Job 2
Angels appear before the LORD verse 1- 2
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves
before the LORD – and Satan came also among them to present
himself before the LORD
And the LORD said to Satan
From whence come you?
And Satan answered the LORD
and said
From going to and fro in the earth
and from walking up and down in it
LORD questions Satan verse 3
And the LORD
said to Satan
Have you considered MY servant Job
that there is none like him in the earth
a perfect and an upright man
one who fears God and eschews evil?
And STILL he holds fast his integrity
although you moved ME against him
to destroy him WITHOUT cause
Satan’s reply to the LORD verse 4- 5
And Satan answered the LORD
and said
Skin for skin – YEA – all that a man has will he give for his life
BUT put forth YOUR hand now
and touch his bone and his flesh
and he will curse YOU to YOUR face
LORD gives permission to Satan regarding Job verse 6
And the LORD
said to Satan
BEHOLD – he is in your hand – BUT save his life
Job receives boils from Satan verse 7- 8
So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD
and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot
to his crown
and he took him a potherd to scrape himself withal
and he sat down among the ashes
Job’s wife response to his trials verse 9
THEN said his WIFE to him
Do you still retain your integrity?
curse God and die
Job’s response to his wife verse 10
BUT he
said to her
You speak as one of the foolish women speaks
What? shall we receive good at the hand of God
and shall we not receive evil?
In all this did not Job SIN with his lips
Job’s “friends” arrive to “comfort” Job verse 11- 13
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come
on him – they came everyone from his own place
Eliphaz the Temanite – Bildad the Shuhite
Zophar the Naamathite
for they had made an appointment together to come
to MOURN with him – to COMFORT him
And when they lifted up their eyes afar off – and knew him NOT
they lifted up their voice – and WEPT
and they rent everyone his mantle
and sprinkled dust upon their heads
toward heaven
So they sat down with him
upon the ground SEVEN days and SEVEN nights
and none spoke a word to him
for they saw that his GRIEF was very great
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, And Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. (3320 “present himself” [yatsab] means to take one’s stand, to formally present something or someone to a superior, station oneself, take one’s stand, position, or appear)
DEVOTION: We know that Satan is the accuser of the brethren even today. Here we have him in action in the life of Job. Job was a man that honored the LORD in all of his activities. He was an example for other to follow. He was a father that cared about his children’s relationship with the LORD. He was actively a friend of individuals of other nationalities. He was wise in his investments.
Now we find Satan informing the LORD that the only reason he was serving the LORD was for all the blessing he was receiving from the LORD. The LORD told him that he could find out for sure if Job was following him only for all the blessings or because he genuinely loved the LORD. It was a test for Job. It was a challenge for Satan. The LORD knew the outcome before the foundation of the world.
Why would the LORD allow Satan to tempt Job? That is the question we are asking today regarding our own lives as well. We know that HE allows us to be tempted because HE allowed HIS Son to be tempted by the devil.
Temptation shows us where we are in our relationship with the LORD. Sometimes we are overconfident in where we are and HE needs to show us that we need to be totally dependent on HIM and not on ourselves to overcome temptation. This is to cause us to mature in our faith.
We fail in our tests at times, which means that we have to confess our sins and reestablish our fellowship with the LORD. It is not a new salvation but a renewed fellowship only as once we have genuinely joined HIS family we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption.
At this point Job didn’t question the LORD and what was happening to him. He accepted whatever the LORD sent. We have to be willing to allow the LORD to mature us as we face each day of our life.
CHALLENGE: Some of the tests are not pleasant but the LORD promises that HE will not allow us to be tempted above what we are able to handle and HE always gives us a way to escape if we are willing to take it. Job took it!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 And the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered MY servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and eschews evil? And still he holds fast his integrity, although you moved me against him, to destroy him without cause. (5493 “escheweth” [suwr] means to turn off, decline, depart, leave undone, put away, put down, or withdraw)
DEVOTION: We are introduced to “friends” of Job in this chapter. We will say more later regarding these individuals. One question I would like to ask is “What is your definition of a friend?”
God knew Job. The LORD knew his testimony. The LORD even gave his testimony to Satan regarding Job. Job served God even when he had lost everything. He stayed true to the LORD
However, Satan was not satisfied in the faith of Job. He thought that if the LORD allowed him to touch Job’s body, he would turn on the LORD. The LORD gave him permission to touch his body but not to end his life. It is hard to understand what the LORD is doing but we know that HE is not chastening Job but HE is purging him.
Job has so far put away any evil thought he might have regarding his circumstances. His wife was not of the same disposition. She told her husband to “curse God and die.” Not good advice from a wife. She was not as close to the LORD.
He told his wife that if they expected good things from the LORD, they should also expect some bad circumstances. They were to stay true to the LORD no matter what.
Job was a man who was called “perfect” and “upright.” We need to daily commit ourselves to serve the LORD. We need to daily decline sin. We will never be sinless in this world but we can sin less. There are times in our lives when we sinned more than we should.
Praise the LORD that HE forgives us for those times. Only the LORD Jesus Christ was sinless while HE lived on this earth. It is because of HIS death on the cross that we can have everlasting life in heaven. HE is the only way to heaven.
Let us show others that we can face difficult circumstances and still serve the LORD. If our family and friends see us still serving the LORD in difficult times they might follow our example. Let us help others when they are in need of someone to help them to sin less.
CHALLENGE: As we think about the advice of Job’s wife and of our adversary or enemy Satan, let us put our trust in the LORD. HE will give us the strength to face any trial. HE also promised never to send more than we can take our way.
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: 9 Then said his wife to him, Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die. (8538 “integrity” [tummah] means purity, innocence, completeness, respectability, a state of innocence, uprightness, or blamelessness)
DEVOTION: Job’s wife had a different reaction to all the lose they experienced as a family. He stayed true to the LORD. He realized that the LORD gave him all that he had and could take it at any time but she wanted to keep what the LORD had given her and didn’t accept what had happened to her family and possessions.
Her attitude was to give up on God and just let her life end at that point. She knew that cursing God would bring judgment that could end their lives and thought that was better than to continue living.
Job had a different reaction and she didn’t like his reaction. She thought that he was just being a martyr and willing to allow the LORD to do what HE wanted in their life and that HE was not worth following after losing all they had.
So we have two ways we can handle any temptation or trial. We can follow the lead of Job or the lead of Job’s wife. We always have two choices in any trial. The right choice is to follow the example of Job.
If we fail the test we need to make sure that we confess our sin and turn in a new direction toward the LORD. We can face consequences for our actions but we can also reestablish a good relationship with the LORD again.
We are not sure if Job’s wife was the mother of the next set of ten children at the end of the book. She might have been. She had the option of confessing her lack of trust in the LORD.
CHALLENGE: How would you react if you had the same lost as she did?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 10 But he said to her, You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. (7451 “evil” [ra] means wickedness, badly made, that which cuases arm or destruction or misfortune, distress, miseary, calamity, or ugly)
DEVOTION: Our reaction to difficulty in our life is very important. Here we have Job going through the worst time in his life and his wife tells him to “Curse God and die!”
That was her advice. She had lost her ten children and all their possessions. She was watching while her husband suffered with the sores all over his body. He was sitting in a garbage pile. His friends were not helping the situation, so she thought the only right thing to do was to blame God and curse HIM.
What would are reaction be to this situation? How would we act if the LORD allowed something this bad into our lives and we didn’t think we deserved it? Would our wife react the same way?
Job confronted his wife with the FACT that God allows both good and bad in our lives. HE is not always testing us but there are going to be times of testing to see what our reaction would be.
I would like to say that the LORD has only shown me the good things HE has for me but I can’t. HE has allowed bad things to happen to me for MY good. I didn’t think so at the time but HE has HIS reasons for what HE allows in our life.
We can react in a good way or a bad way. Here we find Job’s wife reacting in a bad way and Job realizes it and confronts her.
God allows bad things to happen to good people for reasons sometimes we will never know until after we meet HIM and maybe not even then. HE wants us to trust HIM in good times and bad.
Job was trusting the LORD during this BAD time in his life. We need to react the same way when it happens to us.
CHALLENGE: If God has allowed bad things to happen in our life that we feel we don’t deserve how are we going to react? Like Job or like his wife?
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: 13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great. (3511 “grief” [ka’eb] means sorrow, pain, extreme distress of body or mind, anguish, or mental suffering)
DEVOTION: I don’t think any of us have ever lost as much as Job in such a short period of time. He lost everything that seemed to matter in our lives. His wife wanted him to curse God for all that had happened. She took it hard as well but had the wrong response. Job set her straight with his comments that we should expect the LORD to allow both good and bad in our life because both cause us to grow or mature if we are a believer.
Now along come “friends” to comfort him. They just sat still and didn’t say anything for seven days and night but when they begin to talk it is all judgmental. It is better to not say anything during these times and let the person suffering talk or all remain silent.
Support for those who are suffering is necessary. The right type of conversation is important. Silence is said to be golden and it should be used when you cannot be encouraging to the individual or individuals who are suffering.
We need to make sure that we are available to those who are suffering in our churches. If we can relieve the suffering either by a word of encouragement or with a gift that should be done.
Many people seem to not know what to do when someone they love is suffering. It is sad but true. We find in this book the wrong way to handle someone who is suffering. It should give us a good example not to follow and help us to understand what we should do and say during these times in the lives of fellow believers.
Our world is suffering mainly because of their rejection of Jesus Christ. We can use these times to help them realize that there is comfort in Christ that will last for eternity. We have the only answer that can really relieve suffering. This present life is not the end but only the beginning of eternity.
CHALLENGE: Genuine friends need to stick close during times of suffering with words of encouragement and prayer.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Shall we receive good of the hand of God and
Shall we not receive evil? verse 10
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 1, 3, 9, 10
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1-4, 6, 7
Presence of the LORD verse 7
LORD gave Satan permission to continue to
test Job verse 8
Hand of God verse 10
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Sons of God verse 1
Satan verse 1- 7
Present himself to the LORD
Going to and fro in the earth
Walking up and down in the earth
Moved God to go against Job
to destroy him without cause
Answered God’s charges with: skin for skin
Accused Job of cursing God to HIS face if
God allowed more problems in his life
Smote Job with sore boils from sole of his foot
to top of his head
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Job verse 3- 13
Servant of God
Perfect and upright man
Fears God
Avoids evil
Holds fast to his integrity
Smote with boils form sole of his foot
to his head
Told wife she was a foolish woman
Told wife that he expected both good
and allowed evil from hand of God
Did not sin from his lips
Great grief in front of his friends
Job’s wife verse 9
Asked Job “Do you still retain your
Integrity?
Told Job to curse God and die
Eliphaz the Temanite verse 11
Bildad the Shuhite verse 11
Zophar the Naamathite verse 11
Mourn with Job
Comfort Job
Wept
Rent their mantle
Sprinkled dust on their heads
Sat down for seven days and night
Didn’t speak a word
Saw Job’s great grief
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Evil verse 3, 10, 11
Curse God verse 5, 9
Foolish verse 10
Sin verse 10
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Servant verse 3
Perfect verse 3
Upright verse 3
Fears God verse 3
Eschews evil verse 3
Integrity verse 3, 9
Limited trials allowed verse 6
Receive good from the LORD verse 10
Friends verse 11
Mourn with friends verse 11
Comfort friends verse 11
Grief verse 13
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
Job’s wife’s advice was brief and final, “Curse God and die.” Both verbs are imperatives. She believed as the counselors did that there is a direct and immediate connection between sin and punishment. To curse God is tantamount to committing suicide.50 She suggested that he do something to effect his own death. The legislation of Lev 24:10–16 requires the community to stone to death anyone guilty of cursing God, but it is not likely that Job’s wife was reflecting these laws. (Alden, R. L. (1993). Job (Vol. 11, p. 67). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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“My best friend,” said Henry Ford, “is the one who brings out the best in me”; but Job’s friends brought out the worst in him. However, in the end Job and his friends were reconciled (42:7–10); and I like to think that their relationship was deeper than before. To have true friends is to be wealthy indeed. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Patient (Job 2:11). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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“The Almighty” is one of the key names for God in Job; it is used thirty-one times. From the outset, the writer reminds us that, no matter what happens in this world and in our lives, God is on the throne and has everything under control. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Patient (Job 1:6–19). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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2:13 Sitting on the ground was yet another way of showing humility and sorrow (Isa 3:26; 47:1; Lam 2:10; Jonah 3:6). Notice that they sat “with him,” entering into his grief in this demonstrable way. The “seven days and seven nights” correspond to other examples of week-long periods of mourning mentioned in Gen 50:10; 1 Sam 31:13; and Ezek 3:15. “Seven” may be an imprecise number for something more than a day but less than a month, although it could have been a literal week.
The sight of Job’s excessive suffering left the friends silent. Good counselors know that sometimes the best thing they can do is simply listen. Just the presence of a sympathetic person can provide comfort altogether apart from any spoken words. This probably was the finest demonstration of love these three could have shown. If they had simply returned home without saying anything, their reputations would be much different. After listening to each give his first speech, Job wished they might resort to their original treatment of him and suggested that silence would better prove their wisdom (13:5).
So ends the prologue of the book. The stage has been set. We, the readers, have been informed of basic facts that the major characters do not know. All the players (except Elihu) have been introduced. It is time for the contest of wills and words to begin. Let the curtain be lifted for the next scene. (Alden, R. L. (1993). Job (Vol. 11, p. 70). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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Perfection, integrity, or blamelessness referred to the absence of certain observable sinful acts. Job, his friends, and the author of the book were thinking of honesty, marital fidelity, just treatment of servants, generosity to the poor, and the avoidance of idolatry. Job denied wrongdoing in all these areas in chap. 31, his long self-maledictory oath. Neither Job nor his friends was thinking of perfection in the theological New Testament sense. If Job were perfect in that sense, then he would not have had to repent as he did at the end of the book (42:6). (Alden, R. L. (1993). Job (Vol. 11, pp. 47–48). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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1:6 The “sons of God” are both plural and inferior to God. The words appear again in 2:1; 38:7; cf. Gen 6:2, 4; Ps 89:6 [7]. Apparently, God has a council or cabinet (see 1 Kgs 22:19; Jer 23:18, 22; and Ps 89:5–7 [6–8]). These “holy ones” (Ps 89:5, 7 [6, 8]) serve as messengers to do God’s bidding. Not every one of them is good because 1 Kgs 22:20–23 speaks of a “spirit” willing to be a “lying spirit in the mouths of all his [i.e., Ahab’s] prophets.” The Satan was among them or perhaps even their leader.
The Satan (or the Accuser) represented those who opposed God and his good people. In Job the Satan assumed his classical pose of charging a good man with evil (Rev 12:10). The boundaries of operation that God allowed him are uncertain. At times his power seems not only supernatural but also a threat to God’s sovereign and beneficent control of the world. At other times the Satan seems like a vain, weak, and hopeless antagonist against the omnipotent God of the universe. One of the loose threads left hanging at the end of the Book of Job is the resultant embarrassment of the Satan. His charge was not true. Job did not curse God when he lost everything. (Alden, R. L. (1993). Job (Vol. 11, pp. 53–54). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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When I decided to write about Job, I said to my wife, “I wonder how much suffering we’ll have to go through so I can write this book.” (I don’t want to write or preach in an impersonal and academic way. The Word has to become real to me, or I can’t make it real to others.) Little did we realize the trials that God would permit us to experience! But we can testify that God is faithful, He answers prayer, and He always has a wonderful purpose in mind (Jer. 29:11).
You too may have to go through the furnace in order to study the Book of Job and really grasp its message. If so, don’t be afraid! By faith, just say with Job, “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (Job 23:10, NIV). Gold fears no fire. Whatever we have that is burned up and left behind in the furnace wasn’t worth having anyway. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Patient. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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In times of severe testing, our first question must not be, “How can I get out of this?” but “What can I get out of this?” Job’s wife thought she had the problem solved; but if Job had followed her counsel, it would have only made things worse. Faith is living without scheming. It is obeying God in spite of feelings, circumstances, or consequences, knowing that He is working out His perfect plan in His way and in His time. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Patient (Job 2:9–10). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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When life is difficult, it’s easy to give up; but giving up is the worst thing we can do. A professor of history said, “If Columbus had turned back, nobody would have blamed him—but nobody would have remembered him either.” If you want to be memorable, sometimes you have to be miserable. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Patient (pp. 20–21). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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Micah laments the degradation of his fellow men, but hopes in the Lord.
INSIGHT
Micah sets his narrative in an imaginary courtroom where he pours out scathing rebuke on the injustice he sees in the fellow men around him. The evidence is brought forth and the children of Israel are found guilty. Sins swarm from Micah’s pen, filling the first third of his book. The second portion of this book addresses sin. Jerusalem will be destroyed, and the people will be banished to captivity in Babylon. Typical of the prophets of God, the third part of the book tells of hope. A divine Deliverer will appear, and once again justice and righteousness will reign. (Quiet Walk)
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Here is a quote from Warren Wiersbe commentary on Job: As we study the Book of Job together, I trust that two things will be accomplished in your life: you will learn to be patient in your own trials, and you will learn how to help others in their trials. Your world is filled with people who need encouragement, and God may be preparing you for just that ministry. Either way, I hope this book helps you. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Patient. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
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In times of severe testing, our first question must not be, “How can I get out of this?” but “What can I get out of this?” Job’s wife thought she had the problem solved; but if Job had followed her counsel, it would have only made things worse. Faith is living without scheming. It is obeying God in spite of feelings, circumstances, or consequences, knowing that He is working out His perfect plan in His way and in His time. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Patient (p. 20). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Do we engage with lukewarmness in private devotion? Is the fire of devotion burning dimly in our hearts? Do the chariot wheels drag heavily? If so, let us be alarmed at this sign of decay. Let us go with weeping, and ask for the Spirit of grace and of supplications. Let us set apart special seasons for extraordinary prayer. For if this fire should be smothered beneath the ashes of a worldly conformity, it will dim the fire on the family altar, and lessen our influence both in the Church and in the world. (Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening,)
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The best way to help people who are hurting is just to be with them, saying little or nothing, and letting them know you care. Don’t try to explain everything; explanations never heal a broken heart. If his friends had listened to him, accepted his feelings, and not argued with him, they would have helped him greatly; but they chose to be prosecuting attorneys instead of witnesses. In the end, the Lord rebuked them; and they had to ask Job’s forgiveness (Job 42:7–10). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Patient (Job 2:11–13). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
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PROVIDENCE
He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. Job 12:24
What exactly do we mean by providence? I cannot think of a better definition or description than this: “Providence is that continued exercise of the divine energy whereby the Creator upholds all His creatures, is operative in all that transpires in the world, and directs all things to their appointed end.”
Notice how Psalm 104 puts it in verses 28-30: “That thou givest them [animals of the earth] they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.” Now God does not create these animals of the earth constantly. What He does is to keep life, to preserve what He has already created.
We are also told that God’s providence is exercised over the affairs of nations. You will find that in Job 12:24: “He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.”
We are also told that God providentially governs a man’s birth and his lot in this world. We read in 1 Samuel 16:1, “And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel” Fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.” And Paul says about himself in Galatians 1:15-16, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen….”
A Thought to Ponder: The Creator is operative in all that transpires in the world and directs all things to their appointed end.
(From God the Father, God the Son, pp. 143-144, 147, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Preaching the Resurrection
“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33)
There are multitudes today who believe that Christ’s resurrection was a “spiritual” resurrection, insisting that the idea of a dead body returning to life after three days in the grave is completely unscientific and impossible.
This was not what the apostles preached with great grace and great power, however. They would hardly have been excited about any kind of spiritual resurrection, since everyone— both Jews and the pagan Gentiles—believed in life after death. If that was their message, no one would have doubted, and no one would have cared. Even when the disciples saw the resurrected Christ, they first “supposed that they had seen a spirit” (Luke 24:37). Christ even had to urge them to “handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (Luke 24:39).
When the disciples finally became convinced of His bodily resurrection, they were quickly transformed into courageous evangelists, willing even to die in support of their glorious message of salvation. The resurrection was, indeed, contrary to scientific law and all human experience, and this very fact proved to them that their Lord was Himself the divine lawgiver and author of all human experience. All other founders and leaders of human religions, ancient or modern, are themselves subject to death, but He alone has triumphed over death. Only the Creator of life can conquer death, and the resurrection proves that Jesus Christ is Creator as well as Savior.
Therefore, when we today, like the apostles of old, proclaim the resurrection of Christ, we know that His name is above every name, and this enables us also to witness with great power, in great grace. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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A Good Reason
Put [your] religion into practice by caring for [your] own family. 1 Timothy 5:4
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ARE YOU AWAKE
by Anne R. C. Neale
Did you thank God today for being alive on earth’s sod?
Are you awake?
Are you thanking God for having chores to do or even going to a job?
Are you awake?
Are you thanking God for giving you this day to live and to pray?
Are you thanking God for everything good that comes your way?
Are the thanking God for his Love, Faith, Hope, and Trust each day,
Are you awake?
Are you awake?
Are you enjoying this day as if it is your last?
Are you awake?
Are you really enjoying today as your time on earth passes fast,
Keep focused on God wherever you go,
God knows you totally that is so,
Live a Christian life, that’s the best I know,
Then you are awake.
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To the world, the idea of Jesus returning in history to judge His enemies and reward His friends is a joke.
“Come down out of the clouds,” people say, “and spend your time thinking about what you can do right here and now.”
Though the world doesn’t take the doctrine of the Second Coming seriously, the Bible places great emphasis on the teaching. Christians, then, need to take it seriously as well. Twice in Mark 13Jesus warns, “Be on the alert!” Properly understood, awaiting Christ’s return should help us live righteously as we do God’s work in this world. (Quiet Walk)
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Discipling at a Distance
The LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. ISAIAH 30:18
You should always consider your children your primary “disciples”—the main ones you’re responsible in leading to faith in Christ and keeping infused with biblical truth and spiritual guidance. But this can become a very difficult task, especially through the teenage years, when simply keeping up a conversation can present a challenge. Many teenagers—boys especially—just don’t seem to want to talk.
Don’t give up. Continue to pursue them. Be prepared for that moment when the mood shifts and the words finally come out of their mouths, when the opportunity to make a connection opens up right in front of you. We’ll never forget the struggle we had when one of our teenage sons didn’t want to talk to us. It was a constant challenge to initiate a relationship with him. He felt he could do just fine without us. Over and over again, Barbara and I reminded ourselves that we were the adults and he was the child, that what he needed from us was mature, adult love—not immature rejection.
It’s easy in such situations to feel hurt and to withdraw, to quit caring what God wants them to learn. But that’s the exact opposite of what your teen needs. When we continued to pursue a relationship with our son, time revealed the benefit he received from having two parents who never stopped loving and believing in him. Believing in your child is one of your child’s greatest needs.
Our model in pursuing our children is Jesus Himself: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). He knows better than anyone the kind of work and patience it takes to make disciples. (Moments with You Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
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Daily Hope
Today’s Scripture
Acts 21:15-25
The eye of the storm is a distinctive place! Storm chasers and professionals who have reached the center state find there is tranquility and peace in that space. All around the eye a storm is raging and destruction is occurring but, inside the eye, birds sing and the sun may shine. Then, comes the other wall of the storm and the peace ends.
Paul came to Jerusalem and the brethren received him gladly. They listened closely to his words about the ministry the Lord had done in the lives of the Gentiles. They rejoiced and gave glory to God for all He had done. Then, James and the elders presented to Paul the multitude of Jewish believers who were committed to Jesus but still kept the law. With this phrase, “still kept the law”, the storm clouds began to form and the eye of the storm was about to pass by Paul.
Rumors and half truths are often key ingredients in creating an emotional storm of misunderstanding and emotion. These zealous Jewish believers had been told that Paul was teaching all the Jews to forsake Moses, not to circumcise, and not walk according to the customs of their forefathers. These allegations would need to be addressed as Paul returned to Jerusalem.
The council’s advice was for Paul to go to the temple with four men who had taken a Nazarene vow and fulfill the pledge of purification by performing the rituals of the Levitical law. Paul then was to pay the expenses of the four men to demonstrate his willingness to keep the Jewish customs. By keeping the rituals for seven days, Paul would be able to show that the rumors were false and his message was in accordance with the teaching of the church in Jerusalem.
Paul’s desire to be a witness to the people that meant so much to him allowed him to bear a heavy load of responsibility. He took the men, completed the time of purification, entered the temple, and extended the payment for the offerings needed to complete the ceremony.
There are times when going the extra mile to make the truth known is beneficial to everyone. It allows the storm of misunderstanding and sprinkling of rumors to be exposed as untrue. Approach your circumstances with prayer and a clear understanding of the potential dangers your actions could create as others observe your actions!
With an Expectant Hope, Pastor Miller (OH)
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