding 30 of the 89 accumulative chapters in the gospels deal with the period from Christ’s triumphal entry through His resurrection and post-resurrection appearances. Mathematically this means that approximately 33% of the written material in the gospels deals with a mere .05% period of His life! In the providence of God we have a much greater proportion of material dealing with God’s greatest act of mercy in providing our redemption.

Here’s an interesting chart from the Life Application Study Bible that may be helpful as you study the Bible during this time. It sure helps me to have a sense of when the events took place and is inspiring to read these Scriptures in the daily sequence leading up to Easter.

Sunday   

Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19

Monday    

Jesus Clears the Temple: Mt. 21:12,13; Mk. 11:15-17; Lk. 19:45,46

Tuesday/Wednesday       

Jesus’ authority challenged in the temple: Mt. 21:23-27; Mk. 11:27-33; Lk. 20:1-8
Jesus teaches stories and confronts the Jewish leaders: Mt. 21:28-23:36; Mk. 12:1-40; Lk. 20:9-47  
Greeks ask to see Jesus: Jn. 12:20-26
The Olivet Discourse: Mt. 24; Mk. 13; Lk. 21:5-38
Judas agrees to betray Jesus: Mt. 26:14-16; Mk. 14:10,11; Lk. 22:3-6

Thursday

The Last Supper:  Mt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:14-20
Jesus speaks to the disciples in the upper room:  Jn 13-17
Jesus struggles in Garden of Gethsemane: Mt. 26:36-46; Mk. 14:32-42; Lk. 22:39-46; Jn. 18:1
Jesus is betrayed and arrested: Mt. 26:47-56; Mk. 14:43-52; Lk. 22:47-53; Jn. 18:2-12

Friday

Jesus is tried by Jewish and Roman authorities and disowned by Peter: Mt 26:57-27:2, 11-31; Mk 14:53-15:20; Lk 22:54-23:25; Jn 18:13-19:16
Jesus is crucified and buried: Mt 27:31-56; Mk 15:20-41; Lk 23:26-49; Jn 19:17-30

Sunday

The glorious resurrection: Mt. 28:1-10; Mk 16:1-11; Lk 24:1-12; Jn 20:1-18

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Brooksyne is starting her walk with all four of our pets. Her challenge used to be walking Mollie, (the Border Collie) with little Sadie, (the Shih Tzu/Lhasa Apso), but she now has the two Maltipoos also. She took them two miles along Donegal Creek yesterday and snapped some photos.

Daffodils are growing along both sides of the creek. Little Rosie can’t take her eyes off the geese that are on the trail and in the water.

All looks calm on the Donegal Trail, but I am holding on tightly to four dogs as I snap this photo. The Maltipoos who came to us from San Diego in November were accustomed to hearing the waves in the Pacific Ocean right across the street from their home. But now they’re country dogs and are hearing the geese honking which makes them wildly curious. I’m pulling tightly on the leashes as Rosie and Falcon are flailing their front legs in the air. I’m thankful for no pull harnesses that give me a little extra help in keeping them in check – all four of them! Oh, how they love to walk!!

“Christ Has Triumphed!”

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9). “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Message summary: “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”

Read entire message: https://www.dailyencouragement.net/archives/2023-03-31.htm

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“How We Ought To Be”

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Message summary: Today, let us heed these solemn words from the Holy Scriptures. An event far greater than the worst type of nuclear accident or terrorist attack is forthcoming. Our call as followers of Christ remains to live holy and godly lives, to look forward to that glorious Day, and to do our part in speeding its coming.

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“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming” (2 Peter 3:10-12). 

A commentator made this interesting analysis concerning our current state, although in reality it’s an ancient perspective. He pointed out that essentially the divide in our country (and true everywhere) is between those who think they are God and those who know they are not God. For those of us who know we are not God, but sinful human beings in need of redemption, the daily text asks a vital question. What kind of people ought we to be?

Let me begin this message with an illustration both timely and local:

At this very time in 1979 the area where we now live, south-central Pennsylvania, was in the midst of a gripping fear. An accident had occurred at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant which is only 10 miles away from where we now live. At that time we were just beginning our ministry in the north-central part of Pennsylvania, but I remember the gripping fear and variety of speculations being made as to what might happen. If I recall correctly one activist speculated that the earth would melt all the way through to China!

My older brother, Mike, called from California and expressing concern. Living some 140 miles away (geodesic distance) from the accident site I don’t recall having any urgent fear at that time, but we were listening intently to any news regarding the potential disaster, and just how far reaching effects from the fallout might be.

However, since moving to this area 22 years ago we discovered for those who lived in close proximity to the plant it was a very stressful time. Pregnant women and children were urged to leave the area. There was concern about the release of radiation or even a catastrophic meltdown.  I know a man who was one of the technicians working at the plant at the very time of the accident who was impounded on the island during the entire event. Thankfully the situation was contained and here we are forty-four years later.*

But I heard a story that reveals how fear can lead people to respond in irrational ways. John, a friend of ours, was in third grade attending school in this area at the time of the accident. He recalls his teacher instructing the children to practice getting under their desk. Now, as John and I talked we weren’t sure how this was supposed to protect the children from radiation poisoning, but since “duck and cover” safety exercises were repeatedly practiced with students of all ages during the early years of the Cold War perhaps it made the teacher feel that she was better serving and protecting her students. Futile as such an act might be, perhaps it had a psychological effect on their thoughts of improving the risk factor for radiation fallout!

Our daily text speaks of a most certain future catastrophic event that will be experienced worldwide. “The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.” Now certainly there are various interpretations regarding what this future event will entail but it certainly speaks of a level of cataclysmic destruction barely imaginable, and no form of “duck and cover” will protect those who have postponed or neglected their spiritual preparation.

My purpose in this encouragement is not to speculate as to what this event might be or just how it fits into an eschatological (endtimes) view. There are scores of books and various views written about the end times. The Apostle Peter gives us no further details, but goes on to ask a question, “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?” Notice, he doesn’t advise as to how we are to protect our property and treasures we’ve stored on earth, or even our lives. But rather it’s directed at who we are to be, not what we have accomplished or accumulated.

This same warning and counsel is directed to God’s people today. Whether living in view of our imminent death or uncertainties concerning world situations, financial upheaval, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, increasing persecution or the most certain future destruction of the current order. What kind of people ought we to be?

The text answers that question. We ought to be people who live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of God’s future dealings with His creation and speed its coming. Though God is longsuffering, and may delay the fulfillment of His promise so that those from every tribe and nation may hear the gospel, the prayer Jesus taught His disciples and followers in Matthew 5, “Thy Kingdom come” has been echoed billions of times by faithful followers petitioning the Lord’s return.

And how do we speed the Lord’s coming? It is hastened by our obedience in fulfilling the great commission (Matthew 28:19,20). A few verses earlier Peter wrote that Jesus is not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. So the sooner we spread the gospel message to others the sooner Christ will return. And lastly, we speed His coming by living holy and godly lives.

Today, let us heed these solemn words from the Holy Scriptures. An event far greater than the worst type of nuclear accident or terrorist attack is forthcoming. As followers of Christ we are to live holy and godly lives, as we look forward to that glorious Day, and do our part in speeding His coming by spreading the gospel.


Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, You desire that we live holy and godly lives as we eagerly await the reappearing of Your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Nothing here on earth compares with the anticipation we feel about that glorious day. We want to speed Christ’s coming by sharing the gospel message to those near and far. Help us not to be timid or apathetic, but keep us enthused and eager to share the message of salvation so that our family, neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances will also be prepared for the glorious day of Christ’s return when we will receive our eternal promotion to enter into the glories of heaven. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

“Our God Reigns”  Click to listen on YouTube    Kathryn Scott

“Take My Life And Let It Be”  Click to listen on YouTube   Maranatha Music

“Thy Kingdom Come” Click to listen on YouTube  Francesca Battistelli, Rita Springer

* The entire Three Mile Island power plant is now decommissioned. The plant had two units. The unit damaged in the accident in 1979 was permanently shut down at that time. The other unit operated and produced electricity until it was closed in 2019.

“The Just For The Unjust”

“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).

Message summary: J.M.E. Ross writes that 1 Peter 3:18 is “one of the shortest and simplest, and yet one of the richest summaries given in the NT of the meaning of the Cross of Jesus”.

Read entire message: https://www.dailyencouragement.net/archives/2023-03-29.htm

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“The Need For A Refreshing Spirit”

“He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25). “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints” (Philemon 1:7).

Message summary: Today you have a choice; will you be an up button or a down button?

Read entire message: https://www.dailyencouragement.net/archives/2023-03-28.htm

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“A Prayer Of Caution Regarding Backsliding”

Father, if we search our hearts we too will cry out with Jeremiah, “Our sins testify against us”. Our behavior reflects the inner desires of our hearts and all too often it does not reveal God-like character. Help us to heed the warnings of Scripture regarding backsliding, to listen to the Spirit at work within us showing us the way to keep walking the paths of righteousness. Worthless pursuits, straying affections, or wasteful energy can so easily lead us astray from the narrow path laid out before us. We want to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness so that we will honor and glorify Your name in that which we do and that which we think upon. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

“The Peril Of Backsliding”

“Although our sins testify against us, O LORD, do something for the sake of your Name. For our backsliding is great; we have sinned against you” (Jeremiah 14:7).

Message summary: Today we consider a particular danger in backsliding.

Read entire message: https://www.dailyencouragement.net/archives/2023-03-27.htm

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“The Lord Is Watching”

“The LORD watches over the way of the righteous” (Psalm 1:6).

Message summary: We greatly rejoice that “The LORD watches over the way of the righteous”. May you find great assurance in this most important truth today!

Read entire message: https://www.dailyencouragement.net/archives/2023-03-24.htm

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“The Enduring City”

“For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). “If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:15,16). “For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come” (Hebrews 13:14). “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2).

Message summary: One day we will be transferred to our eternal home. May we always look for the city that is to come!

Read entire message: https://www.dailyencouragement.net/archives/2023-03-23.htm

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“Concern For The City”

“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me'” (Jonah 1:1,2)  “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you” (Jonah 3:1). “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” (Jonah 4:11).

Message summary: Today we urge each reader to take up the burdens of the hurting world, especially the cities, around us and live a life expressing in many ways, including our prayers, that also proclaims, “I am concerned!”

Read entire message: https://www.dailyencouragement.net/archives/2023-03-22.htm

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