TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 29-30 & 2 Corinthians 6
Old Testament: Job 29- Memories

Job 29:2
“Oh, that I were as in months past, As in the days when God watched over me”

My phone currently contains over 900 photos. Each one reminds me of something from the past few years. Most are pictures of my family or some fun activity we did together… Read More 
Job 30- Why Do Bad Things Happen?

Job 30:17
“My bones are pierced in me at night, And my gnawing pains take no rest.”

One of the great quandaries we face in life is how to reconcile the problem of evil with what we understand about the nature of God. The Bible … Read More

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 6- Temple Of God

2 Corinthians 6:16
“For you are the temple of the living God.”

Although this verse is tucked away in a passage not well trodden, this portion of the text is fairly well-known. It is not uncommon to hear this verse quoted, even among those who have not chosen to … Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 27-28 & 2 Corinthians 5
Old Testament: Job 27- Watch Your Mouth

Job 27:4
“My lips will not speak wickedness, Nor my tongue utter deceit.”

Most of us understand there is certain speech that is ungodly, and therefore…Read More

Job 28- Mother Load

Job 28:12
“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?”

Job is considered to be the oldest book in the Bible. It may have been written as many as four thousand years ago. Job declares, during his day, men were involved in mining the earth in search of precious stones. He refers… Read More

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 5- Rewards

2 Corinthians 5:10
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

A few years ago, I watched a very interesting story on the news. An armored vehicle, after leaving a local bank, had neglected to properly close the rear truck door. Upon making a turn, bags of money fell out of the… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 25-26 & 2 Corinthians 4
Old Testament: Job 25- How To

Job 25:4
“How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman?”

Righteousness is a biblical word that speaks of standing before God. A person who is righteous is one who has met God’s standards, is living pleasing to Him now, and will be accepted  into heaven when this life comes to an end. When it comes to views of righteousness there seems to be contrasting positions. Some people, like the Pharisees of old, consider themselves to be righteous because of their heritage or accomplishments. They believe they will be accepted because they are inherently good. They neglect to fully understand the far reaching effects of sin or the… Read More

Job 26- The Edge

Job 26:14
“Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, And how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?”

After describing the power of God in His acts of creation, Job concludes, everything he has ever known about God is but a glimpse… Read More 
2 Corinthians 4- Wrap It Up

2 Corinthians 4:3-4
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”
A few years ago we purchased… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 23-24 & 2 Corinthians 3
Old Testament: Job 23- Where Are You?

Job 23:8-9
“Look, I go forward, but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him; when He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.”
I am sure each of us has felt this way at one time or another. We might be… Read More

Job 24- Still Thirsty?

Job 24:11
“They press out oil within their walls, And tread winepresses, yet suffer thirst.”

The Bible teaches that true life will only be experienced when a person is in relationship with God through Christ. This is due to the fact that we are, by nature, spiritual being. Just as our natural bodies have appetites that must be satisfied, so spiritually, we crave relationship with the God who made us. Job describes a person apart from… Read More 

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 3- Being Transformed

2 Corinthians 3:18
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Have you ever looked around at the circumstances you are facing and wondered what God is doing in your life? Why it is that you… Read More 

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Job 21-22 & 2 Corinthians 2
Old Testament: Job 21- What’s In It For Me?

Job 21:15
“Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?”

Job raises an interesting question, worthy of our time and attention. If he asked it today, his question might be posed like this, “Why should a person be willing to trust in, follow after, and serve Christ? What are the benefits?” I know many people who… Read More

Job 22- Participate

Job 22:2
“Can a man be profitable to God…?”

Eliphaz the Temanite asks a very interesting question; is it possible for a man to benefit the work of God? We all know what it is like to have our children help us with a job around the house. The task usually takes twice as long and produces half the …Read More

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 2- Fragrance Of Christ

2 Corinthians 2:15-16
“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?”
As a child I spent a great deal of … Read More

Job 22:2
“Can a man be profitable to God…?”

Eliphaz the Temanite asks a very interesting question; is it possible for a man to benefit the work of God? We all know what it is like to have our children help us with a job around the house. The task usually takes twice as long and produces half the result but we have created a life long memory. We know that enlisting them in the task is more about the time we spend together than the final outcome. This reflects part of the reason that God chooses to use us. He loves us and desires fellowship with us. But Eliphaz asks if it is possible for us to actually benefit the work of God. The idea being if what God is accomplishing in the world can be enhanced by the fact that you and I participate in it. Based upon what we read in our Bible’s I would have to answer his question with a resounding yes. The work of God in the world will increase when we choose to participate.

When God developed the plan to reach the world He chose to entrust the message of the gospel to redeemed men and women. Paul illustrated this concept when he wrote that God placed “His treasure in earthen vessels.” In other words He placed the most valuable treasure man has ever known in our hands. This was done so that the treasure would be magnified above the men who carry it. As we read our bibles we find that this treasure is distributed around the world through the efforts of men and women who choose to participate with God in bringing the gospel to others. While it is theoretically possible for God to write a message in the clouds, He chooses rather to speak through the changed lives of those who have chosen to follow Him.

Rarely will we meet a person who responded to the gospel without the help of believers who took the time to share with them. Most often we hear that a person was drawn to Christ by the example of a co-worker or the changed life of a friend or loved one. It should become our goal to participate with God and be that kind of example to those around us.

Jim

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