Job describes property of poor because of rich             verse 1- 8 

Why – seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty

do they that know HIM not see HIS days?

Some remove the landmarks – they violently take away flocks

and feed thereof – they drive away the donkey of the fatherless

      they take the widow’s ox for a pledge

                  they turn the needy out of the way

      the poor of the earth hide themselves together

BEHOLD – as wild donkeys in the desert – go they forth to their work

rising betimes for a prey – the wilderness yields food for them

and for their children – they reap everyone his corn in the field

                  they gather the vintage of the wicked

                  they cause the unclothed to lodge without clothing

                              that they have no covering in the cold

                  they are wet with the showers of the mountains

                              and embrace the rock for want of shelter 

Job describes eating habits of poor because of rich      verse 9- 12 

They pluck the fatherless from the breast – and take a pledge of the poor

they cause him to go unclothed without clothing

      they take away the sheaf from the hungry

                  which make oil within their walls

and tread their winepresses

and suffer thirst

Men groan from out of the city

and the soul of the wounded cries out

YET God lays not folly to them 

Job describes sins of those without God                       verse 13- 17 

They are those that rebel against the light

they know not the ways thereof

nor abide in the paths thereof

The murderer rising with the light kills the poor and needy

and in the night is as a thief

The eye also of the adulterer waits for the twilight

saying

No eye shall see me

and disguises his face

In the dark they dig through houses

which they had marked for themselves in the daytime

      they know not the light – for the morning is

to them even as the shadow of death

IF one know them – they are in the terrors of the shadow of death 

Job describes outcome of those without God                verse 18- 21 

He is swift as the waters – their portion is cursed in the earth

he beholds not the way of the vineyards

      drought and heat consume the snow waters

                  so does the grave those which have sinned

                              the womb shall forget him

                                          the worm shall feed sweetly on him

he shall be no more remembered

      and wickedness shall be broken as a tree

he evil entreats the barren that bear not

      and does not good to the widow 

Job describes watchfulness of God                                verse 22- 25

He draws also the mighty with his power – he rises up

and no man is sure of life

though it be given him to be in safety

whereon he rests

                  YET his eyes are upon their ways

They are exalted for a little while – BUT are gone and brought low

they are taken out of the way as all other

      and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn

And if it be not so now – who will make me a LIAR

and make my SPEECH nothing worth? 

 

COMMENTARY:

           

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers                 

            : 4        They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves

together. (34 “needy” [‘ebyown] means poor, people without

possessions or wealth considered as a group, in want, beggar,

oppressed, or pertaining to persons in want)

DEVOTION:  The attitude toward the poor in our world has not changed to much from the days of Job. There is always a group of people who look down on those who have little in the way of earthly possessions.

In Job’s day the poor were pushed aside when there were rich people coming down a road. The rich had all the privileges by riding down the road while the poor were walking.

There are many people and some of them are believers who will not go to a mission in a big down to witness to those who are downtrodden. They will support them from afar but not near.

It is great when those who have the ability to help the poor come to a mission and genuinely look for ways to help those who are down on their place in society. Those who are believers should take some time to help the poor in any way they can.

I think that we can help them without just giving them money when they are on the roadside begging. Some of those who are begging are not really poor, but a majority will be and need a job rather than just a handout.

City Missions around the world have programs to help those who genuinely want help and are willing to work their way toward a productive life. Sometimes it only takes a break in their life to move toward a productive life.

Those who are followers of Christ need to help in this regard. Those who are not servants of the LORD, like to just push them aside, and say that they have chosen their path and can’t change it. With God all things are possible.

CHALLENGE:  When you have an opportunity to train someone who is poor it will be honoring to the LORD to do so.

 

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers                       

: 13      They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. (215 [’owr] means enlighten, visual sensation of light in contrast to darkness, dawn, bright, daybreak, or sunshine)

DEVOTION:  Job continues to describe those who are rebels in the eyes of the LORD. They are the group of people who enjoy sinning in the darkness of night. Their favorite time of day is after dark. They don’t want to be seen and they think that God cannot see them in the darkness.

This is the opposite of those who honor the LORD. These individuals are willing to allow their works to be seen in the daytime. They are not afraid of what people might say because they have a consistent testimony of honoring the LORD and helping those around them.

So there is a great difference between those who honor the LORD and those who rebel against the LORD. We can know them by their works and the time of day they enjoy the most.

These individuals are not walking the path of the righteous. We are to follow the instructions of the LORD and honor HIM twenty-four seven if we are to have the blessings of the LORD.

Job is still answering Zophar’s claim that the wicked don’t have it any good while they are living here on this earth. He wants him to know that his thinking is wrong because the LORD continues to be longsuffering to those who are sinner not willing that any should perish in the lake of fire for eternity.

It is hard to understand why the LORD allows us to have a choice but we all have to make a choice regarding our actions toward others. It is a daily choice as we can meet people we don’t know each day and see their need and ask ourselves if we should help them or not.

CHALLENGE: Do you enjoy the daylight for your activities or the night? Are you activities at night honoring the LORD? Our path determines our future in the eyes of the LORD.

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            : 15      The eye also of the adulterer waits for the twilight, saying, No eye shall

                        see me: and disguises his face. (5643 “disguises” [cether] means

                        secretly, covert, a covering that serves to hide something or someone

                        to keep it secret, slyness, or hiding place)

DEVOTION:  Our thinking about God sometimes is not right. The thinking of those who don’t care to honor the LORD is always wrong. It is hard to believe that someone could actually think that the Creator of the Universe can’t see what is happening in our world twenty four seven.

Yet even believers can fall into the trap of thinking that they can get away with sin in the night and not pay any consequences for their actions. This is only the act of following human thinking instead of thinking the way the Bible teaches us to think.

We have to know that God is watching us to make sure that we are following HIM properly. If we are not serving HIM properly HE will send warnings our way to get us to return to the right path.

God gives even those who are not willing to serve HIM a chance to see who HE is and what HE can do in their lives. They chose to not follow and think that they can get away with sexual sins because it is dark and no one is watching.

If you watch television much you would see programs that show this type of thinking and yet in the end they usually get caught and have to face a judge for their actions. They will ultimately face the LORD for their actions when they think it is hidden from HIS sight.

This is only one sin that is committed during the night because they think that no one is looking. What are you doing in the night that you think the LORD is not watching you? If your actions are not right – you can change. It is never too late to realize that God is willing to work in our life no matter what sin you commit.

It means that change has to happen. Can you teach old sinners to love the LORD? The answer is YES. To continue in that path means judgment is coming for both those who are believers and those who are not.

CHALLENGE: Remember judgment begins at the house of the LORD and then goes to those who are not followers of HIM.

 

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers 

: 23      Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he rests; yet his eyes are upon their ways. (983 “safety” [betach] means security, confidence, without fear or naïve)

DEVOTION:  Job gives a vivid description of the wicked. He has been described by his “friends” as someone who is wicked. They accuse him of mistreating the poor. They accuse him of disrespecting the LORD. They accuse him of being unrepentant.

However, we must remember how God describes Job in the first chapter. HE states that Job is perfect, upright, fears the LORD and avoids evil. Does that sound like someone who is wicked? Of coarse his “friends” didn’t hear the LORD’S comments to Satan. They didn’t know what was happening. They just assumed because of all that had happened to Job that it must be the LORD chastening him. They had never either learned or known about the purging or pruning that the LORD does to HIS faithful servants.

This chapter emphasizes the plight of the poor. He is offsetting what he has done in his life with what the wicked do with their lives. His “friends” have observed his life and know that he has not acted this way toward his fellow man.

The wicked are naïve in their thinking that everything is OK. They think that God is not watching what they are doing. They think they will never be judged. They think there is no lake of fire waiting for them. They are WRONG. The Bible states that there is only one way to heaven and that is through the Messiah. The Old Testament saints were looking forward to HIS coming and the New Testament saints are looking back. HE provided HIS precious blood for all those who will repent of their sins and become a follower of Jesus Christ.

There are people we meet that think they have an arrangement with God. They can live as they please and God will look the other way. They can reinterpret the Bible their way and it will be right. They are living with a false security.

With Christ there is a different lifestyle than with the wicked. Job knew this and told his “friends” he knew it. One observation from life is the fact that there are some who are Christians that live for themselves at times. The LORD does discipline them.

We need to watch that we don’t think we are safe in the LORD and then do as we please too. That is license that the Bible condemns. The other extreme is legalism which states that if you obey certain external rules of the faith you will go to heaven. This was the belief of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day.

We can use any Scripture to justify our actions. Confession is for those who know the LORD and have sinned. IF we confess, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Our Christian world needs REVIVAL. When we are close to the LORD, we can have confidence in HIS promises. Are we keeping short accounts with the LORD???

CHALLENGE: Confront false beliefs in our friends when we have a good opportunity. Don’t let them think that God doesn’t see what they are doing.

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            : 25      And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech

nothing worth? (3576 “liar” [kazab] means to deceive, to fail, to prove to be false, to show to be not true or to be a liar, to deceive, cheat, to convict of falsehood)

DEVOTION:  Job is stating that there must be a judgment day coming that will set all things straight. Life doesn’t seem to be fair as those who are evil seem to be getting away with their evil. It also seems that things are not going right at the present time for those who are trying to live a righteous life.

He is trying to say that he is trying to state that the LORD is going to deal with both those who are righteous and those who sinners in HIS time.

He is stating his opinion just like his three friends. He believes they are wrong and he is not. He would like his “friends” to prove that his opinion is wrong and their opinions are right.

He believed that those who told the truth are stating the facts about the way God deals with people and that it will all work out in the end for those who are righteous. God is the one who knows the facts and HE will act on those facts in the future.

All men are going to the grave and then face the LORD. We need to be ready to give an answer for the things we have done in the flesh. We are going to have to make sure we are ready for the judgment that is coming from God and not from man.

Job has lived a life that was pleasing to the LORD yet he had all these things happen to him and now he wants to make sure that his “friends” understand that everything is going to work out in the end.

CHALLENGE: We have to realize that in this life there is going to be some suffering. Suffering doesn’t mean we are not believers but that the tests the LORD puts us through is for our good and HIS glory.

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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)

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) 

Almighty                                                                    verse 1

God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign)                        verse 12 

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)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation) 

            Fatherless                                                                   verse 3, 9

            Widow                                                                        verse 3, 21

            Needy                                                                         verse 4, 14

            Poor of the earth                                                       verse 4, 9, 14

            Children                                                                     verse 5

            Naked                                                                         verse 7

            Mighty                                                                        verse 22 

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels) 

Remove landmarks                                                   verse 2

Take flocks                                                                verse 2

Take donkey from fatherless                                   verse 3

Take ox from widow                                                 verse 3

Turn away needy                                                      verse 4

Wicked                                                                       verse 6, 20

Don’t give clothing to poor                                      verse 7, 10

Take children from poor                                          verse 9

Cause people to go naked                                         verse 10

Folly                                                                            verse 12

Rebel against light                                                     verse 13, 16

Murderers                                                                  verse 14

Thief                                                                           verse 14

Adulterer                                                                   verse 15- 18
Sinned                                                                        verse 19

Evil                                                                             verse 21

Does not good to widow                                            verse 21

Liar                                                                             verse 25

 

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Israel (Old Testament people of God)      

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

 

            Shadow of death                                                        verse 17

            Grave                                                                         verse 19, 20

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DONATIONS:

Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org.  Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church, please use that method.  Thank you.

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QUOTES regarding passage

24:13 “Light” is associated with right, just as darkness is with wrong. Evil people rebel against what is right and prefer darkness to light because they do not want their deeds to be seen. (Alden, R. L. (1993). Job (Vol. 11, p. 248). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

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13–17. Job selects murders, adulterers and burglars, because their crimes are committed under cover of darkness. Consequently they love the dark and hate the light, a point made several times in this poem. Like the depraved of Isaiah 5:20, their values are inverted. The coming of darkness is their morning (17a) when they must be up and doing. What holds terrors for others is their ally (17b). The worst part is that they think that the darkness, which prevents men from detecting them, also hides them from God. Like the ungodly described by Eliphaz (22:17) they think, ‘No eye will see me’ (15), including God’s. And so it would seem to be, contrary to Eliphaz’s confidence that their exposure will bring public satisfaction to the righteous (22:19). (Andersen, F. I. (1976). Job: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 14, p. 229). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)

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24:1–25 Job had made the point that the unrighteous prosper in spite of their sin (chap. 21). Extending that theme, he listed the kinds of severe sins which go on in the world and God doesn’t seem to do anything to stop them (vv. 2–17), so that the wicked, in general, prosper and live long lives, seemingly unabated. These sins—oppressing the orphans, widows, and poor as well as committing murder, thievery, and adultery—are the very ones forbidden in other parts of the OT. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Job 24:1–25). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

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      Job’s certainty over the wicked’s eventual punishment (24:18–25)

These verses seem to contradict what Job had just said (vv. 1–17), for here he stated that God does punish the wicked. Therefore some scholars assign these words (vv. 18–24) to Zophar, others to Bildad, and still others to Job in quotation marks as if he were quoting one of the three in order to rebut them (v. 25). However, these could just as well be Job’s words, in which he affirmed his confidence that though the wicked live on and get away with sin, eventually they are punished. This would oppose Zophar’s view that the wicked die young (20:5) and would confirm Job’s previously stated position that “the wicked live on” (21:7). Job’s position was that both the righteous and the wicked suffer and both prosper. This differs drastically from the insistence of the three disputers that only the wicked suffer and only the righteous prosper. (Zuck, R. B. (1985). Job. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 747). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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(3) A curse on the wicked (vv. 18–25). This passage may be seen as a description, telling what will happen to the wicked (KJV, NIV, NASB); or it may be interpreted as a denunciation, a curse on the wicked (NKJV). I think it refers to Job’s personal curse on the wicked, who seem to escape judgment.

Job’s malediction can be summarized like this: “May the wicked vanish like foam on the water or snow that melts in the heat of the sun (vv. 18–19). May they be forgotten by everyone, even their own mothers, as they rot in the grave (v. 20). May their wives be barren and give them no heirs (v. 21). May their sense of security and success vanish quickly as they are brought low, mowed down like wheat in the harvest” (vv. 22–24).

“Now,” says Job to his three critics, “if what I’ve said is not true, prove me wrong!” (v. 25) But they never did.

Job is to be commended for seeing somebody else’s troubles besides his own and for expressing a holy anger against sin and injustice. Too often, personal suffering can make us selfish and even blind us to the needs of others, but Job was concerned that God help others who were hurting. His three friends were treating the problem of suffering in far too abstract a fashion, and Job tried to get them to see hurting people and not just philosophical problems. Jesus had the same problem with the Jewish lawyer who wanted to discuss “neighborliness,” but not discover who his neighbor was and then try to help him (Luke 10:25–37).

Injustices in society cause a good deal of pain in people’s lives, and we should certainly do all we can to uphold the law and promote justice. But those who make the laws and those who enforce them are only human and can’t deal with everything perfectly. One of these days, the Lord Jesus Christ will return, judge the wicked, and establish His righteous kingdom. Till He comes, we will have to accept the reality of evil in this world and keep praying, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Patient (pp. 98–100). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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24:18–21 Again Job referred to the opinions of his counselors, saying that, if their view were correct, all the wicked should be experiencing punishment. But it is obvious they were not.  (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Job 24:18–21). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

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Ver. 20. The womb shall forget him, &c.] His mother that bore him; or his wife, by whom he had many children; or his friend, as Gersom, who had a tender and affectionate respect for him; these all, and each of them, either because of his wicked life and infamous death, care not to speak of him, but bury him in oblivion; or because of his quiet and easy death, are not distressed with it, but soon forget him; unless this is to be understood of the womb of the earth, in which being buried, he lies forgotten, to which the next clause agrees; though some interpret it of God himself, the word having the signification of mercy; who, though mercy itself, is rich and abundant in it, yet has no mercy for, nor shews any favour to, such men; but they lie in the grave among those whom he remembers no more in a way of grace and favour, Psal. 85:5. the worm shall feed sweetly on him; for being brought to the grave at once, without any wasting distemper, is a fine repast for worms, his breasts being full of milk, and his bones moistened with marrow, and full of flesh; or the worm is sweet unto him; he feels no pain by its feeding on him, and so the sense is just the same with that expression, the clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, ch. 21:33. he shall be no more remembered; with any mark of honour and respect; his memory shall rot with him, whilst the righteous are had in everlasting remembrance; or rather dying a common death, and not made a public example of: and wickedness shall be broken as a tree; that is, wicked men, who are wickedness itself, extremely wicked, and are like to a tree, sometimes flourishing in external prosperity, having an affluence of the things of this world, and always like barren and unfruitful trees, with respect to grace and good works; these, when the axe of death is laid to the root of them, they are cut down, and their substance comes to nothing, and their families are destroyed, and so they become like trees struck with thunder and lightning, and broken into ten thousand shivers; or as the trees in Egypt were broken to pieces by the plague of hail, Exod. 9:25. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 393). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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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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The most difficult task in evangelism is getting people to recognize their sin, and therefore their need for the Savior. Churches are filled with people who think that regular attendance, generous giving, and diligent service make them good enough for heaven. Week after week they hear the offer of salvation by grace through faith, fail to acknowledge their need, and return home as lost and as thirsty as when they came. (p. 327, From ORDINARY to EXTRAORDINARY by John MacArthur)

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Jesus was ministering on the east side of the Jordan River, about a day’s walk from Bethany, when Lazarus fell sick. Messengers were sent to tell Jesus, who waited two days before returning to Bethany. He found that Lazarus had been dead for four days, apparently having died the same day the messengers were dispatched. So Lazarus was dead by the time Jesus learned about his illness.

Why, then, did Jesus delay His return for two days? Jesus knew Lazarus’ condition. His delay was to heighten the manifestation of the power of God. Jesus called, “Lazarus, come forth!” And Lazarus came forth. The result of this miracle? Many of the Jews believed in Him, and the Son of God was glorified. (Quiet Walk)

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Starting from Home 

Now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments. Ezra 9:10  

One spring day years ago, I stood before a small group of men at our Family Life office in Little Rock. I had invited them to discuss with me the concept of Family Reformation in America, something we desperately needed and felt called to initiate on a major scale. 

I wrote those two words—“Family Reformation”—on the whiteboard. We talked at length about what those words meant and what they would require of us as champions for the home and family. Heaven knows that our nation and world are rife with failure in this area. Many, many sins and agendas are at war against the family. But about an hour into our discussion, the tone of the meeting changed dramatically. Staring at those words again, each of us—one by one—fell silent. Instead of envisioning all the things that needed to occur “out there” in the culture for Family Reformation to occur, a much more daunting task began gripping our hearts: Lord, what needs to change in my life for a Family Reformation to occur . . . in my home? 

 

Our meeting adjourned early that day, not because we’d come to any grand conclusions, but simply because we realized that anything of spiritual significance must always begin in one place—in personal, individual repentance. We determined that re-forming a family spiritually is a work that God must do in each of our hearts and homes. I still believe we need a Family Reformation. I’ve seen it happen in place after place, marriage after marriage, home after home. I’ve seen God resurrect dead marriages, restoring “the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6). The cost? Repenting of our own sins and selfishness. Before God restores, before He rebuilds and renews, He calls us to repent. (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)

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Daily Hope

Today’s Scripture
Romans 1:1-15

Various titles are used to introduce and identify who you are in a variety of settings. The term used informs the audience of your expertise or standing in the company or venue. Most individuals have more than one title. Which title is used is determined by the situation or location. I am a husband, father, grandfather. I have earned the titles of Pastor, Doctor and Reverend. I have accepted the titles of Christian, believer and disciple by choosing to receive and follow Jesus Christ as my Savior.

As we begin the book of Romans, we are reminded that Paul had never been to Rome. As he began his introduction to the believers that were located there, he desired to identify himself. This rather long, formal introduction is used by Paul to identify himself to his readers. 

He started with his name, Paul, choosing to use his Greek name rather than his Jewish name Saul. Perhaps this was intentional as many were Gentiles in the congregation or perhaps because the name’s literal meaning is “little” and he desired to write as a humble servant. Along with this is the following word, “bondservant” to illustrate his recognition of a slave that had been freed but remained in the service of his master, Jesus Christ. The title would immediately bring attention to the fact that he was a servant purchased by another whose interests he was representing. Paul chose to identify himself with this term in many of his writings to the churches. 

He balances the servant and humility titles with the next one “apostle” which carried the status of authority and leadership in the churches of the New Testament. As an apostle he had the position of leadership and spoke as one separated or appointed by Christ and the church to represent Christ’s teachings. 

In humility, but with authority, Paul now comes to present Jesus Christ and His teachings to this group of individuals at Rome. Their faith and obedience had been spoken of throughout the entire world and Paul desired to visit, share, and teach them. His longing was to encourage and be encouraged as they shared in the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As we begin the book of Romans, we will be challenged to be both humbled and exalted as Paul reveals the mind and makeup of man. My prayer will be that we see ourselves, like Paul, both as a sinner and a saint. Believers are forgiven by Christ and become messengers for Christ as a result of that forgiveness! 

With an Expectant Hope, Pastor Miller

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Acts 26
Paul is given an audience with King Agrippa.
INSIGHT

To repent means to turn around, to go in the opposite direction, or to think opposite thoughts. If you have not received Christ, you must repent to do so. In his defense before King Agrippa and Festus, Paul says he preaches to everyone that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance (v. 20). One cannot repent without changing. Repentance toward Christ brings new birth and the power to change. Have you repented and turned to God?  (Quiet Walk)

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FULL AND LASTING JOY

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:4
The apostle is anxious that these Christian people, to whom he is writing, should have fullness of joy, though they are in the world, which lies under the power of the evil one.
Now that is the amazing thing that is offered and promised to us in the New Testament. It is by no means a message confined to this epistle. We see it in Paul’s epistle to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (4:4). Our Lord promised in John 16:33, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” He described the world as an evil place, and He forewarned His followers what to expect from it. He said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you”; but His great promise was that He would give them the joy that He Himself possessed. There would be a period at the crucifixion and before the resurrection when they would be unhappy and miserable. “But,” He said, “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you” (John 16:22). He also said, “These things have I spoken unto you…that your joy might be full” (John 15:11) “the very word that John repeats in his first epistle.
That is Christ’s promise, and perhaps there is nothing that is more characteristic of the book of the Acts of the Apostles than this very note. If you are feeling tired and in need of a spiritual tonic, go to the book of Acts, and there you will find this irrepressible joy that these people had in confirmation of the Lord’s promise!
A Thought to Ponder
Christ described the world as an evil place, but His great promise was that He would give them joy.  (From Fellowship with God pp. 23-24, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones).

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God Is Love
“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16)
God is clearly “the Lord, the righteous judge” (2 Timothy 4:8), but He is also “the God of love and peace” (2 Corinthians 13:11). Not only in our text verse but also in another place, we are reminded that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Of all the attributes of God, His nature of love is the most definitive. God is love!
It was not His omnipotence nor His omniscience that constrained Him to create men and women in His image. It must have been His nature of love, the desire for fellowship with beings like Himself. There is not much revealed on this question—only hints. “I have created him for my glory” (Isaiah 43:7). “The LORD hath made all things for himself” (Proverbs 16:4).
But fellowship is a two-way relationship and requires freedom to choose on the part of both. When man volitionally broke that fellowship, sin came into the world and God’s creation purpose was to all appearances set aside.
But God is love! He had not only a plan of creation but also a plan of salvation already in process. He “saved us,… according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Timothy 1:9).
And so “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us” (1 John 3:1). God is, indeed, a God of love! (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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From Mess to Message

Tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you. Mark 5:19

Darryl was a baseball legend who nearly destroyed his life with drugs. But Jesus set him free, and he’s been clean for years. Today he helps others struggling with addiction and points them to faith. Looking back, he affirms that God turned his mess into a message.

Nothing is too hard for God. When Jesus came ashore near a cemetery after a stormy night on the Sea of Galilee with His disciples, a man possessed by darkness immediately approached Him. Jesus spoke to the demons inside him, drove them away, and set him free.

When Jesus left, the man begged to go along. But Jesus didn’t allow it, because He had work for him to do: “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you” (Mark 5:19).

We never see the man again, but Scripture shows us something intriguing. The people of that region had fearfully pleaded with Jesus “to leave” (v. 17), but the next time He returned there, a large crowd gathered (8:1). Could the crowd have resulted from Jesus sending the man home? Could it be that he, once dominated by darkness, became one of the first missionaries, effectively communicating Jesus’ power to save?

We’ll never know this side of heaven, but this much is clear. When God sets us free to serve Him, He can turn even a messy past into a message of hope and love.

By James Banks

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Barbara DeSomer writes (IL): Thank You LORD – As the world gest crazier the nuts get easier to find!

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We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.

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