TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 19-20 & 2 Corinthians 1
Old Testament: Job 19- Hope

Job 19:25-26
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God”

Sometimes, the only comfort for… Read More 

Job 20- Repeat

Job 20:4-5
“Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth, That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment?”

Once again, Job’s agony is answered by one of his self-appointed counselors. This time, Zophar, the Naamathite, raises his voice and refutes Job’s cries, telling him that all of human history testifies against his logic. I find it… Read More

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 1- You’re Not Alone

2 Corinthians 1:8
“For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.”
Sometimes, it is comforting to… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 17-18 & 1 Corinthians 16
Old Testament: Job 17- Broken

“My spirit is broken, My days are extinguished, The grave is ready for me.”

It is often difficult to watch someone whose spirit is broken. They had once been so full of life but now seem to be a shell of their former self. They lack enthusiasm, vision,  and the will to press forward. As difficult as it may have been to watch Job in this condition, as a reader we can certainly understand why he felt this way. His circumstances had crushed his spirit and brought him to a place where  life seemed hopeless… Read More

Job 18- A Trap

Job 18:8-9
“For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks into a snare. The net takes him by the heel, and a snare lays hold of him.”

Although the counsel of Bildad was misdirected when applied to Job’s situation, he still gives some valuable insight. He addresses one of the dangers we face as we walk… Read More

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 16- Come In

1 Corinthians 16:9
“For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

As Paul comes to the conclusion of this letter, he writes to his friends in Corinth about his future plans. Notice, his plans all centered around serving the Lord… Read More

 

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 15-16 & 1 Corinthians 15
Old Testament: Job 15- Self Examination

Job 15:12,13
“Why does your heart carry you away, And what do your eyes wink at, That you turn your spirit against God, And let such words go out of your mouth?”

Job has been plagued by a series of severe hardships that have caused others to believe he must be experiencing judgment from God for hidden sins. The… Read More

Job 16- He Loves Me

Job 16:9
“He tears me in His wrath, and hates me; He gnashes at me with His teeth; My adversary sharpens His gaze on me.”

When we find ourselves in times of great trial, it is often difficult to discern the voice of God. In Job’s case, the voices of pain, sorrow, suffering, and loss were screaming so loud, the voice… Read More

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 15- What Happens Next?

1 Corinthians 15:20
“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

When I was sixteen years old, driving to my first part-time job, a wild thought entered my mind. I thought, “I wonder what happens after we die?” I … Read More 

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 13-14 & 1 Corinthians 14
Old Testament: Job 13- Check Your Sources 

Job 13:7
“Will you speak wickedly for God, And talk deceitfully for Him?”

Years ago some good friends of mine were involved in a business transaction that drew a lot of press. It was not long before the papers decided to go public with the story. As we cracked open the paper, it was almost comical to read their account because it was filled with so much error and had even… Read More

Job 14- YOLO?

Job 14:1-2
“Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away…”

In the midst of his struggles, Job came to the realization that life is short. He compares life to a wild flower that blooms one day and seems to be gone the next. While it is important to realize the brevity of life, how we interpret that truth, will radically affect our…Read More

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 14- The Church’s Got Talent

1 Corinthians 14:29
“Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.”

Confusion broke out in the Corinthian church. Instead of meeting for the worship of God and the study of His word, the church had become a place for people to show off their spiritual gifts. Those with the gift of tongues saw the meetings as a time to speak or even sing in tongues. They thought the church… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 11-12 & 1 Corinthians 13
Old Testament: Job 11- More Or Less

Job 11:6
“…Know therefore that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.”

Scattered throughout the book of Job are some of the most amazing truths about God and His treatment of man. Here, Zophar reveals something about the way God,,, Read More

Job 12- In His Hands

Job 12:10
“In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?”

There are certain truths that, if we took hold of them, and allowed ourselves to be taken hold by them, would transform the way we live, and as a result, the world we live… Read More

New Testament: Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“Love suffers long and is kind

Love does not envy

Love does not parade itself

Love is not… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 9-10 & 1 Corinthians 12
Old Testament: Job 9- In Between

Job 9:33
“Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both.”

In the midst of all his suffering, Job comes face to face with his own sinfulness. He realizes he is guilty of violating the laws of God and asks,

“. . . how can a man be… Read More  

Job 10- Complaints

Job 10:1
“My soul loathes my life; I will give free course to my complaint, I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.”

Even a casual reading of the book of Job will reveal that this man is enduring intense suffering. His pain is both physical and emotional and has been intensified… Read More

 

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 12- Spiritual Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:4-6
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.”

Natural gifts, while given by God, are quite different from Spiritual gifts. If you have been given athletic, scholastic… Read More 

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 7-8 & 1 Corinthians 11
Old Testament: Job 7- What Are Words For?

Job 7:11
“Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.”

As a child, I learned a simple proverb designed to help when someone said something unkind, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but… Read More

Job 8- Look Back

Job 8:8
“For inquire, please, of the former age, And consider the things discovered by their fathers”

Not everything Bibdad the Shuhite had to say is worth listening to, but he has unlocked a very valuable treasure with this statement. He encourages Job to look back upon the lessons the generations before us have learned as we seek to chart out our course… Read More

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 11- Communion

1 Corinthians 11:22
“What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God…”

Paul is addressing one of the most important practices of the church and the individual. He will instruct them regarding partaking in communion. Rather than seeing this ordinance… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 5-6 & 1 Corinthians 10
Old Testament: Job 5- Guidance

Job 5:8
“But as for me, I would seek God, And to God I would commit my cause”

One of the reasons the book of Job is so difficult is, though much of the counsel he receives is correct, the application is misplaced. Eliphaz wrongly believed Job was in sin, and his trials were brought about entirely… Read More

Job 6- Who Is Afflicted

Job 6:14
“To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.”

Life is filled with opportunities to minister to hurting people. Sometimes these hurts are caused by the unfortunate… Read More

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 10- My Way Out

1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Years ago, Isuzu ran an ad where a man, sitting in the lotus position meditating, looked at the camera as if to speak wisdom and said, “I can resist anything except temptation.” I think that could be said of all of us. We often resolve to commit ourselves to the Lord, and make steps toward following Christ more closely, only to be derailed… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 3-4 & 1 Corinthians 9
Old Testament: Job 4- The Innocent

Job 4:7
“Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off?”

While Job was suffering the physical and emotion pain brought on from his trials, three friends arrived to offer their condolences, and seek to bring him answers. Eliphaz was first to speak. It seems he could not comprehend a situation where people did not deserve the suffering they were experiencing. This causes him to ask a very important question, has anyone… Read More

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 9- For The Gospel’s Sake

1 Corinthians 9:23
“Now this I do for the gospel’s sake…”

When writing to the Romans, Paul explained, the message of the Gospel has the power to save the sinner. It is when a person humbles himself and accepts that Jesus Christ died to do away with his sin, that he is saved. In order for a person to come to saving faith, he must hear the message and see… Read More

Job 3:1
“After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.”

The trials Job faced are almost too much for the mind to comprehend. He suffered the loss of his health, his family and his possessions. After a lengthy spell of sitting in silence he finally speaks. His first words express the depth of his suffering. His eyes are no longer on the Lord and his tongue is no longer expressing praise. This time he looks at all that has happened to him and begins to declare a curse upon what he determines to be the root cause of all his troubles.

Job 3:1
“After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.”

As the story continues to unfold every person who speaks will do so out of limited understanding. They are like a scientist who comes to a conclusion without looking at all the components in his experiment. Job assigns the cause of his problems to the day of his birth. Rather than seeing that everything he faced was caused by living in a fallen world which is under the sway of the wicked one, he looks for something else to blame. This seems to be a pretty common mistake. When things go wrong in life we look for someone or something to blame. When nothing celestial seems adequate we look up and cast blame upon God for allowing the trials to come upon us. The problem is that if we fail to see the real source of the problem we will fail to ever provide the adequate solution. The root cause of suffering is that we live in a fallen world. When sin entered the world all of creation was infected. The fallen nature of the world is compounded by the man’s continual rebellion against God.

There is however great consolation provided within the promises of God. We know that although bad things will continue to happen even to those who love and serve God, God promises to work in all things. We see this happening time and time again in Scripture. The righteous continually find themselves facing situations that look bleak only to find God is working behind the scenes to accomplish His purposes. This was true of Joseph, Moses, David, Esther and many others.

Instead of blaming God we should be looking to Him who alone can turn hardship into a means to glorify Himself and draw others to Christ.

Pastor Jim