Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm.

Job 1-42

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. Job 38:1

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This afternoon, I continue with the story of "Job: God's Presence in the Storm*".

*Title of lesson two from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day two of my study of Job starts by having me focus on the motivation of Job to find himself righteous in his discourse from Job 26-31.  See Job 32:1 where it says (just prior to when Elihu finishes speaking to Job at the end of Job 37):

So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Job 32:1

My study guide asks me to review Psalm 22:1 where David says:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? Psalm 22:1

Arrogance and pride lead to such thoughts of righteous in one's own eyes and for one to think that God has forsaken him/her. I know these thoughts as I have struggled with such thoughts (and acted on them) significantly in my life and I have posted frequently on them here with this blog.  

I am then led to Job 38:1 where Max Lucado seeks to have us look deeply at how God speaks to Job "out of the storm".  I am drawn to an image where I see God WITH Job (and any of us in a storm) in the storm. We need to recognize how God IS with us during the storms in our life. 

Lucado encourages us to remember three key points:

1. "An encounter with God-whether or not it is as dramatic as Job's encounter-will forever change our outlook on life."
2. "God allows us to pour out our concerns questions, and emotions to him, and then extends [H]is mercy to us."
3. "Just as God spoke out of the storm and into the storm of Job's life, [H]e meets us where we are in whatever situation we are facing."

 I have been in storms many times in my life and looking back I can see how God was with me each time.  I pray that God give me the wisdom and strength to see Him in whatever future storms I might face.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who is always with me - thank You Jesus.  Thank You for calming the storms and seeing me through EVERY time!  I am not deserving of such love.  I am selfish and I worry among my many sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strnegth.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us....Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

1 Peter 1-5

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us....Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 1 Peter 2:11-12, 3:15-17

Day 355 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this morning I read 1 Peter. My commentary notes: "[t]he historical record of Acts does not mention the apostle Peter after the Jerusalem conference, but it appears that his ministry proceeded in the same time period as the missionary efforts of the apostle Paul....Both of Peter’s letters are evidently addressed to the same audience, principally Gentile Christians throughout Asia, Bithynia, Pontus, Galatia, and Cappadocia. These are some of the same areas where Paul had established churches on his preaching tours and include the same Christians to whom Paul had addressed some of his letters....Without doubt this is a time of hostility, if not actual physical persecution, against all Christians. Therefore, the subject of Peter’s first letter is suffering, and the thrust of the letter is an exhortation to steadfastness. Peter begins by recounting for his readers the blessings which they have in their redemption, and then encourages them in the fact that in Christ they are God’s special people. But Peter also reminds them that, as God’s redeemed ones, they have a responsibility to glorify God in their lives."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

One can easily make the case that today, here in the United States, Christians face hostility for our views, for example on such topics as gay marriage and abortion.  In a broader context while some talk about tolerance, in general given the polarization we see, there is less tolerance.  Therefore, I am zeroing in on Peter's words on how we are to stand firm in the faith in the face of hostility.  Peter encourages us to live such lives - in both words and actions - that others cannot find fault in us.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who lived a sinless live yet You freely laid down Your life for me....incredible....the greatest gift of all time.  Thank You Jesus!  Of course I am undeserving.  I have worry and other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sins towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[Ahaziah] followed the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was related by marriage to Ahab’s family.

2 Kings 8-10, 2 Chronicles 21-22 

[Ahaziah] followed the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was related by marriage to Ahab’s family. 2 Kings 8:27

 

Day 161 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with a study of the violent deaths among the houses of both King Ahab (Joram, Jehu, and royal family) of Israel and King Ahaziah (including royal family members) of Judah.

The Bible is filled with stories of how evil and wicked people meet their end.  Believers are not immune to violence and tragedy (see John 16:33, the stories of Stephen, and other martyrs).  We must also understand that tragedy is part of life since The Fall when God promised difficulties for Adam and his descendants.

John Piper provides this very useful post to share his view on why God is "so harsh in the Old Testament but more forgiving in the New".  Piper writes:

"So I think there is an intention that the Old Testament look bleak, sin look horrible, God look just, and that there be much less mercy, proportionate to what you see in the three years of the ministry of Jesus. And that's intentional. This is what God's heart is to the world right now. Come!

And then the New Testament closes with another Old Testament. The Book of Revelation is horrific! So we're in a window right now.

So if people are watching this right now, they should feel, 'I'm in a window of mercy, and I should embrace it so that I can escape the wrath when it comes again'".

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and You have never left me or forsaken me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your love.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me for my worry and other sins.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

Psalm 35, 41, 43, 46, and 55

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22

Day 109 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues my focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and I continue with "Psalms of the Troubled Soul".

Today's psalms focus on cries for vindication in the eyes of enemies who gloat,  prayers for the weak and those who suffer betrayal by friends, prayer for insight in the face of opposition, prayers for refuge and strength in the God who rules over nations, and for comfort over the anguish of having disloyal companions. Undoubtedly, these examples of trouble mark just several of many circumstances where we can seek comfort and refuge from God.  I am thankful for sure that I have a God who will sustain me, even in the darkest of times.

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. 1 Peter 5:7

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are undoubtedly a great God and I KNOW You love me - I am not deserving of such a God.  I sin...daily, placing other matters above You.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such a sin and towards You always and first!  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

Deuteronomy 31-32:47

“Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” Deuteronomy 32:46-47 

Day 65 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the transition of Israel's leadership from Moses to Joshua, and God reveals to both leaders that He knows that Israel will not obey the laws and regulations outlined by God through Moses.

A few things to note about this transition to Joshua.  The exact words God speaks to both Moses and Joshua (and to the Israelites) is repeated 11 times in the OT in both Deuteronomy and Joshua.  These words are often included with an encouragement that God is with us.

Believers know that Jesus is with us (or Immanuel as stated in Matthew 1:23), represented by the Holy Spirit, the Word, and through the church body.  We CAN be strong and courageous BECAUSE God is with and for us!

Also, while we may not have to focus on the ceremonial law, Jesus does promise trouble for believers.  Yet we can "take heart" because Jesus has "overcome":

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Finally, we can take comfort in knowing that Jesus promises abundance for believers - this is not an earthly abundance but a supernatural abundance that believers should come to understand and appreciate with nearness to God and a closer relationship with Jesus.  See also this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who I know is always with me and provides an abundance that transcends anything we can appreciate from an earthly perspective.  Thank You Jesus for giving me life "to the full".  I am not deserving of such blessings and love.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Matthew 7

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." v13-14

Jesus promises life and life to the full (abundant - KJV, etc.) for those who believe and follow Him (John 10:10).  Believers will demonstrate fruits of the Spirit as well (Galatians 5:22-23) - including
"love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control".

However, there are no such promises of an easy life.  In John 16:33, Jesus tell us that we WILL have trouble. This is to be expected because when we submit our lives to Jesus, we DENY ourselves and put God and others first.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has given me life to the full - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessings.  I am quick to anger and slow to listen - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.

Daniel 6

Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. V3-4

I’ve highlighted in my most recent posts how Daniel was a light to others (see be a light, we are to be a light to others) including kings under whom Daniel served.   Today, I’d like to highlight how, sometimes, there will be those in the world who see you as a threat because of your faith (see Voice of the Martyrs), and this may bring you great harm.  Jesus was also seen as a threat to the Jewish elders and teachers of the law (see Matthew 21:23-27 as just one example). 

More than anything Jesus wants us to love him and love others (see Matthew 22:37-40).  Yet there will be times when others may feel threatened by our love of Him and others.  A couple of things come to mind: (1) Jesus does not promise believers a world without challenges, and (2) it is during these challenges when the power of Jesus becomes more evident.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Daniel is an example where God chooses to protect someone in the face of a threat or challenge.  Yet this may not always be the case – see Acts 7 as Stephen is martyred. Either way, God will either protect us in this world or we will be called home to Heaven (which non-believers may not call protection) – all part of God’s plan.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God who loves me and protects me from harm on a daily basis – thank You Jesus.  I don’t know why I am singled out for protection while others experience challenges.  Thank You for your protection and love – yet I am not worthy.  I often fail to be a light to others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.

Jeremiah 20

But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. v11

Jeremiah is attacked by the Israelites for delivering the Lord's warning to them - warning of an impending punishment for turning their back to the Lord.  Jeremiah is even put in the stocks.  Yet even in his own punishment, we can see glimpses of his faith.  When we feel the world is against us, all we have that we know is for us is our faith, our Father in Heaven - Jesus Christ our Savior.

We can lean on Him during times of trouble.


Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

See also John 16:33.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me, who helps carry my burdens - thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such a God because I daily miss the mark - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.