281st Week, Job Chapters 10-14 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

 Click on Title for Video Intro

Monday, Job Chapter 10

Job 10

Verse 1

Jane Jones

Verse 1:  “I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.”

THOUGHT

Job has really begun to feel sorry for himself. When we face a baffling affliction, our pain lures us toward feeling sorry for ourselves. “Look what happened to me; how unfair it is!” We may feel like blaming God. Remember that life’s trials, whether allowed by God or sent by God, can be the means for development and refinement.

One can’t help but think of Bart and Mindy and Alan and Tanya with all their circumstances relating to house purchases and the sale of one house in Wichita. It has been a long 14 months for the Rudens living in a state of unsettledness with both couples having to go to a second lending institution for loans. The journeys have been long and rocky.

When facing trials, ask, “What can I learn, and how can I grow?” rather than “Who did this to me, and how can I get out of it?”  This is much easier said than done...just ask all of us.

PRAYER

When life’s battles get to the point that we loathe our lives, may we have strength to ask, “What can I learn, and how can I grow?” It is hard, Lord, very hard. We pray that our faith will be sufficient to carry us through. May our focus always be on You.  In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN

Tuesday, Job Chapter 11

Job 11

Verse 18

Jane Jones

Verse 18:  You will be secure, because there is hope;

     you will look about you and take your rest in safety.

THOUGHT

Through everything Job went through, there was still a ray of hope because he trusted in the Lord and rested in that security. TJ and I experienced a great lesson of trust last evening when we were babysitting for Micah during Matt and Kristen’s date night.

The Strayer family went to the Grinnell farm on Sunday where Micah picked up a very bad case of poison ivy. He has several blisters the size of nickels or larger on his hand between his fingers. But he told Grandpa Tom and I that they did not hurt; they are just a little sticky. He shared that his Mom took him to his Dad’s Pharmacy where the Doctor saw him. His Dad gave him medicine and put medicine on it. Then His Mom took him home, and they told him it would be better. Micah told us that it is OK because my Mommy and Daddy said so. He was reassuring us...go figure. What trust and faith small children have in their Mother and Father. What a trooper! 

I couldn’t help but think what an awesome picture of the kind of trust we should have in our Father as Micah has in his Father and Mother. It was without question... Go Micah!!! I want that kind of trust in my Father, God.  Thanks for the lesson on faith, hope, and trust, Micah. 

Job’s life was also a documentary on the same. With that kind of faith, hope, and trust we will be secure and rest in safety.

PRAYER

In the name of Jesus we come to You praying that our faith, hope, and trust will grow to equal that of a child’s to his parents. We thank You for the innocence of children and the lessons they teach.  For all that You do for us we thank You and praise You with overflowing hearts.  AMEN

Wednesday, Job Chapter 12

Job 12

Verse 4

Bart Strayer 

Verse 4:  “I have become a laughingstock to my friends, though I called upon God and he answered ...“

THOUGHT

If you are known to be a follower of Christ, do you ever worry that if you go through some difficulties that your unsaved friends will think that your God is powerless or non-existent?  It seems that we as Christians want our lives to be just peachy so as to say to the world, ‘see, once you are saved, all is great.’ But we have totally missed the point. 

Job had amazing insight to God’s workings. He understood that God’s answers are for His glory and not always what we perceive to be ‘good’. I guess what I am saying is that sometimes the season we are in, whether good or bad, is so long that it becomes difficult for us and our unsaved friends to fully appreciate how the season will end. It may be years later. It may not always be a great ending. However, how you are shaped as a person and the knowledge you gain about your God can never be taken from you. 

These are great things, and yet, they are hard to see on the outside. These things must be experienced, not just talked about.

PRAYER

Lord, open our eyes so that we may see how You are working in our season. Help us to fully appreciate all that You are accomplishing in our lives. May we never be ignorant to Your loving hand in our lives.  AMEN

Thursday, Job Chapter 13

Job 13

Verse 3

Bart Strayer

Verse 3:  “But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God.”

THOUGHT

Do you know what is worse than going through bad stuff?  Going through bad stuff without God.  Even amongst struggles, everything seems to have purpose and order. Also, if you ask, the Lord will fill your life with unjustifiable feelings. Just to mention a couple of emotions ... With God you can have hope amongst adversity. You can have joy in times of despair. 

It amazed me when I was going through a season of strife, how the Lord would flood my life with these emotions. You know it is from the Lord because the world and the state of your circumstance give you absolutely no reason to feel those feelings. 

I guess it illustrates the difference between happiness based on the happenings of your life, (which are temporary), and joy that goes deeper because it is from the Lord. Don’t ever give up on God. Ask Him for these.

PRAYER

Lord, we thank You for being our strength in times of struggle. Where would we be without You? We are grateful for the many times that You clothe us with Your joy and give us hope. We thank You and love You today. AMEN

Friday, Job Chapter 14

Job 14

Verse 3

Bart Strayer

Verse 3:  “He springs up like a flower ad withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.” 

THOUGHT

In the first few verses, Job is talking about how brief our life on Earth is. Having said that, do you ever have those times when you find that you have been obsessing about little junk that doesn’t even matter? I don’t ever seem to notice it when it is happening.  But after it happens, I reflect back and think, “Man, I put a lot of brain power into something quite futile.” Then the regret sets in.

In context of what Job is saying here, I am going to try to fight battles worth fighting and just let go of the other junk that has little meaning. It kind of reminds me of the great Spanish novel, Don Quixote man of La Mancha. He spent his entire life yelling at windmills...of which he had no control. 

As we follow the Lord, there will be issues worth fighting for, but as always, when it’s with the Lord, all has meaning and a purpose.

PRAYER

Lord, guide us in our battles. Make fruit out of trials and may we always fight with the full armor of God. Go before us and prepare our ways so as to be of most use to You. In Jesus Name. AMEN