Sunday, March 15th: Job 25-27, 1 Corinthians 9

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Job 25-27; 1 Corinthians 9

SOAP

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Observation: Exercising self control results in an eternal reward.

Application: Athletes are dedicated individuals who put in a maximum amount of preparation and training in order to win their event.  Who won the 200m gold medal in the last Olympics?  I have no idea, and I'm sure most people don't remember.  It was a perishable prize.  But to the winner, it was worth it.

As believers, are we putting in a maximum amount of effort into our spiritual lives?  Are we engaged in spiritual training? Are we spreading the gospel?  Are we being intentional about living our lives in such a way that God is glorified?  Are we doing all that we can for the Kingdom?  Because those results are worth it. Those results will last for eternity.

Prayer:  Dear God, help me not to become so wrapped up in the things of this world that I neglect my spiritual development.  Break my heart for what breaks yours.  Help my eyes to see through Kingdom-coloured glasses.  Help me to be proactive and intentional about living my life to glorify You.  Amen.





Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Job 28-29; 1 Corinthians 10:1-18

Saturday, March 14th: Job 22-24, 1 Corinthians 8

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Job 22-24; 1 Corinthians 8

I wanted to make a couple comments about our 1 Corinthians passage.

The first thing that stuck out at me was "love builds up".  We are to love our fellow believers and our enemies, and one of the ways we do that is to build them up.  We need to encourage them. We need to look for the good in them that can glorify God.  We need to watch our tongue and make sure that the things we say build them up instead of tear them down.

The next thing was the part about there being one God, one Lord.  There is only One God and that is our triune God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  He alone is worthy of our worship and praise.  He created everything, and everything was created for His glory alone.

The last thing was the part about denying something we want for the sake of a fellow believer.  We are to be selfless, thinking of others ahead of ourselves.  Throwing our freedom in someone else's face is not love, it is selfish and arrogant. Sacrificing ourselves for the sake of our brother is love, and is what we are called to do for the good of others and the glory of God.


 Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Job 25-27; 1 Corinthians 9

Friday, March 13th: Job 20-21, 1 Corinthians 7:20-40 ~ Elizabeth

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Job 20-21; 1 Corinthians 7:20-40

In today's Job reading, Zophar elaborates his list of calamities for the wicked. In doing this, however, he assumes that the truly righteous are somehow exempt from external miseries and must enjoy prosperity now ("theology of glory"). Such misunderstanding tempts us to lose our proper motivation for clinging to the Lord. Our goal is not this earth, which is fading, but "the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." 

Job's friends ignore the observable fact that many among the wicked prosper and live seemingly easy lives. By truthfully describing life on earth, Job is reminded to look beyond this life for his hope and righteousness. We, too, must look beyond the injustice we observe and continually confess that our outward predicament does not define God's attitude toward us. While the houses of the wicked remain after earthly storms, the spiritual houses of those in Christ endure forever against sin, the world, and the devil because they are built on the rock that is Christ.

In the 1 Corinthians reading, Paul reminds us that the Lord transforms believers from our previous existence and makes us members of His household. We now live out the new life in the station to which God has appointed us. Paul then outlines two blessed estates, that of marriage and that of celibacy. We are often aware of the blessings of marriage, God's unique gift that survived humanity's fall into sin. Yet there are also responsibilities with marriage, and it is particularly important for the Christian to consider these when sitting down to "count the cost" of discipleship. In the Lord and by His grace, each person is fitted to one or to the other.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Job 22-24; 1 Corinthians 8

Thursday, March 12th: Job 17-19, 1 Corinthians 7:1-19

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Job 17-19; 1 Corinthians 7:1-19

In Chapter 17 Job was giving up hope of any earthly restoration of wealth or family.  At this point he, along with his friends, was focused solely on this life.  Truthfully, if this present life was all there was, at times it would indeed be hopeless.  Job's situation surely would have been!   But, thankfully, this life is NOT all there is.  And even Job recognizes this, in Chapter 19.

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.  
And what a tremendous statement of faith it is!  We, of course, have the benefit of living on this side of the NT, but in Job's time, Israel didn't have a well developed doctrine of the resurrection and eternity.  But, even though Job struggled with the idea that God was currently against him, he firmly believed that in the end God would be with him, and that he would live with him in eternity, and in a resurrected body.  How Job knew this we don't know, but what tremendous faith!

A good reminder that I need to accept the Bible's Word on faith.  We know so much more than the OT saints did - how much more should we live in faith and hope!

Our NT passage speaks about the permanence of the marriage covenant.    Both marriage and singleness are gifts from God, and both can accomplish God's purposes. It is easier for single people to devote themselves wholeheartedly to God's service, without the added responsibility of spouse and family, like Paul did.   However, marriage was designed by God for companionship and procreation, and is a beautiful thing - indeed, it is a picture of the gospel and the relationship between Christ and His bride, the church.

God designed sex to be a beautiful celebration of love between married couples, and it certainly is a great benefit to being married.  Paul was not advising people to marry the first person they found if they had trouble controlling themselves sexually.  Obviously, it's better to deal with that desire than to deal with an unhappy marriage.  But those who do want to get married, shouldn't wait forever for the perfect moment, and frustrate their normal sexual desires.

The marriage is covenant is intended to be lifelong.  The only allowances for divorce are in cases of adultery, or if non-Christians want to divorce their Christian spouse.  But Paul's purpose in writing this was to urge couples to seek unity, not separation.  It is sad how rampant divorce is in our society today, mainly due to the misunderstanding of what love and commitment are, and the idolization of self and living for our own personal happiness no matter the cost to others.  It makes me very thankful for Nathan and our marriage!  We need to remember to pray for the marriages of our fellow believers!



Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Job 20-21, 1 Corinthians 7:20-40

Wednesday, March 11th: Job 14-16, 1 Corinthians 6 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Job 14-16; 1 Corinthians 6

After the first round of talks finished, each friends is going to go again - making the same arguments, only pressing harder and being more rude.  Job has had enough of it "Miserable comforters are you all!".

When we're trying to comfort someone we shouldn't talk just for the sake of talking, we shouldn't sermonize and give pat answers, we shouldn't accuse or criticize.  Instead, we should put ourselves in the other person's place and offer help and encouragement.

In 16:19ff we see Job appealing to a witness and advocate - sitting on this side of the NT we have the advantage of knowing that Jesus Christ is that advocate, interceding for us on our behalf.


In our 1 Corinthians passage this stood out to me...
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified,you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Similar to his comments in Chapter 5, Paul is not expecting believers to be perfect.  We still struggle with sin.  But it no longer defines us, it no longer controls us.  Those who persist in sin with no sign of remorse are not genuine Christians.  As Christians, we need to be careful not to tolerate more "acceptable" forms of sin (greed, drunkenness, etc) while remaining outraged at others (homosexuality, adultery, murder, etc).  We need to have high standards - Jesus sets the standard at perfection.

That being said, there are bigger consequences for some sins then for others.  Sexual immorality is not only destructive to those involved in the sinful activity themselves.  It has devastate countless lives, destroying families, churches, and communities.  God's laws against sexual immorality (and all other sin for that matter) are for our own good.

When we become believers we no longer own our bodies.  They were bought at a price.  Christ's death frees us from sin, but we are now His, and because our body belongs to God we need to use it for His glory and not violate His standards for living.


 Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Job 17-19; 1 Corinthians 7:1-19

Tuesday, March 10th: Job 11-13 1 Corinthians 5 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Job 11-13; 1 Corinthians 5

Zophar tells Job in chapter 11 verses 13-19 that if he starts living more righteously then things will start going better for Job, he will feel secure and have hope again (verse 18) . 

Job replies in both chapter 12:3 and 13:2, that he is not inferior to Zophar.  He makes it clear that the Lord is testing him (12:9-10) and shows in 13:15 that he understands the big picture when he says that even though the Lord harms him,  he will hope in Him still,  but will also argue with the Lord about this testing. I love this honesty and wisdom shown by Job.

Job,  later in chapter 13, almost goes on the offensive against God by challenging God to show him the wrong he's done,  in order to deserve the pain he's  suffered. Job doesn't know what God has in store for him, and how God has allowed this test to happen. This is a lesson for me,  not to question the position I'm in now,  but have faith in God to have things play out according to His plans.

Another verse that caught my attention was chapter 12 verse 5, where is says "in the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for the misfortune, it is ready for those whose feet slip".  I pray that I have more compassion for those who've had misfortune in their lives,  and at the same time I thank God for everything He's given me.

In the New Testament reading in 1 Corinthians,  we read how serious we should view sexual immorality in the Church. It is a good reminder to Christians now a days, as we're being looked down on by the outside world for our stance on these things. The world has turned so far from God in this aspect,  that it doesn't even view our definition of sexual sin,  as sin anymore. We must be careful in this,  and uphold what God has planned for us for how He wants us to view sexual behaviour.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Job 14-16; 1 Corinthians 6

Monday, March 9th: Job 8-10, 1Corinthians 4 ~ Conrad

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Job 8-10, 1Corinthians 4

In today's passage in Job, it begins for us reading Bildad's advice for Job.  Bildad wastes no time in accusing Job and his children for sinning against God (Job 8:4).  In the previous verse he said that God was not unjust, so they must be receiving punishment for their wrong doings.  He also told Job that God rewards the righteous and punishes the sinner (vs 20).  He advised Job to look to God and to get on his knees in repentance so that he could be restored (vs 5-6).

Job responded by agreeing with Bildad on the characteristics of God, but disagreed and remained solid in his position of being innocent.  Job does not believe that he is sinless, but he wishes he could have a day in court so that he can prove he is innocent of the kind of sin that deserves the suffering he is enduring.  In his despair he voices complaints about God, but he does not curse God as satan said he would.  

In chapter 9:33, Job expressed his desire for an arbitrator between himself and God.  Job is confident that such a person exists, and that through him justice and vindication will occur.  Today we are fortunate because we have that mediator - Jesus Christ! 

We have a huge advantage over Job by being able to read his story and see what God is doing.  Not knowing all the information, Bildad falsely presumed that Job and his children sinned sufficiently to earn the punishment received.

Do we ever think that God is now punishing us for something we once did, or doubt the righteousness of God's justice?

In 1Corinthians 4, it was verse 2 that stood out for me, "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."  Stewardship comes to mind.

Everything we have is God's.  He is the source of all our wealth, our personal talents, and even the memories we have embedded in our brains - everything.  God wants us to be content with everything we have, knowing that He will provide for us everything we need.  He just asks for one thing in return - to use it all wisely, recognizing that it belongs to the Lord and that one day we will be held accountable for how we treated His possessions.

Before I lend something out to someone, I try to imagine how they will treat the item I am lending.  How am I treating the possessions that God has trusted me with?
  

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Job 11-13; 1 Corinthians 5

Sunday, March 8th: Job 5-7, 1 Corinthians 3 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Job 5-7, 1 Corinthians 3

Job's friends' original response was the right one.  They sat with Job in silence for seven days.  They didn't offer advice, they didn't offer empty platitudes, they simply sat and grieved with him.

When those around us our suffering, we often don't know what to say to help them in their grief.  The truth is, we are often most helpful when we say nothing.

This certainly proved true in Job's friends' case.  They would've been better off remaining silent, because as soon as they started talking, things went off the rails.

All 3 of Job's friends made the mistake of assuming that Job's suffering must be punishment for some great sin on Job's part.  We know that this is not the case because we received a firsthand look at the spiritual battle going on behind the scenes.  We know that Job's suffering will prove his faith genuine and bring glory to God.  But Job and his friends don't know this.

Job's friends make some good points - they're just not applicable to Job.

Sometimes suffering is caused because of sin.  But not in Job's case.
Eliphaz was correct (in v17) that it is a blessing to be disciplined by God when we do wrong.  But this was not applicable to Job's situation.

It is true that pain helps us grow, but God does not eliminate all hardship when we are living righteously, and good deeds are not always rewarded with prosperity.

We need to remember not to throw out advice when we don't understand the entire situation.

Our Corinthians passage reminded me of the need to be humble.  We are called to be faithful where God has called us to serve, but the fruits of that faithfulness are to give glory to God, not ourselves.  Everything we do must be built on the foundation of Jesus Christ and done for His glory.



 Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Job 8-10; 1 Corinthians 4

Saturday, March 7th: Job 3-4, 1 Corinthians 2

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Job 3-4; 1 Corinthians 2

We're in the middle of Olivia's girls hockey provincials weekend and I'm way behind on posting, sorry about that.  Due to the time crunch, I'm going to recycle a previous post - this wasn't mine, it was done by my friend Sandy.

One of the most common questions asked by non-believers: "Why does God let bad things happen to good people?" I've heard it. I'm sure most of you have too.
The book of Job is the ultimate in 'bad things happening to good people'. Job was upstanding. Righteous. A 'good man'. So why did bad things happen to him? He loses EVERYTHING. And it seems so senseless. As readers, we have the benefit of knowing why. We are witness via the Word to God's plan and purpose for Job's suffering. Even though Job can't see it, we can see that his seemingly senseless and cruel suffering is FOR GOD'S GLORY. It's all for God's glory.

That's the answer in Job and it's our answer now. God's glory.

Just as our personal suffering is for His glory and part of His plan, so is the mass suffering.

It seems so contradictory. It seems so wrong to say that God allows the bad.
But He does. He allows the bad. FOR THE GOOD.

As much as God is love, He is justice. As much as He loves His children, He hates sin.

If our Christ bled and died and bore the brunt of God's full wrath, how can we exempt any suffering?
We can't.

I'm sure it seems so odd and cold to non-belivers. But those who know nothing of God's love, can't begin to comprehend His justice.

God WILL be glorified. He will be gloried through my suffering. Through yours. Through the suffering of those who don't know Him and can't understand it.

God's glory. His alone.

He WILL be glorified.
This truth is mirrored in our 1 Corinthians passage today as well....
5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Our finite minds cannot comprehend the plans of God, and our faith needs to rest in Him, not ourselves.


 Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Job 5-7, 1 Corinthians 3

Friday, March 6th: Job 1-2, 1 Corinthians 1 ~ Elizabeth

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