✝ Daily Encouragement (5/6/25) "Don't Be Uninformed"
Published: Tue, 05/06/25
Updated: Tue, 05/06/25
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(Click refresh or reload for current message) Tuesday, May 6, 2025  "Don't Be Uninformed" Message summary: There's a lot about life we don't understand and we wonder why, in both a general and personal sense. The main thing is to know that which matters most and God has provided the resource for that. Listen to our message on your audio player.
"
But
we do not want
you to be
uninformed,
brothers,
about those
who are asleep,
that you may
not grieve as
others do who
have no hope"
(1
Thessalonians
4:13).
We
live in what
has been
called the
information
age. Our
computers and
phones give us
instant access
to information
from all over
the world
using the
internet.
There is so
much we're
capable of
knowing, but
it would still
be an
infinitesimal
fraction of
all there is
to know.
There's
a lot about
life we don't
understand and
we wonder why,
in both a
general and
personal
sense
.
In 1
Corinthians
13:12
the apostle
Paul wrote, "For
now we see in
a mirror
dimly, but
then face to
face; now I
know in part,
but then I
will know
fully, just as
I also have
been fully
known".
The
main thing is
to know that
which matters
most and God
has provided
the resource
for
that. "His
divine power
has given us everything
we need
for a godly
life through
our knowledge
of Him who
called us by
His own glory
and goodness"
(2 Peter 1:3). Paul had established the church in Thessalonica and written 1st & 2 Thessalonians as a follow-up. In his verbal teaching he stressed that Christ is returning and the New Testament church had a clear sense of imminence: that is, the return of Christ could happen at any time. And that should be the view in each succeeding generation, including our own. But there apparently was some confusion in Thessalonica that needed clarification. Since Paul left, some had died and this caused distress among the remaining. Let's illustrate with the following scenario: Jesse and his wife Mary were a part of the Thessalonian church since it started as recorded in Acts 17. They had actually heard Paul's teaching and the essence of the Gospel that Jesus had died for our sins and rose again. He taught that this Jesus would return at anytime and they needed to be ready. But Jesse had died and Mary was distraught that Jesse had missed the promised coming of Jesus. Where did that leave him she wondered. She was still grieving when a letter from Paul was read to the church.
I'm
sure her ears
perked up when
she heard the
following, "But
we do not want
you to be
uninformed"
and the
encouragement
that followed.
Older
versions use
“ignorant”.
The Greek word
“agnoein”
means to be
ignorant, to
not have
information
about, to not
know, or be
unaware of. It
is a root to
the word
"agnostic".
Paul
uses the
figure of
speech
"asleep" for
dead but later
in the passage
it's clear
that he is
referring to
death.
Paul
was providing
needed
information to
bring comfort
and assurance
to those like
Mary (from our
illustration)
and through
Scriptures the
portion that
follows has
brought
comfort and
assurance to
believers ever
since! The
remainder of
this week we
will consider
the source of
this
encouragement.
B e encouraged today! Hebrews 3:13 Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"I
Know Whom I
Have Believed"
Watch
on YouTube
The
Celebration
Choir Each morning we receive a devotional from Richard Dresselhaus on his blog "One For The Road". Today's message seems to relate to today's message about having so much information. Selective
listening.
That is -- be
very careful
to listen to
the voices
that will
build up and
edify...and
refuse to
listen to
voices that
will lead you
astray. Richard Dresselhaus pastored for many years in San Diego. Here's another recent post with a very interesting perspective, "Rebuked" 
Brooksyne:
Over the past
weeks I've
noticed how
big my rhubarb
has been
growing. I
harvested two
of the plants
last night and
left them on
the picnic
table so I
could get to
them today.
Over 30 stalks
will make
quite a bit of
strawberry,
raspberry, or
blackberry
rhubarb jam!
Sometimes I
put all three
flavors
together. As
most of you
know rhubarb
is a vegetable
but it sure
tastes great
with fruit.
Perhaps I'll
make several
pies, or I'll
make some
rhubarb punch,
or rhubarb
bread. On and
on the recipes
go through my
head as I'm
pulling up the
stalks and
considering
how much room
I have in the
freezer since
after I clean
and chop them
I store
rhubarb in
freezer bags.
FYI the less
sightly part
of the stalk
from the
underground
stem stores
the most sugar
which helps to
offset the
tart taste.
But what could
be better than
sweet and tart
in the same
dish!
Up
to the minute
update:
Just as I am
writing this
caption
Stephen comes
back on his
bike from up
the road to
Aaron and
Annie's house
who, just last
week, welcomed
their sixth
baby into the
family.
Stephen showed
me the photo
above he took
of the
"seconds" from
their rhubarb
harvest. They,
along with
another Amish
family in the
opposite
direction of
where we live,
sell rhubarb
to a farm
co-op or at an
auction. The
co-op is
particular
about the
appearance of
the rhubarb so
the farmer is
left with a
lot of seconds
which I add to
my own rhubarb
and have yet
more to work
with. I am
grateful for
both farmers
who share
their goodies
with me and I
sure do enjoy
sharing my
rhubarb
goodies with
others as
well! I've
given hundreds
of rhubarb jam
away over the
years!
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today:
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