Monday September 17th Job 38-42

How would you describe me?  How do you believe I handle stressful situations?  How do you believe I show people I love them?  How do you believe I show fairness towards others?  Tell me how do I think?  Tell me how do I form an opinion?  Tell me what makes me loose my temper?  Tell me how easy or difficult is it for me to be patient?  Tell me who Ruth Goulart is in your eyes?

For some of you these questions will be very difficult as I know that some of you don't really know me.  We haven't met therefore we haven't spent time together so how would you know the answers?  Others will fair a little better, as you know me some, but you will have difficulty still.  You have not spent enough time with me to have seen me in these many different elements.  There are just a few of you who will do somewhat well as you have spent time, in some cases years, getting to know me and seeing me in many different phases of my life.

How do you think I would feel if you started telling people about my character and nature and you were dead wrong?  If you had based your knowledge of me only on the Monday bogs I have written this year?  If you thought you knew me from simply observing me a few times in Church?  If you thought you could be a witness to my personality and character based on what other people told you about me?  I will tell you that I would be hurt and very upset.  Why?  Because you would be wrong.  You would not be revealing a complete picture of who I am.  How dare someone spread false or incomplete information about me.  That affects how others see me and it can affect the relationships I have with others.  Unless you take the time to build a relationship with me and take the time to truly get to know me and understand me you can never speak to who I am as a wife, mother, Christian, friend, a person.

Job's friends were guilt of this with God.  They thought they knew God based on things they had observed and what others thought based on what they observed.  They failed to build a relationship with their Lord, the Redeemer as Job call's God (19:25).  The problem is they could not see, and they were unwilling to hear, the truth of God's character as it contradicted their understanding.  They saw God as nothing more then Judge and Jury.  Vindictive and wrathful.  Lacking in love and mercy.  When a friend of theirs was found to be in the midst of one of life's storms all they could bring with them was finger pointing and judgment. 

As Christians I think we are guilty of the same thing as these 3 friends.  We show the world a God of judgment and wrath.  A loveless God who is out to right the wrongs of mankind.  We are constantly pointing our spiritually lofty finger at the world around us and telling them of all the wrongs they do and how God will punish them.  We forget to first approach with open arms in love.  To embrace them just as Christ did when He walked the earth.  Remember it was not the spiritual religious leaders home that Jesus went and had diner at.  No it was in the home of "sinners".  He ate with prostitutes, tax collectors, thieves, the social outcasts.  He wanted them to spend time getting to know who He truly was.  He wanted to make sure they were able to see His heart of love and compassion, the desire to give grace and mercy to ANYONE who wanted to receive it.  Later, once He had built the relationship He would speak of right living and repentance.  He wanted to heal not condemn (Rom 8:1)

Job's friends were reprimanded by God:

"I am angry with you (Eliphaz) and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has."   Job 42:7

God wants us to be proper witnesses to His Character.  To speak the complete truth of who He is.  To reveal the fullness of His being to all who we meet.  We are to speak of Him what is right.  The only way we can do this is to spend time every single day getting to know Him better and better. To remember the love, grace and mercy He has shown us and to show the same to others.

There is a song by Casting Crowns that I just love that really convicts my heart to be careful as to how I am living my life as a Christian in a world that doesn't truly know the right Character of God.  I encourage you to listen to the song and read the lyrics and to pray and ask God to help us to know Him better so that we can be better witnesses for Christ & portray a complete and accurate picture of who our Redeemer is (Job 19:25).

Sunday September 16th

Sunday, September 19th 2012

Job 32-37

Elihu

As one of the younger people doing this day by day Bible reading, I find it appropriate that I get to write about Elihu. Elihu, who wasn't introduced into this narrative until now, was a young bystander to Job and his three friends as they discussed Job's suffering. When it seemed that the four were done speaking, Elihu decided to voice his opinion. Up until that point he had said nothing, but he was so angry at Job and his friends that he felt he needed to speak. He was mad at Job for focusing on himself and his problems rather than God and His actions, and he was angry at Job's friends because they put Job down when they didn't have any concrete answers in the first place. Elihu hadn't said anything because he felt that his youth and their age made them wiser, and he believed that age should mean wisdom.

Elihu then goes on to voice his opinion. He starts out by saying something that is a repeated lesson in the Bible. He tells Job that he cannot make God his enemy because God and man are not even on the same playing field. It would be like the Cowboys playing against the Yankees (football and baseball), it just can't happen. He tells Job that God communicates with men in many ways, be it a dream, vision, a lesson learned from pain, or through a special messenger. God sends these messages because He wants us to learn and grow. He doesn't want to just see us suffer.

For his final argument, he defends God's justice. He implies that Job's negative outlook on God's justice is what is causing his perceived lack of justice. Elihu pointed out that God doesn't play favorites. The justice scale is the same for everyone. Job is wrong for thinking otherwise, and his whole theological debate on God's justice is premature because God's justice hasn't even reached Job yet. So with this Elihu asks Job to recognize God's greatness and how incomprehensible it is.

What really interested me in today's reading was the idea of age and its effect on wisdom. As Elihu explained that age does not always equal wisdom or a full understanding of justice, I thought of how accurate he was. Wisdom isn't measured by how many years you've been alive, but rather how your experiences shape your knowledge and understanding of life. For Elihu to assume that older meant wiser was naïve of him.

As I continued reading this, though, I noticed how even though what he was saying was wise, Elihu's youth shined through his almost arrogance. It is one thing to believe something whole-heartedly, but it is another thing entirely to be closed off to new ideas. In the beginning, Elihu talks about himself and how he is about to show them the right answers. Throughout the narrative he places himself in a position of knowledge, and he states that as men of understanding, Job and his friends should easily agree with what he is saying. He even said that he has "perfect knowledge" that "comes from afar." He was actually trying to be God's spokesman, which is pretty arrogant all in itself.

I guess the main lesson to learn from Elihu is that being wise doesn't mean you are above being arrogant, and that we should try to remember that when we are disagreeing with someone's opinions.

Hope you all had a lovely Sunday!

Gina.  

September 15: Job 25-31

(Posted on behalf of Jon Lanuza)
Job 25-31


Just when one thinks one has come to grips with the magnitude of Job's
suffering, he lets us in on a bit more. In today's reading, we read in
greater detail about the height of Job's seeming fall from grace, from the
esteem and respect he enjoyed from his fellow men, to the mocking he now
endures from young men whose fathers he would not have associated with his
sheep dogs; from being the source of counsel to the target of spittle of men
who "brayed among the bushes...a base and nameless brood...driven out of the
land". These days, when someone suffers a great loss, we have the decency
to mutter and gossip about it behind that person's back [SARCASM ALERT]...in
those days, it seems acceptable to kick a man when he was down. And, in
this instance, not just any man, but one who, even amidst his affliction,
was adamant in the certainty of his own righteousness before God. And in
his own mind, he certainly seemed to believe himself righteous. "I will
maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not
reproach me as long as I live."

This leads me along two paths of reflection. Along the first path, I am led
to note that, despite what would seem to be the great injustice of the
afflictions God had permitted him, Job lived in acknowledgement of God's
sovereignty..."He spreads out the northern skies over empty pace; he
suspends the earth over nothing...and these are but the outer fringe of His
works...who then can understand the thunder of His power?"...and in
obedience to Him..."The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom, and to shun evil
is understanding." His faithfulness remains, despite God's seeming
silence..."I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer...yet when I hoped
for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness."

Along the second path, I am led to realize that relationship with, and
knowledge of God, provide no guarantee of a comfortable life on earth. Job
was a man who chose "not to look lustfully at a girl", whose foot has not
hurried after deceit, who has been faithful to his wife, has treated
menservants and maidservants fairly, who has donated to charity and not put
his trust in earthly wealth. He has not engaged in idolatry nor
hypocrisy...all in all, he has lived what could be deemed a righteous life.
And yet God, in His wisdom beyond understanding, which Job acknowledges, has
chosen to permit Job to suffer, the only reassurance for which is the belief
that the suffering is purposeful in God's infinite wisdom.

What to take away? The desire to get to know God thoroughly, intimately
enough to recognize and to trust in His wisdom and purposefulness when He
permits difficult, even painful things to happen. We don't have to be happy
about them, but it would probably help us pass through the test and trial
knowing we undergo them in God's wisdom. Perhaps today we might pray that
God grant us the grace to get to know Him a bit more each day, that we might
be able to face test and trial with the faithfulness of Job.

Friday, September 14, 2012 - Job 22-24

Friday, September 14, 2012
Job 22-24

"Job's story is for us!" This is what Pastor Gregory Perry told me
about two years ago when I inquired about his view on the book of Job.
I'm sure none of you know who Greg is, but he was instrumental in my
having a relationship with the Lord today. In fact, his whole family
planted the seed of Christ Jesus in my heart by the way that they
lived and loved.

Job's story is for us! Today, I have a much greater understanding
about what this means than I did when Greg explained it to me two
years ago. Job's story wasn't just about the test of Job's
faithfulness to God. Job's story was about God and for us. God allowed
Job to suffer the way that he did so that his story would encourage
those that came after him; those that would suffer in poverty, endure
persecution, and/or just experience downtrodden times. It's in these
trying circumstances that the power of God's Word/Love is revealed. In
the documentary, "Furious Love," I saw how persecution put God's
Word/Love to the test. God's Word/Love prevailed.

In the movie, I witnessed persecution of believers in India. In 2006,
Hindu Extremists were massacring thousands of Christians in the
countryside of Orissa, India. Indian Christians homes and churches
were being burned to the ground. People lost their children, their
husbands, wives, etc. In one ministry, eighteen pastors had their
heads decapitated. A survivor of this massacre, a teenage Indian
Christian girl was interviewed: She asked her father, "How could this
all happen?" She then asked Jesus, "Why is this happening to us? We
didn't do anything so why are you punishing us?" Her mom overheard her
talking to God and said, "No, you are lucky that you have been part of
this. You know it's written in the Bible that blessed are the people
who are persecuted for the name of Christ." Wow!! God's Word/Love is
powerful enough to give immeasurable strength and hope amidst
persecution. In today's reading, in Job 23:10-12, Job even said,

10 But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
11 My feet have closely followed his steps;
I have kept to his way without turning aside.
12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

Because Job knew and followed God's Word, he understood God's Love.
This understanding afforded him a remarkable hope amidst persecution.
Job's story, like Jesus' story (the greatest story ever told) have
given hope to the oppressed.

I like to envision Job hanging out with God in heaven and looking down
at the world. I can see God showing Job how many people his story has
helped. I'm sure if Job's story had ended with suffering (although we
know he will be restored), he would still be satisfied and content
that he spent his life glorifying God amidst his affliction, for he
would see how critical his experience was in giving others hope. Job's
story is for us!

Have a blessed weekend,
Anthony

September 13: Job 18-21

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

Job 18–21

At the heart of today’s passage lies Chapter 19.  Here, we see a display of Job’s frustration with his “friends,” who have exasperated him and brought him to feelings of alienation, and a beautiful statement of his trust in the resurrection power of God Himself.

 

Job’s alienation.  Job’s advisors, Bildad and Zophar, continue to hammer upon the idea that God punishes the wicked – seemingly immediately and firmly – for their sin.  By implication, therefore, Job has harbored some sin that they do not name.  Job’s destitute state has come about because of his falling short of God’s design.  As a result, Job feels angry in this abandonment:

 

“He has alienated my brothers from me;

                my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.

My kinsmen have gone away;

                my friends have forgotten me.”

 

 

How difficult to struggle without support from friends!  We see numerous passages throughout the Scriptures that indicate we are to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) and to help others find strength in God (1 Samuel 23:16).  One of the greatest encouragements we can find during struggles is the testimony of friends’ faithfulness, particularly in the Church:  “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23–25)  At Grace Church, we seek to be a family that walks together through struggles, trusting firmly in God’s provision and presence in all circumstances.

 

 

Hope in the Resurrection.  Despite his distress, Job may look beyond what has recently passed and see God’s faithfulness and His presence on the earth:

 

“I know that my Redeemer lives,

                and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

And after my skin has been destroyed,

                yet in my flesh I will see God;

I myself will see him

                with my own eyes–I, and not another

                How my heart yearns within me!”

 

 

In our struggles, we may find ourselves wishing for a better day.  As with Job, we may have confidence in God’s provision of resurrection, when He will make everything new.  The Lord Jesus Christ will destroy sin and death, and pain and suffering will pass.  The truths of Revelation 21 and 22 are indeed our secure hope.  As we read in Hebrews 11:1,2, “now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for.”  Here, we see Job’s living out of these verses.  Hebrews 11 continues:

 

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.  People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.  If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.  Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (13–16)

 

 

QUESTIONS

 

1.  Whom can you encourage and help to find strength in God at this time?

 2.  Have you ever found yourself feeling like an “alien” or “stranger” on earth because of your faith?  What promises do you see from Job’s words and Hebrews 11?  Where will we not be an “alien” or “stranger”?

________________________________________
1) Blog:      http://bit.ly/rV1Cw1

2) Facebook:  http://on.fb.me/tc6jkS

September 11

(Written by Travis Steinmetz)

Job 11-14

If only the preachers of the prosperity gospel would read Job. Job's friends were preaching this prosperity gospel to him as he faced suffering. They were saying, "If something is wrong in your life, then there is a disconnect in your heart from God. You heart is not right." In turn, Job said that suffering happens to all, not just those who are caught in the trap of sin. Think back in our readings throughout this year. Did all of the Israelites follow other gods? Did all of them turn their hearts from God? Since there were people like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, I would say that there were still some righteous among them. People suffer for other people's sin. 

Eleven years ago, this nation was attacked and nearly 3000 people were killed. The point could be argued that our nation's greed and our dependence on our wealth brought on the act of terrorism. Even if that is or is not the case, my point here is, "did all of those 3000 people deserve to die?" Even if 9/11 was somehow a punishment for our nations idolatry, we're all 3000 of those people caught up in it? Were there no people on those planes or in those towers who were following after God? Were all of their families bowing down to the money idols? Suffering is not only for the guilty. Suffering is something that we all will have to deal with at one point or another, and through suffering we are made stronger, built up for the task that God has planned for us. 

I was at a worship night in Trumbull on Sunday. Kathryn Scott was leading us in worship. One of the stories she told was particularly touching. Her sister was pregnant with a baby girl, and when the doctors did a scan at 20 weeks, they found out that there was something terribly wrong. Her sister carried the baby to term and then this beautiful baby girl was born into this world, but part of her brain was formed outside of her skull, and parts of her brain were missing. The baby died within 15 days. The family was devastated. Why all this pain? Was it because they were far from God? Was it because of something they had done? Suffering happens to good people. I think that suffering is sometimes there to test our response. In the story with this baby, there was a lot of pain, but through it all, the parents did not doubt the love of God. They trusted in God's will for them and they praised Him throughout the storm. In the story of Job, even though his world had collapsed around him, he did not blame God, he did not turn away and curse the Sovereign One, but he did ask why. He did get frustrated and vent his anger. Sometimes there is a clear cut reason for our suffering, sometimes there is not. God just wants us to understand that He is still there, and still in control, and even if things don't turn out the way we want them to, God is still Creator, and He is still loving and good.

Monday September 10th Job 8-10 asking questions

Questions!  Questions help us to grow and understand.  Honest questions that reveal our limited understand help us to understand what we once could not.  In Job, Chapter 10, he asks lots of questions.  He is in a place that he does not understand and wants some answers.

 In high school I read a sign on a teachers door that has always stuck with me:

"The only stupid question is the one not asked."

Why don't we ask questions?  Sometimes we don't want to show our weakness, our limited understanding.  We are afraid of what others may think of us.  We are embarrassed and feel as if we should already know they answers.

Why don't Christians ask questions, especially of God in times of struggle?

My son Talon asked me this question last week:

"Mom is it a sin to question God? Is it a sin to tell him that you are angry or don't like something that happened?"  

As Christians I think we sometimes fool ourselves.  We believe that if we have rock solid faith, if we are firmly rooted in the Lord, if we have a firm relationship with our God and creator then we should not question.  I think that sometimes we can look at questioning God as sinful.  But I think that God welcomes questions.  I think he longs for us to ask them.  Why?  Because it is when we are most honest with God, when we pour out our hearts, the hurts and struggles as well as the joys and laughter that our hearts are ready to receive what God knows we need to hear.

In church yesterday Pastor Taylor used an analogy.  He had a pitcher filled with water.  He said that when we go through difficulties we need to pour out to God that which is in our hearts.  Our questions, our pain, our lack of understanding, our burdens and struggles.  He poured the water out into a bowl representing us pouring our hearts out to God.  I would like to take the analogy one step further.  What I noticed is that what was left was an empty picture, an empty vessel.  When we pour out the hurts, pains, misunderstandings, the questions we leave ourselves open to be filled with what God knows we need.  It may be answers to those questions and sometimes, like in Job's case it may be reminders of who God is and how much he loves you.  When we ask God questions, when we pour out our hearts to him and empty ourselves what he then does is he fills us, our hearts and minds, with what we need.  We are not left to be empty vessels but rather to be filled with the blessings of the Lord.  This is how we build a strong faith, a solid trust and an unwavering hope in the one who says,

Jeremiah 21:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Asking questions is what leads us to understanding who God is and that his plans are good and they offer us hope and a future.  It may not feel like it at the time but this is a promise that we can be sure of and if we pour out our hearts and ask questions like Job did, honest questions, he will answer by reminding us of who he is and what he has planned – a hope and a future.

We just need to remember that God will answer according to our needs not according to our wants.  So we should only ask questions when we are truly ready to get whatever response God thinks we need.  Like with Job, God doesn't always give us the reason why.  I think we worry too much about the why and we forget to focus on the who.  Who God is.  It isn't until we empty our hearts of the why questions that we can be filled with the Who of God's character and be in a better place to weather the storms of life.

If you are a vessel that is hurting or struggling today pour out your sincere and honest questions and feelings to the Lord and let him fill you with what you NEED to move forward toward the hope and future he has planned for you.