Hungry

Job 23:12 "I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food." ESV

 

This is kind of a follow up from yesterday where Eliphaz told Job to "Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart." Job's response was that he has been obedient. In fact, God's word to him was more precious than food.

I can kind of relate to that right now because I have not eaten in over 36 hours. Oh no, this was not a chosen fast for me. It was forced on me because of some GI problems. Right now all I want to do is feel better and eat some good food. Hopefully I will be on the rebound today. The thing is, here is Job, going through all kinds of physical pain and problems. He probably had not eaten either and what was on his mind? God's word. The words from God's mouth were more important to him than is daily food. He had a hunger for them. He had a thirst for them. And when he devoured them, it didn't just stay in his spiritual system, he did something. He obeyed the commandment that God gave him, even if he was suffering.

I love to eat. My wife is one of the best cooks I know and she does a fantastic job of feeding me all kinds of delicious food. I look forward to a good meal. When I know it is coming, I anticipate it. I want it. And when i sit down to eat it, I don't pick at it. I don't just look at it and say how nice it is. I dig in. I devour it. I consume it until I am full. (Lately I have been trying to control my portions because sometimes you can just keep eating.)

The question: Am I like this with God's word? Do I look forward to getting into it? Do I anticipate what God is going to teach me? Do I want it? Do I really get into it and devour it, or do I just pick at it or rely on leftovers from other people? Do I consume it until I am full? Am I like Job who said: "I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food"? Or do I just rotely go through the process of reading it, writing about it and then I am done for the day? Do I look forward to what others have to preach and teach or do I just go to church because it is what I am supposed to do?

And then, once I am in it, what do I do with it? Do I obey it or do am I like the guy who looked in the mirror and walked away not remembering what he looked like?

Oh God, give me that passion for your word. Even now as I sit here hungry, may I be hungrier for the words from your mouth.

Memorize

Job 22:22 "Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart." ESV

 

Wow. Eliphaz is really coming down hard on Job with some unsubstantiated accusations. With friends like this, who needs enemies? It is kind of interesting how his friend's "concern" for him has morphed into condemnation.

 

Yet, again, in the middle of it all sits truth and some good advice. Here it is: Let God teach you, listen to what He has to say and grab it. Also, when you get that word from God, don't just listen and let it go but establish it, set it, put it in your inner man.

 

We are unbelievably blessed. God has given His words to us in written form in the Bible. We don't have to wonder what He is saying, it is right in front of us. We can read it. The problem is, sometimes I find that I read it and I let it go. I don't spend time with it. It doesn't go down deep and when that happens, it does not change me. Frankly, that is just foolishness. Here is God's word. He speaks to me. He wants to speak to me. He wants me to know His mind and His heart. To not pay attention is dumb.

 

I love the word for "receive". It actually means "marry'. It means that when God speaks, let His instruction become one with you. Let it become an integral part of your life. David said something similar: "Your word have I hid in my heart (inner man) that I might not sin against You." Ps 119:11 How do I do this? What do I do? What should I do? Read it. Study it. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Live it. This is God's word. We can't get anything more valuable.

 

It is weird, but we can memorize the dumbest stuff. Lines from movies. Words from songs. But God's word? We don't even try. My challenge is to begin doing this. Memorize scripture. Make it an integral part of my brain and not just my brain, but my life.

Tough until Eternity

Job 21:7 "Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?" ESV

 

Job is asking the age old question: Why do the wicked prosper? I was just talking to someone the other day and we were discussing how those who live lives that try to honor God have difficulty and those who couldn't give a rip about God seem to live in ease? Why is that? It just seems so unfair…so wrong. It has made some consider God and turn their backs on Him because they can't see the reasoning behind this. Do I have an answer? Not really. It is a very good question. It would seem that God would want to bless those who honor Him and curse those who dishonor Him.

 

Oh wait…He has. The problem with me, the problem with us is that we are bound by this thing called time. We are bound by this thing called the human existence here on this earth. We are stuck with what we see in the here and now, and when we hit hard times it is difficult to take and even more difficult to understand when we believe that we are living our lives in obedience.

 

Take my friend, Joe. He has been battling cancer for many years. They thought they had it beat but it reared its ugly head again and now he is going through chemo. Now this guy is a godly man. He lives for Christ, he anonymously serves others, he is trying to live a faithful Christian life…but he is dealing with some pretty tough stuff right now. Or my friend Gary. This guy has a heart of gold. His desire is to see the men of our church grow. He wants to honor God with all that he is, but he is suffering from unbelievable pain that will not go away. Or my friend Dave. He has been dealing with a problem now for a long time, just had to see the doctor for a procedure yesterday and is very uncomfortable….but a godly guy with a godly family. Or how about the Apostle Paul? He asked God to remove a problem in his life and God told him that His grace was all he needed.

 

Other than building character (James 1) what is the deal with this stuff? Maybe it gets our minds and our hearts set on other things…like the temporariness of this life and the promise of the life to come. "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Cor 4:16-18 ESV

 

Light momentary affliction. It doesn't seem like it at the time, but in comparison with eternity, it is nothing. The wicked? They have all that they are going to get here then there is massive trouble.

 

The point? Focus on eternity.

 

Godly Fun

Job 20:4,5 "Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth, that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?" ESV

 

More advice from another friend. It probably wasn't what they said that was offensive, but in the way that they said it…because what they said was true. (Of course, why would they be telling Job about the wicked unless they thought he belonged in that camp? If they thought that he was suffering simply because he was being attacked and not because of something that he had done, I think that their words would have been more encouraging…more supportive.)

 

Back to the truth of what Zophar said. From the very beginning of time this has been true: Boasting is short lived and the fun that comes from godless living does not satisfy long term. This is something that our society needs to figure out. Why? Because we are surrounded with individuals who want to tell us how great they are and we are surrounded by a hedonistic culture. The truth: No one should boast because none of us are great and if you want joy that lasts, do what God wants.

 

Sometimes it is tempting to toot your own horn. When I think about that, however, who am I exulting…me or God? And frankly, who deserves to be lifted up? Me or God? If I am going to boast, this is what I should boast about: "My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!" Ps 34:2,3 "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." I Cor 1:31

 

Then joy. I think that what Zophar is referring to here is fun…pleasure. There is nothing wrong in having fun. God created fun. But when that fun comes at the expense of others, or when that fun comes as a result of immoral activity it is godless. It is wicked and it does not last. Fun that lasts is the fun we can have doing what God wants. This fun is really considered joy because it brings inner satisfaction. The other stuff brings inner emptiness. You always are looking for more from another source. When you have godly fun you get this inner sense that this is what it is all about. And as I think about it, I think heaven is going to be a blast.

 

So today, as I go through my day, boast about God and have godly fun.

 

 

Hanging on to Truth…Hanging on to Hope

Job19:25-27a "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another." ESV

 

Talk about hanging on to truth. That is what Job did. It is all he had. His friends, siblings, servants, wife, young children all rejected him. He was "stripped from his glory" v9. Any respect that he had was gone. Not only was he physically spent, but he was emotionally and socially wasted as well. Everything that he ever had that he could look at that was good in his life was eliminated. What did he have left?

 

"For I know that my Redeemer lives and when it is all said and done, after my body has been destroyed, I will, in my body, see God." This is the promise of the resurrection. This is the hope of the coming life. Why? Because of His Redeemer. Because there was One who was going to buy him and in this purchase would give him life because that One was and is alive.

 

The thing is, this life thing that Job was talking about was not just an ethereal thing. It wasn't just a spiritual thing…it was a real thing. It was a tangible thing. It was a physical thing. After his body was destroyed that same body would come back and with his own eyes he would see God. This was the truth that Job knew. He could not see it. He was not experiencing it yet, but he knew that this was his sure future…and he hung on to it.

 

I am a member of a church of close to 300 people. It is a size where you see and hear about things going on in people's lives. It is big and small enough to hear and care and pray. What have we been praying for latterly? People with cancer. I have just counted five people who, in the last two months have had to deal with this disease. What do they hang on to? What is their hope? "I know that my Redeemer lives and …in my flesh I will see God." What hope, what truth do we all have to hang on to no matter what hits us in our lives here? "I know that my Redeemer lives and…in my flesh I will see God." This is it. This is the ultimate. This is our foundation. Our Redeemer Jesus lives and because He lives we will live forever too.

 

Frankly, this is what a lost, dying, sin sick, politically wrecked, bankrupt, morally empty world needs. It is their only hope. It is my only hope.

 

Merciful Friends

Job 19:21 "Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me!" ESV

 

Finally Job stops fighting. His friend Bildad just came out with a true but scathing reminder of what happens to those who don't know God. (Ch. 18) It isn't pretty and I am sure that it was directed as a reminder to Job. After hearing it, all Job could do was ask his friends to give him mercy…to show him pity and be gracious. Yes, up to this point his friends were there. They were quiet at first but then they began to speak. It seemed to be gentle initially, but then it got harder and harder until these words from Bildad. Job then realized that his family had turned against him. His own siblings ignored him. Children were repulsed by him and his own wife thought his breath stunk. What did he do with his friends? He cried out for mercy.

 

How do I treat people who are going through tough times? I don't think that I have been scathing in my response in the past, but I may have been something even worse…removed. Not there. None of us like to see others going through pain and when it comes we can respond in one of three ways: Judgment…which is what Job's friends eventually morphed into; Sympathy…which is where you come along side just to listen and care and meet needs; Avoidance…where you try to ignore the problem and just hope that it will go away. I may have responded with the later because, let's face it, when you take on another person's pain, it is hard.

 

Yet, isn't this what Paul told us to do? Rejoice with those who rejoice. (That is always fun.) But weep with those who weep. (Not so fun but necessary.) (Rom 12:15) Bear one another's burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ (Gal 6:2)…and what is that law? To love one another.

 

I have to get better at this.

Steadfast

Job 17:9 "Yet the righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger." ESV

 

Here is another nugget in the middle of Job just having a terrible time. In this chapter he doesn't talk about the physical pain that he is going through, but rather the social ostracism that he faced and what his future looked like. In sum, people turned their backs on him and he was looking forward to death. Not a happy situation.

 

But here it is. Right in the middle of what he was saying is this statement: "The righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger." Is this true? Is this something that he said in jest? Is this something that he hoped for his life?

 

I don't know for sure, but I think that in all of this, I believe that Job was reminding himself of what was true, and what was true was that those who live just and right lives will grasp their direction. That is, they will lay hold of the path that God has for them. And the person who has clean, pure hands will increase in strength. He didn't know the path that God had for him but he knew that if he was righteous he would one day lay hold of it. And even though he was terribly weak right now, physically, emotionally and spiritually he still looked forward to the day that his strength would grow.

 

This is being steadfast. This is being immovable. This is sticking to the truth. This is faithfulness. This is hope. No matter what hits, no matter how bad things get, no matter how hopeless the situation may seem this is true…that the righteous will lay hold of all that God has for them and those who have clean hands will increase in strength.

 

The question is not one of God's purpose, the question is rather what is my life like? If it is clean before God, I have this hope, no matter what…so stick with the game plan. Stay in there. Don't waver. Don't give up. Stay righteous. Stay pure. The end result is laying hold of God's perfect path and increased strength and power.

 

What is Man?

Job 15:14 What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous? ESV

 

Even though Job's friends were getting down on him and questioning him, they still spoke truth. Here is another nugget and it is similar to something that Job himself said: "But how can a man be right before God?" Job 9:2

 

Here is the question: What is man? Is he pure? Is he righteous? Is he clean, clear, justified? In order to answer this question, there has to be a standard. How do we measure purity? How do we determine righteousness? What is the ultimate measuring tool that we can measure ourselves against to figure out whether we are clean?

 

I am afraid to say that the measuring tool is perfection…the measuring tool is God, and frankly we can't measure up. Paul puts it another way: "For all have sinned and fall short (miss the mark) of the glory (perfection) of God." Rom 3:23 Some may scoff at this and say that there is no God. There is no ultimate. There is no absolute. But then, you ask them if it is right to betray your best friend, or kill an innocent child, or steal from those who are in need and they will readily say that these things are wrong. How do they know if there is no measuring tool…if there is no absolute? The point is that we all have this inner sense of what is right and wrong and we screw up all the time. None of us are pure. None of us are righteous. We are all doomed to this sorry situation.

 

Really? No. We aren't. God loved us so much that He sent His perfect Son to this earth to save us from this impurity. Get this: "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2Cor 5:21

 

Forgiveness

Job 14:17 "my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity." ESV

 

I love this word: Forgiveness. Job knew about it. Job wanted to experience it…he just did not think that it was something that he had at that moment. He thought he had to wait until he died to see it. Not so. It is something that I can experience now and through eternity. My transgression, my rebellion, my guilt, my punishment can be sealed up in a bag now. My iniquity, my depravity, my sin can be covered…plastered over at this very moment.

 

How do I know? "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9 It all rests on God's character. It all rests on His faithfulness and His righteousness and in it, He says: Just confess. Just admit, just agree with God, just declare what I have done that violates His character and in His character He will forgive…ALL unrighteousness. See why I like the word "forgiveness"? God doesn't do a half hearted job. God does not hang on to stuff. God does not let my sin fester in His life. No, He gets rid of all of it.

 

And how about this: "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him." ESV Ps 103:11-13 God gets it. He knows what we are like. He is just waiting for us to get it too…a realization that He is God, we are not. He is perfect, we are sinful. He is faithful and righteous and we need to confess…and there it goes. East and West never meet and we will never meet our sin again. Or how about this: "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." ESV Micah 7:18,19 Pardoning, passing over, delighting in love, having compassion and throwing my sin into the deepest part of the sea. Or how about this: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Rom 8:1 No condemnation. Gone forever. All because of Jesus. See why I like this word "forgiveness"?

 

The thing is, forgiveness is a two way street: "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ESV Matt 6:14,15 Now those are sobering words, but it makes sense. How can I expect God to forgive me my massive stuff when I can't forgive someone else their little stuff? It is like the story of the guy who owed a debt to his master and was owed a debt by a fellow servant. His failure to forgive the debt owed by the fellow servant resulted in some tough stuff from his master. Matt 18:23-35 So it is with God. "So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." ESV Matt 18:35
I have to have a forgiving heart to experience a forgiving God.

 

I wonder…God help me see if I am holding on to stuff. You don't, neither should I.

Terrified

Job 13:11 "Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?" ESV

 

Job was really coming at his friends now. He was questioning their wisdom and he was challenging their arguments. Were they really going to speak for God? Were they going to put themselves in His place and argue His case? Job was telling them that they had no right. In fact would not His majesty terrify them? Shouldn't they be in dread of Him? Shouldn't His exalted state overwhelm them in terror? Shouldn't they in genuine fear?

 

I know that I have written about this before, but it seems like the fear, dread, terror of God is gone. It is gone in our society. It is gone in our churches. It is gone in our lives. How do I know? Because we do our own thing without considering the majesty of God and what He wants.

 

I mean, really…would I cheat on my taxes if I genuinely feared God? Would I get divorced if I genuinely feared God? Would I lie to other people if I genuinely feared God? Would I fail to raise my kids properly if I genuinely feared God? Would I spend money the way I do if I genuinely feared God? Would I gossip if I genuinely feared God? Would I refuse to forgive if I genuinely feared God? Would I abort that baby if I genuinely feared God? Would I have premarital, extramarital or homosexual sex if I genuinely feared God? Would I fight with that other person or that other nation if I genuinely feared God? Would I look at that junk on the internet if I genuinely feared God? Would I waste my time if I genuinely feared God? Would I put that stuff in my body if I genuinely feared God? Would I eat the way I do if I genuinely feared God? Would I fill my mind with that garbage on TV if I genuinely feared God? Would I give that amount of money or serve in the way that I do if I genuinely feared God. I think I've got the picture.

 

If the terror and dread of God was real in my life things would be different…radically different. And how about this: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." Love and fear…I think that they would bring about the same result…a desire to do all that God wants me to do and an abhorrence for all that ignores Him. And how do I get both? Ask Him to show me His majesty. His exalted state. Who He is. What He is like. Love and terror will be the result.

 

But then get this: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." I John 4:18 So should I tremble and dread and be afraid? Yes. But don't let it end there. Grow in my love for God and all that I do will be motivated by something stronger…love. And when that happens, fear will be a thing of the past.

 

God let me see Your majesty more so that I fear, but beyond that, so that I love.

 

Breath

Job 12:10 "In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." ESV

 

Not only were the guys who were coming to Job speaking truth, Job was as well. Here he says that his friends were not the only ones who had wisdom…God had entrusted some of that understanding to him as well. (v3)

 

Here is some of that understanding: God holds all of our lives in His hand. When I think about the implication of that simple statement, it is astounding and freeing. It is astounding because of the awesomeness and control of God and it is freeing, because I don't have to fear anything because my life, my breath, my very existence is up to Him.

 

Through this chapter, Job goes on to enumerate those who are under God's control: counselors, judges, kings, priests, the mighty, the trusted, the elders, princes, nations, chiefs. I think that it is interesting that Job picked on those who were in leadership. Those who probably thought that it was all up to them. Those who believed that they were in control. Not so. God has the life and breath of every leader in His hand. They could not move, they could not make a decision, they could not breath without God's permission. They could not exist without His grace. God is the One who is in charge of everything. These guys running for President may think they have the answers. These people in Washington making decisions may think that it is all up to them. It isn't. Their very breath is a gift from God. Why then are they so pompous? They should be on their faces daily thanking this God of grace that He has even given them life.

 

But then, I should be on my face daily thanking this God of grace that He has given me life, and breath, and existence. And, I should live my life in the confidence that God is in charge of it all. He is not going to allow anything to happen to me that is outside of His sovereign will.

 

So live life with gratefulness and freedom. God holds it all in His hands.

WOW!

Job 11:7-9 "Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven--what can you do? Deeper than Sheol--what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth and broader
than the sea." ESV

 

Another friend. More advice. This time it seems to be a little more pointed. A little more of a lecture. (I am not sure that this is what Job needed at that point.) The thing is, the stuff that Zophar shared with him was true.

 

These verses remind me of: "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" Rom 11:33,34

 

Knowing God's mind, finding out the deep things of God has recently been a mystery to me. I am of the mindset that this is impossible. There is no way that we can figure out God. He is too big. He is too massive. What can my little puny brain understand about the Creator of all things? Frankly, I don't think that we will ever know the depths of God until we get to heaven.

 

But then I come on verses like this: "To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in [fn] God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places." Eph 3:8-10 And: "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Eph 3:17-19 And how about this: ""For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ." I Cor 2:16

 

Really? The church will make known the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places? Really? We can know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge? Really? We have the mind of Christ? That's what it says. So, I think God wants us to know more, to understand more than what I have ever imagined. No, it will not be full knowledge. Now we see in a glass darkly, but then face to face…but at least we see the reflection and that should blow me away.

 

Does it?

Steadfast and Preserved

Job 10:12 "You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit." ESV

 

Wow. This is an unusual verse in the middle of Job's suffering. He starts this chapter with "I loathe my life" and he ends it with "Why did you bring me out of the womb." Doesn't sound like a very hopeful dissertation to me. Yet in the middle of it all, he says this: "You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit." Job understood something. Even in the middle of it all, this was his hope. This was his foundation. This was something that he had to rely upon…that God gave him life and love and that even though it did not seem like it at this point, God still cared about him. And how do I know that this was something that Job hung on to? Because of two words: steadfast and preserved.

 

The word for steadfast is actually coupled with love and it means lovingkindness. It also means faithfulness. He knew that God was faithful in His love and kindness. He knew deep down that God was not going to abandon him. Yes, things were bleak. Things looked horrible, but in the middle of the chapter was this truth: God is faithful in His love.

 

Preserved actually means to set a guard. To keep. To protect. God was protecting Job's spirit. God was protecting Job's mind. When his wife told him to curse God and die, did he? No. God set a guard over his mind. Job was reminded of the fact that God was the author of his life, and that He loved and cared for him.

 

I know a lot of people who are going through it right now. Hospitalizations, surgeries, chemo, infections, divorce, kids abandoning God. Right now, for many, things can look pretty bleak. No matter how bad it gets, we have this truth, this foundation to rely upon: "You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit."

 

The Righteousness of God

Job 9:2 "Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?

 

Job got it. He understood the depths of God. Oh, he didn't know all about God, he just knew that God was so deep, so massive, so holy that there was no way that he could stand before Him and tell him that he was living a righteous life. He then goes on to prove his point. God is wise. God is mighty. God removes mountains. God shakes the earth. He commands the sun. He controls the stars. He stretches out the heavens. He walks on the waves of the sea. He made the constellations. He is strong. He is just. Who is man that we think that we can contend with Him? Who is man that we think we can argue with Him or answer Him or go to trial with Him? All Job knew that he could do was appeal for mercy. There was no way that he could plead his case before God because God is so righteous and pure and holy that any right that we think we can do is not right before Him. As another author put it: "All our righteousness is as filthy rags." Is 64:6 Oh, we can think that we are basically good. We aren't. We can say that mankind is loving. It isn't. We can pretend that our good works will gain us favor with God. They won't. Put another way: "There is none righteous, no not one." Rom 3:10

 

My position has to be the position that Job took. No matter what, I am not in the right before God. No matter what…except through Jesus. On my own all that I do is dirt. But through Christ I am right before God. This God who is wise and mighty and created mountains and shakes the earth and commands the sun and controls the stars and stretches out the heavens and walks on the waves of the sea and who made the constellations who is strong and just…this God looks at me and sees righteousness because of His Son. "the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:" Rom 3:22 We get the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus by believing. That's it. It isn't me. I can't. I don't. I won't. But when I trust Christ to be my righteousness, He gives me the righteousness of God. Crazy.

Burn Out

Job 7:7a "Remember that my life is a breath" ESV

 

As Job was in anguish he talked about how short his days were. I am not sure that he was saying that time was going fast. In fact, I would think that his waking hours would seem to drag as he was in so much pain. He wanted to sleep, he wanted the comfort of his bed so that he could avoid what he was feeling, but he did not even get a good night's rest as he would toss and turn on his bed. I think that what he was admitting to was that this difficulty that he was going through reminded him of the fact that all of the stuff that he may have lived for in the past was nothing, now that it was taken from him. In fact, in light of eternity, his life was nothing. It was just like a breath…just like the wind which blows quickly and is gone. There but short. There but temporary.

 

Pain can do that. It can bring us down to the reality that life is short. David said that a normal life span is seventy years and eighty if you are fortunate. "The years of our life are seventy or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away." Ps 90:10 As I approach those years, I see what Job is talking about. I see what David is talking about. Life is short. Every year goes faster. Every day flies by. The question that I have to ask myself is: "What am I doing with the time that God has given me?" Do I waste it on my iPad? (ouch) Do I frit it away in front of the TV? Do I play video games that mean nothing? I wonder what believers could do if we truly remembered that our lives are but a breath.

 

I spoke to a friend yesterday who admitted that as he was getting older he was getting lazier. He hated it. He said that he wanted to work hard for the kingdom. Why? Our life is but a breath.

 

So what should my heart be like? How should I live? I think it is summed up in a poem (or hymn) by Bessie Hatcher. The chorus is: "Let me burn out for Thee, dear Lord,
Burn and wear out for Thee. Don't let me rust, or my life be a failure, my God to Thee.
Use me and all I have, dear Lord, and get me so close to Thee that I feel the throb of the great heart of God, until I burn out for Thee."

 

Life is short…it is a breath. What am I doing with my time? Burn out.

 

Empty

Job 6:13 "Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me?" ESV

 

This is called coming to the end of yourself. Job was there. I don't know whether Job believed that he was a self made man with all of his success before or not. I do know that he was a rich guy who was pretty secure, but all of that security was taken away and he was totally empty. Empty physically, financially, emotionally, spiritually…and the question that he asked here is pretty probing: "Do I have any help in me when it is all gone? When my success is gone. When my wisdom is gone. When my resources have dried up. What do I have? Nothing." I can almost feel his despair. He is wanting answers. He is wanting strength. He needs help, but he is empty. He knew that this help and this strength was not going to come from within…it was totally gone.

 

So what do you do when you are in a situation like that, when you are totally empty of any inner resources? David has an answer: "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Ps 73:26 Job's flesh failed. His heart was done. "But God…". There it is. When I am empty God is full. Paul even said it: "But he said to me,
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2Cor 12:9

 

Empty, weak, failing. This is not where we want to be, but it is the place where God can display His strength and power the most.

 

Perspective

Job 5:8,9 "As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number:" ESV

 

Eliphaz continued to talk…and frankly, his advice was really good. Eliphaz had a perspective that he wanted to share with Job. Even though Job was going through a really tough time, Eliphaz brings him back to truth…and the truth was that God had Job's good in store. (vs 18-27) He reminded Job that God wounds but He then heals. Eliphaz basically prophesied Job's end…that he would die a rich, old man with many kids.

 

I am sure that this was the farthest thing from Job's mind at that time. I am sure that all Job could think about were his difficult circumstances. Yet here comes a friend to remind him, to give him hope and to tell him the seek God and commit his cause to him. Why? Because God does great and unsearchable and marvelous things without number. Eliphaz then went on to try to enumerate them to prove his point to Job and to give Job some perspective.

 

Perspective. Webster defines perspective as: "the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance". This is what Eliphaz wanted Job to get. To view his current situation in terms of what was true. He wanted Job to get a broader view of what was happening. Tough stuff. This is really hard to do when you are grieving, or in pain, or worried. It seems like whenever garbage hits the fan all you can think about is the garbage. At those times we have to say: "As for me, I would seek God and to God I would commit my cause…". The perspective is: God knows. God cares. God loves. God is in control. God has the big picture in mind…so seek God in it all and commit what is happening to Him. View things in their true relation. View what happens in the eyeglass of God's word and know that God does marvelous, unsearchable things without number. This is perspective.

 

 

Friends

Job 2:11 "Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him." ESV

 

Job had three guys who saw his pain. These guys were true friends. How do I know? They sacrificed to try to help him. The sacrifice was their time. They each left "his own place". They were willing to have an interruption in their own lives, to put aside their own agendas and schedules. These guys communicated with each other about Job's situation. How do I know? Because they made an appointment to come together. You don't make appointments with other people unless you are talking and they were talking. And I don't think that their talking was gossip. I think that their talking was asking the question: "How can we help our friend?" The purpose of their appointment was to show him sympathy and to give him comfort. Even his wife was questioning him and they wanted to show him compassion and console him. To have three friends who would do something like this was one positive in all of the garbage that Job was going through. If only they had kept their mouths shut and simply went to encourage him, it would have been better…yet I think that these guys initially had the right idea.

 

Friends are a blessing. To have someone interrupt their schedule and take the time to care is an amazing thing. To have another human being be present in the middle of a difficult time, to pray for you, to encourage you is a gift.

 

And right now I am asking myself the question: "What kind of friend am I?" Something came up last night that would have pulled me out of my comfortable little home. It would have changed what my wife and I had planned for the evening, but it was a need that someone had. Was I willing to do it? Was I willing to go? Was I willing to take the time to minister? And was this willingness out of duty or out of friendship? These are probing questions because they really show what I am like…not on the outside but on the inside. And now this morning, reading this stuff about friendship solidifies this conviction that there is not a whole lot that is more important than a willingness, an availability, an openness to drop it all when someone has a need.

 

This was what Jesus was like. His life was a life of interruptions, but this is how He rolled. Always open, always willing, always ready. Nothing was more important than the other person. I want to be like that…a good friend.

 

Integrity

Job 2:3 "And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason." ESV

 

Integrity. Integrity is defined as: "adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty." (Dictionary.com) Job was a man of integrity. He was a guy adhered, who stuck to his moral and ethical principles no matter what. After going through all of the garbage that he went through, after losing it all including his kids God still had this to say about him: "there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil.". Sounds familiar. Why? Because in 1:8 God said: "there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil". Same exact words because no matter what, Job was the same exact man. He had an adherence to his character. It was like glue. No one and nothing could wrestle Job's character from him. This was integrity.

 

Integrity. How we yearn for it in our leaders. If only we would have guys who did not waver. If only we had people who stuck to their character, who believed in their principles. If you were to scan the political spectrum today, you would find a guy who is our President who waffles. You would also find another guy who is, at this time, leading in the Republican race who likes to change positions. These are not men of integrity. They try to figure out which way the political wind blows, take a poll and mold their positions based upon what other people think. Sad.

 

But then I have to come down to a more personal level. What about me? Do I waffle? Do I try to figure out what I think people want to hear? More significantly, when the pressure heats up, am I a guy who is blameless, upright, fearing God, turning from evil…or do I compromise who I am and what I say I believe to make things more comfortable for me? This is not integrity…this is hypocrisy.

 

God, allow me to stick to who You are. Your character. Your reputation. Please allow me to be consistent no matter what.

Spider’s Web

(I jumped ahead today.)

 

Job 8:13,14 "Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish. His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider's web." ESV

 

We work so hard for junk. Really. The guys were talking about this last night at our Bible study. We work hard to accumulate stuff and where does that stuff end up? In a box in the basement, in a bag in the garbage, or with Goodwill. Things that we think will last a long time don't. Cars rust and go to the junk yard. Houses get old and eventually torn down. Nothing that we work for in this life that is material will last. Things that we hope for and want and strive for perish. That is, when we forget God. When all we do is live life for me, myself and I and I leave God out of the equation, it all disappears and what I put my confidence and trust in is just like a spider's web…weak and temporary.

 

This kind of addresses what I wrote yesterday. How do I use my time? For stuff that will last or for stuff that will one day perish?

 

Unfortunately, our world is centered on the here and now. We forget the God who made it all, who is all powerful and awesome and majestic and beyond anything that we can imagine. We don't consider that our life is but a breath and then eternity comes. We want what we want when we want it. Our agenda is the only thing that counts. Forget God. He can wait. Oh…is that dangerous. Unfortunately, that is our world. That is our culture. That is our mindset. That is our government.

 

Speaking of the later, did anyone see this?

 

www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=106938

 

Check it out. It just shows that our leaders have forgotten God. Not only have they forgotten Him, but they are trying to eliminate Him. What is the end result going to be? A spider's web. I don't want to be Nancy Negative, but we are headed for destruction if this continues. Why? Because we have forgotten God as a nation and we are in deep trouble.

 

What can I do? Remember God. Beg God. Pray…and make sure that He is always my focus because when we remember God, when we put His kingdom and His righteousness first, He promises to meet all of our needs. Matt 6:33

 

 

Tough Worship

Job 1:20,21 "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."" ESV

 

All I can say is: "Wow". Job was a rich guy in the land of Uz. He had it all and his kids were healthy and well supplied. In fact, Job had more than enough…and he lost it all. Livestock, gone. Servants, gone. Children, dead. And how did he respond? He worshiped.

 

I am not sure that this would be my first response. Probably my first response would be to scream, yell out "Why?", and then cry. Not Job. Sure he grieved and tore his robe and shaved his head but then he did something out of the ordinary. He worshiped. This guy had a different perspective. He realized that he came into this world with nothing and that the things that God gave him in this life were temporary because he would leave this world with nothing. The only thing that was eternal that he could hang onto was God…so…he worshiped and said: "Blessed be the name of the Lord."

 

Here is that eternal perspective again. Maybe Job could have said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, so blessed be the name of the Lord." Now there's perspective. I know that I added David's words here, but that was basically where Job was coming from. He knew that he could not, he knew that he should not hang on to those things that he had on this earth. What he hung on to was his God and he worshiped.

 

I have been blessed with a lot. A great wife. Amazing kids. A beautiful grandchild. Cars, and house, and clothes, and food, and money. Everything that I could ever need. The question: What is my perspective? If I lost it all, would I be like Job and worship? Challenging stuff. It really shows what I am focusing on.

 

 

Quality God Sees

Job 1:1 "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil." ESV

 

I have never really studied the book of Job. I know that this may not be a fun study as I read about how a guy was tried and tested and challenged. Yet, as I thought about what I was going to do next, my mind got stuck on this. Here goes.

 

What was this guy Job, like? Who was he? He was from Uz. Uz is thought to have been southeast of Palestine in the Arabian desert. Kind of interesting that the name "Uz" actually means: "wooded"…in the Arabian desert? Right away we see a dichotomy here. The name Job actually means: "hated". Nice name, huh? Yet, this guy who lived in the desert who name meant hated did not let his name or circumstances get him down. He did not believe that he was stuck with a certain destiny because of where he lived or what his heritage might be. Instead he rose above it and was blameless, upright, feared God and turned away from evil. Not bad credentials. This guy was a man of character.

 

He was: Blameless. This can be taken two ways and I believe they probably both applied to Job. He was blameless physically. In other words he had physical strength and was a good looking guy. He was also blameless morally. He was ethically pure. He walked with integrity.

 

Upright. He was correct in his actions. Everything that he did was proper. He walked in righteousness.

 

Feared God. He not only respected God but He had great fear of God. He had a holy dread of the Maker of the universe. This means that he knew God. He knew what God was like and he knew how sacred the Lord was.

 

Turned away from evil. Not only did he avoid evil, he removed it when he saw it.

 

This guy was an amazing man. So much so that God recognized these qualities in his life. (v8)

 

I wonder what qualities God sees in my life? Am I like Job…blameless, upright, fearing God and turning evil away? Or do I succumb to pressure? Do I cut corners? Do I try to cover my butt all the time? Really, how righteous is my life? How am I battling evil? Some probing questions to start this book.

 

Home

Ps 23:6b "and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever." ESV

 

I love this because this was David's perspective in life. He knew that his Shepherd would provide and give rest and refreshment and restoration and provision and abundance and would chase after him. He knew that this is what life would be like and it is an amazing life that our Shepherd gives us. But when he decided to close this Psalm, what did he close it with? Home. His eternal perspective. He knew life was temporary. He knew that it was a breath. He knew that it was like a vapor. The reality was the end result and the end result was that he was going to live in the Eternally Existing One's house forever.

 

My favorite place on this earth is my home. I love coming home. Not because it is nice. Not because it is warm. Not because it has nice things in it, but because of what I know is here. Comfort, relaxation, love. My home is not the structure. My home is my wife and kids and the love and joy that they bring when I am here with them.

 

In comparison, God's home is going to be amazing. Not because of it's beauty…although it will be beautiful. Not because of all of the stuff that it will have…although it will have a lot of stuff. The reason God's home is amazing is because of who lives there. He does. And David realized that someday he would live with God in His home forever. His perspective in life was his eternal home with God.

 

We just finished a series on Heaven at church. It made me consider all that I think I live for. It made me consider all the stuff that I do here. And it made me recalibrate my brain to start thinking eternally. What am I living for? What am I doing? Do I have David's mind…that I will someday live with God in God's place forever? This is reality. This is home.

 

Chasing After Me

Ps 23:6a "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life," ESV

 

I sit here and I realize how blessed I am. I could have written this part of Psalm 23. Surely goodness and mercy has followed me all the days of my life. Why? The Lord is my Shepherd. He is the One who does this, not me. He is the One who is faithful. He is the One who shows me mercy when I am dumb and sin and make stupid decisions. He is the One who withholds His hand when I deserve a spanking. He is a God of mercy. He is a God of grace and goodness. He is a God who grants forgiveness and underserved favor…they both follow me. They both pursue me. They both run after me my entire life.

 

I love this idea of following me. It isn't just like I am leading them. No, it is God and His goodness and mercy that chase me. Sometimes I run and they run faster. Sometimes I don't want to hear from God and He shouts louder. Why? Because God can't help it. It is His nature to pursue us, to run after us, to chase us all the days of our lives. Jonah thought he could run but God's goodness and mercy pursued him. The disciples ran away but God's goodness and mercy chased after them. And when I think that I can avoid Him, here come His goodness and mercy.

 

Thank God for His grace. Thank God for His mercy. Thank God that He is the Pursuer. Thank God, for I have experienced His goodness and His mercy and have found that it is dumb to run.

 

Splash!

Ps 23 5b: "you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." ESV

 

Now what does this mean? Does this have to do with David being a king…his head anointed with oil? And cup? What is he talking about here?

 

I have to remember that David was a sheep, the Lord was his Shepherd. What does anointing have to do with that? Sheep were exposed to all kinds of junk out in the field. There were bugs. There were parasites. There were bruises. Oil was the medicine of the day. Oil would take care of suffocating the parasites that might be found on a sheep, especially their head. And sheep would butt heads as they played or as they tried to establish their territory. Oil would soften the blow.

 

We people sheep have the same problems. We have parasites that want to get into our lives. And every now and then we butt heads with each other. God gives us medicine. God gives us the very thing that we need for our comfort and healing…the oil of His Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who is our medicine. It is the Holy Spirit who is our Comforter. He snuffs out the parasites in our lives if we let the Shepherd anoint us with this oil. He softens the blow of life's bumps and bruises. "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;" KJV John 14:16 Now I know that the word "Comforter" is also Counselor or Helper, but I love this idea that God has given me a part of Himself to bring healing and comfort. He wants that for me.

 

And my cup overflows. This is a life of abundance. This is a Shepherd who not only provides what we need (v1), He gives more than we deserve.

 

I think of a cup of coffee. Many times in the morning I will make my wife coffee. I pour it in her cup so that there is enough room for milk (she likes milk not cream) and sugar. How much do I put in? I put enough in so that it is manageable…so it does not go splashing out all over the place. That is not what God wants for me. He wants abundance. He wants me to be full and overflowing. He wants it splashing all over the place. And what does He want splashing out of my life? His goodness. His grace. His mercy. His love. His compassion. His righteousness. He wants it to be obvious. He wants it to pour out on others. He wants others to get wet with who He is through my life. He wants me to be filled: "be filled with the Spirit". When that happens the fruit of the Spirit gets juicy. It flows and splashes all over. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, self control.

 

It all boils down to the Spirit of God in my life. He heals. He comforts. And He splashes. The question for me is: How wet am I?

 

 

 

Eat Up!

Ps 23:5a "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies," ESV 

 

This verse has always kind of intrigued me. How are these two things connected: A prepared table and enemies?

 

First look at what God did for David. He prepared a table before him. What this literally means is that God arranged a table, God set the table for David to look at. And it wasn't only David who was looking at it...it was also his enemies. God set David's table for him so he could see it and so that it was conspicuously in front of those who were hostile to him.

 

This is kind of weird. When you think of a table, you think of a table full of good food. I know that I enjoy eating. When a nice table is set and there are all kinds of great food on it, I am ready to go. The thing is, I lose my appetite when I am under stress. I am not really hungry when people get down on me. God is telling David..."Hey, don't fret. You have a bunch of people who are against you. Don't lose your appetite. Eat up. I have everything under control. Your enemies are going to see that you have all that you need because I am doing this in front of them."

 

The truth is that is how our Shepherd is. He provides all that we need in the face of adversity, and others will sit up and take notice. Let's face it. Things are not always easy. In fact, if you go through this life without ruffling someone's feathers you probably are not accomplishing a whole lot. David was a leader and he stirred up all kinds of people. People hated him. They were after him and he knew it. He didn't get all bent out of shape...he knew his Shepherd would provide all that he needed. And he knew that in doing so, that it would be a declaration to all of his enemies that God was taking care of him.

 

What am I facing? Or better yet, who am I facing? It really does not matter because the Lord is my Shepherd and He will give me all that I need to remain strong and sustained in the battle.

 
 

 

No Fear

Ps 23:4 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." ESV

 

I think the "No fear" motto originated with David. I get the idea that David knew what he was talking about here. It seems that his life was frequently in jeopardy. This mad man, Saul, was always going after him, trying to eliminate him, and David knew it. He probably literally walked in the valley of the shadow of death. I am sure that when he was trying to avoid Saul, that it took him to the valleys where he had time to think about his life and whether it would end soon. His response? "I am not afraid. I am not afraid of Saul. I am not afraid of his evil. I am not afraid of death. Why not? Because, Shepherd, You are with me and You are the One who watches over me and protects me and give me comfort."

 

Fear. It is an ugly thing. I know that I am sometimes paralyzed by it. I don't do things because I am afraid. I don't give too much because I am afraid. I don't step out because I am afraid. I don't speak up because I am afraid. The thing is, when I am afraid I am denying the fact that my Shepherd is with me. When I am afraid I am telling God that I don't trust Him. This has to stop. Fear should not even be in my vocabulary. Why? "You are with me"….always. "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you". So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"" Heb 13:5,6 It seems that fear is tied to two things: Money and man. I have to realize that my security is not in my bank account or what other people do or think. My security is in the Lord and I do not have to be afraid of anything. He is the One who protects me. He is the One who gives me security. He is the One who is with me.

 

And as we see all that is going down around us, Christians should be the ones who have: No fear.