Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Job 1-2 and 1 Corinthians 1
Job is unique in being as faultless as one can be. He has a wonderful-even "perfect"-family and life. Yet Job's devotion to God is not based on self-righteousness. He recognizes the sinful, corrupt nature at work within his family and seeks God's forgiveness. Even when all seems right in our families, the Lord calls us to daily repentance, because true peace and devotion flow from His mercy. In 6-12, is the Lord sacrificing Job to His own pride? No, the Lord also puts Satan to the test in order to prove something marvelous for you: Satan cannot snatch you out of the Lord's hand (Jn 10:28-29). Job's actions display the depths of his grief. But rather than curse God, Job blesses and worships Him. He displays no regret, as though he suspects his loss is the result of sin by someone in his family.He sees God's hand at work in his suffering. Though Job loses virtually all his possessions, he doesn't lose trust in the Lord.
Job demonstrates great reserve, but also a sense of fatalism. He feels there is nothing he can do. Though he certainly cannot aid himself, he can pray for the Lord's deliverance. This is the Lord's promise and great comfort in the face of all adversity: We can call on the Lord Almighty in prayer. He has promised to answer. An important subtheme is Job's friendships. Job's friends display genuine, appropriate sorrow and care. when friends and family mourn and suffer, abide with them. Share their grief, and look for opportunities to comfort them. Pray to the "God of all comfort" on their behalf, for "through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too" (2Cor 1:3,5)
In our NT reading today Paul highlights the strengths of the congregation, strengths God extends to all believers by His grace. We rejoice in our relationship to God: He has called us and sanctified us, and He will sustain us. When speaking of Baptism, Paul does not suggest that Corinthians were baptized in other people's names. Such baptisms could lead to a cult of celebrity or new sects. Divisions in the Church are a denial of the one Baptism into Christ, who was crucified for all. His faithful servants preach the Gospel and are not to become objects of unhealthy devotion. The triune God alone is the object of our faith and hope. We should also avoid pride and boasting about anything we do for God or for others. We bring nothing but sin into our relationship with God but receive all good things from Him.
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Job 3-4; 1 Corinthians 2
Job is unique in being as faultless as one can be. He has a wonderful-even "perfect"-family and life. Yet Job's devotion to God is not based on self-righteousness. He recognizes the sinful, corrupt nature at work within his family and seeks God's forgiveness. Even when all seems right in our families, the Lord calls us to daily repentance, because true peace and devotion flow from His mercy. In 6-12, is the Lord sacrificing Job to His own pride? No, the Lord also puts Satan to the test in order to prove something marvelous for you: Satan cannot snatch you out of the Lord's hand (Jn 10:28-29). Job's actions display the depths of his grief. But rather than curse God, Job blesses and worships Him. He displays no regret, as though he suspects his loss is the result of sin by someone in his family.He sees God's hand at work in his suffering. Though Job loses virtually all his possessions, he doesn't lose trust in the Lord.
Job demonstrates great reserve, but also a sense of fatalism. He feels there is nothing he can do. Though he certainly cannot aid himself, he can pray for the Lord's deliverance. This is the Lord's promise and great comfort in the face of all adversity: We can call on the Lord Almighty in prayer. He has promised to answer. An important subtheme is Job's friendships. Job's friends display genuine, appropriate sorrow and care. when friends and family mourn and suffer, abide with them. Share their grief, and look for opportunities to comfort them. Pray to the "God of all comfort" on their behalf, for "through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too" (2Cor 1:3,5)
In our NT reading today Paul highlights the strengths of the congregation, strengths God extends to all believers by His grace. We rejoice in our relationship to God: He has called us and sanctified us, and He will sustain us. When speaking of Baptism, Paul does not suggest that Corinthians were baptized in other people's names. Such baptisms could lead to a cult of celebrity or new sects. Divisions in the Church are a denial of the one Baptism into Christ, who was crucified for all. His faithful servants preach the Gospel and are not to become objects of unhealthy devotion. The triune God alone is the object of our faith and hope. We should also avoid pride and boasting about anything we do for God or for others. We bring nothing but sin into our relationship with God but receive all good things from Him.
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Job 3-4; 1 Corinthians 2
4 comments:
A good reminder , from Job's friends, that we don't need to talk non stop to friends or family that are grieving. We just need to be with them and help when opportunity presents itself. I enjoy visiting, but their is a time to just be quit and wait, and enjoy the company of those I'm with.
Job 2:10, "He replied, you are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"
It is very easy to praise God on our good days, but how about the bad ones? I have not, and hope to not have a day as bad as Job's, but if I do, I hope I can remember his response in his time of suffering and apply it in my life.
Talk about worst. day. ever. I can't even imagine what Job must have been feeling on that day when all his worldly possessions and his children just disappeared. What is most surprising is that God suggested Job...he offered him to Satan to demonstrate Job's dedication to his faith. God already knew that Job could handle anything Satan could pile on. God already knew. When we are faced with trials and troubles God already knows what we can handle. Maybe this is why we should: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds" James 1:2
Adversity destroys superficial faith. God knew that Job's faith was genuine and that there was nothing Satan could do to destroy it. Indeed, adversity strengthens genuine faith because it causes believers to cling solely to God -knowing that it is only through His strength that they can withstand the storm. We get more than we can handle all the time, so that we rely on God to carry us through. Similar theme in our sermon today!
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