A Spiritual Guide

Choices 06.23.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Monday June 23, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Job. Please read Chapters 25-29 in your Bible or Click Here to read. Cut & Paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2025-29&version=9

Today we will read and learn about Bildad’s answer; Job’s reproof of Bildad; Job’s praise to God; Job’s truthfulness; the source of wisdom; and Job recalling his past wealth. Today’s message focuses on the importance of realizing that we have a choice in our struggles, we can live depressed and without God and never see a change or we can seek God in the midst of our struggles and live peacefully knowing that we will see victory as we endure them.

Bildad speaks for the third time and insinuates that Job was an unclean worm who could not be justified with God. “How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?” (Job 25:4-6). In the midst of all the false insinuations, Job looked beyond the criticisms to the Source of all true wisdom. “But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.” (28:12-13).

Job was expressing his utmost confidence that God is the Author and Revealer of true wisdom. There is no substitute for reading all of His Word to understand His perfect plan for our lives. This means that it is important to read through every book of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, with a sincere desire to apply its instruction to our own lives. We can be sure that Satan will attempt to distract us from the true source of wisdom and cause us to make decisions based on circumstances or contemporary standards.

However, Job was never as concerned about knowing the answer to his problems as he was about having a right relationship with God. “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” (28:28). The more we truly humble ourselves and die to pride, the less we will be affected by the criticism of others.

Those who leave Christ, the Living Word, out of their lives will never discover true wisdom and understanding. They will miss the greatest discovery of life,Christ, who is the source of all truth. To neglect and disregard Him and His Word is to remain in ignorance of the true purpose for life and remain in spiritual darkness.

The worldly-minded find fault with God, just as the Israelites did as they journeyed through the wilderness. They complained about their circumstances instead of acknowledging that God was in control. We too can make unwise decisions when we allow ourselves to become frustrated. To illustrate, we may say to someone: “You make me angry.” But the fact is, we choose to be angry Or we may say: “I am depressed today.” However, the sad truth is that we have refused to see God in the circumstances He has allowed to take place in our lives.

We can be sure that our Lord is far more concerned with our best interests than we are. “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” (I Peter 4: 17-19). We always have the choice to move above and beyond anger and disappointments by permitting the indwelling Christ to rule our lives.

In today’s reading Jesus Christ is revealed through Job’s compassion for others (Job 29:15-17,21-25). Jesus was moved with compassion when He saw great crowds in need of healing and feeding (Matthew 15:30-39).

Today’s Prayer:
Dear Lord,
The cares of this world often press in on us and weigh our hearts down. It’s not your desire that we carry a heavy load because You are the Burden Bearer. You use the difficult circumstances of our lives to bring glory to Yourself as You bring spiritual maturity into our relationship with You. Our faith is strengthened and our understanding deepened as You take the evil that Satan hurls at us and turn it into glorious occasion for Your power to be released and deliverance to take place. You are the same God who led us into battle that will also lead us to victory! In Jesus’ name…..Amen.

Have a great Monday and week.
God Bless,
Christina

Visit: A Spiritual Guide
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Trials of Faith 06.22.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Sunday June 22, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Job. Please read Chapters 21-24 in your Bible or Click Here to read.
Cut & Paste to browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2021-24&version=9

Today we will read and learn about Job declaring that wicked men sometimes prosper; Eliphaz accusing Job of sin; and Job’s desire to plead his case before God. Today’s message focuses on the importance of realizing that we can either allow trials to bring us closer to God or to drive us away from Him. Being faithful to God and His Word will bring us through with victory.

It is shocking to read how wrong Job’s friends could be with their blunt, critical, and cruel condemnation of him. They mistakenly supposed that all his problems were the result of his secret sins. They assumed that wicked men are miserable and, since Job was exceedingly miserable, he must be very wicked! As Job responds, the question arises: Why do the wicked prosper and go unpunished? “Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled? Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth. Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?” (Job 21:3-7).

Eliphaz speaks for the 3rd time, making Job sound like a liar, “Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee; Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee. Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are! And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.” (22:10-14). There are still self-righteous, overbearing, opinionated people like Eliphaz, who are quick to pass judgment on anyone who doesn’t believe as they do or who experience difficulties or sickness.

Job’s faith was unshakable because he could truthfully say, “On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” (23:9-12). He believed that, since God was faithful to His Word, He also would be faithful to His obedient servant. It is as if Job had said: “In the midst of my suffering and sorrows, in faith I turned to and trust whatever God chooses for me. So great was my need for assurance, I seized upon it as a starving man for a meal. I devoured it and indeed my soul was comforted and I was strengthened. I turned from the husks of comfort that my friends offered and can testify that only faith in God and His Word will satisfy.”

We often do not understand why we face disappointments, sufferings, or being misunderstood. But, we can believe and trust in God, since He always gives His best to all who desire to do His will.

Some have assumed they were a Christian because they were a member of a church, but they have not experienced the transforming power of God’s Word. Like Judas, they may talk like a Christian and yet they do not desire Christ as Lord of their lives. To have a Bible but no desire to know how God would have them live is useless. Until they repent of their sins and accept Christ as both Savior and Lord, the Bible has little value.

The faith of Job should be an inspiration to all of us who are not as concerned about knowing the “reason” for our suffering as with knowing God, who will see us through it, and His Word, the only true source of guidance.

In today’s reading Jesus Christ is revealed through Job’s faithfulness to God during all his suffering (Job 23:10-12). Christ’s faithfulness to the Father is seen as He prayed for the Father’s will to be done (Luke 22:42).

Today’s Prayer:
Dear Lord,
We’re so thankful that we don’t have to step out on our own and rely on our connections, wisdom, giftings, or experience to receive Your blessings.  Whatever challenge we face can be met by remembering Your promise that You will never leave us nor forsake us. Lord, help us to remain faithful to You no matter what trial we are faced with. Remind us that it is through these trials that we will prevail and see victory and many blessings by putting our complete trust and faith in You. In Jesus’ name……Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day.
God Bless,
Christina

Visit: A Spiritual Guide
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