Daily Encouragement (1/7/22) "The Book of Life"

Published: Fri, 01/07/22

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.

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Friday, January 7, 2022

The stately mansion at the Donegal Mills Plantation is on Trout Run Road near our home and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is now occupied by an Amish family. I took the photo this morning after our first significant snow storm of the season.

"The Book of Life"

Message summary: Let us faithfully contend for this same Gospel today by the grace of God as we await that glorious day when the Book of Life is opened. And let us rejoice that, all who come to Christ by faith, have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life!

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“Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life” (Philippians 4:3).

According to this Wikipedia entry the world's most visited website is Google, presumably to search for something since google.com by itself really doesn't have much content of interest!

What if the Book of Life was digitized and searchable? You could type in a name and see if it's in the Book of Life. That would surely make it a very popular website and since names are constantly being added as people place their faith in Christ it would have a lot of repeat traffic as well!

So today let us consider the Book of Life. This book is of utmost importance, far surpassing any other book in human or angelic history. It has never been to a printing company or digitized for the world wide web, though I suppose you could imagine that its contents are in the "cloud".

This book is referred to throughout the Bible beginning in Exodus 32:33 at the time of Moses and in the Psalms (Psalm 69:28) and the Prophets (Daniel 12:1) and today’s Scripture verse from the epistles. But it is especially prominent in the final book of the Bible, "The Revelation".

The "Book of Life". It’s a record of all who have lived by faith in God and trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior. This book is not accessible for human observation; its vast data base is known only to God.

In the daily text the Apostle Paul expresses a simple truth that can be very encouraging to us. Referring to Clement and some other “fellow workers” he expresses confidence that their names are "in the book of life". These followers of Christ had contended at Paul’s side for the cause of the gospel.

Today we, as followers of Christ in our own generation, are also called to spiritually contend for the cause of the Gospel. Like Paul expressed, we are thankful for the many who contend at our side as fellow workers. We contend for the Gospel as we unashamedly stand up for the claims of our Lord Jesus Christ, living to please Him.

Let us faithfully contend for this same Gospel today by the grace of God as we await that glorious day when the Book of Life is opened. And let us rejoice that, all who come to Christ by faith, have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life!

Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Jesus, I am greatly humbled and deeply grateful that my name has gained entry in the Lamb’s Book of Life! I sometimes find it very hard to believe that I am there alongside the great deliverer Moses, the Apostle Paul, former persecutor of the church, popular evangelists D.L. Moody and Billy Graham, Fanny Crosby the once blind poet, and scores of other faithful believers throughout the generations, including those who willingly laid down their lives for the cause of Christ. It is only because of Your redemptive grace that my name has been added. And it is because of Your sustaining grace that I will remain faithful until You call me to my heavenly home to hear my name read from the Lamb’s book of life! My name being called out for any earthly acclaim will never compare with the unstoppable joy that will well up in my heart upon hearing my name being read from the Lamb's Book of Life, ushering me into the presence of Jesus and the portals of heaven. Glory to God!

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder" Video Homecoming Friends

The Grist Mill at the Donegal Mills Plantation on Trout Run Road.

Donegal Creek runs through the Donegal Mills Plantation property and at one time powered the Mill. Due to the storm last night I got a later start in the morning and the roads were still quite treacherous.

Farmhouse on Union School Road

My kindly neighbor Leon came over this morning to plow us out. Later in the morning our mailbox (seen in background) was knocked over from its post so I have that chore to complete today!

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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."

At Shadow Mountain church courtyard 12/5/21

"Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation"