Bible League: Living His Word "... Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.— Job 2:10 ESV Job had lost a lot. He lost his wealth, his children, and his health. How should someone handle something like that? Job's wife urged him to curse God and die (Job 2:9). For her, there were limits to what was acceptable from God. Good from God was to be expected, but trials from His hand was something else altogether. For her, if God fails to come through with what is acceptable, then you break off your relationship to Him and even curse Him. From her point of view, what good is a god that doesn't help His followers? Job, however, didn't see things that way. For him, being in a relationship with God was more than a way to receive good things in life. It was more than a religious practice designed to get what you want. For him, being in a relationship with God was the very meaning of life itself. You don't give up on that just because some bad things have happened. You don't give up on that even when many bad things have happened. Indeed, you don't give up on that at all—no matter what happens (Job 13:15). After all, where else can you turn? There is only one God and it's His world. Our job is not to get Him to do what we want when we want it, but to love Him and serve Him to the best of our ability. Although God blesses those who serve Him, their service should not be conditional on His blessings. God wants us to love Him and serve Him for who He is to us, not for what He does for us. Sometimes, He even tests us in this regard to prove to one and all that our love and service are born of a heart that is faithful and true. Job was faithful and true even though he was tested severely. Job, one might say, was used by God to show just how far our love and service to Him must extend. And because he did not curse God and die, because he did not "sin with his lips," he became a hero to emulate for every believer, especially every believer that is going through hard times. Job could be faithful and true because He served God who is faithful and trustworthy. Rest in His care. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 93, 94, 95 Psalm 93 -- The Lord reigns! He is clothed with majesty! NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 94 -- O Lord, you God to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 95 -- Oh come, let's sing to the Lord. Let's shout aloud to the rock of our salvation! NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Romans 11:22-36 Romans 11 -- The Remnant Chosen by Grace; Ingrafted Branches; All Israel Will Be Saved NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.” Insight After many of Jesus' followers had deserted him, he asked the 12 disciples if they were also going to leave. Peter replied, “To whom would we go?” In his straightforward way, Peter answered for all of us— there is no other way. Though there are many philosophies and self-styled authorities, Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. Challenge People look everywhere for eternal life and miss Christ, the only source. Stay with him, especially when you are confused or feel alone. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 97:1 The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice.Causes for disquietude there are none so long as this blessed sentence is true. On earth the Lord's power as readily controls the rage of the wicked as the rage of the sea; his love as easily refreshes the poor with mercy as the earth with showers. Majesty gleams in flashes of fire amid the tempest's horrors, and the glory of the Lord is seen in its grandeur in the fall of empires, and the crash of thrones. In all our conflicts and tribulations, we may behold the hand of the divine King. "God is God; he sees and hears All our troubles, all our tears. Soul, forget not, 'mid thy pains, God o'er all forever reigns." In hell, evil spirits own, with misery, his undoubted supremacy. When permitted to roam abroad, it is with a chain at their heel; the bit is in the mouth of behemoth, and the hook in the jaws of leviathan. Death's darts are under the Lord's lock, and the grave's prisons have divine power as their warder. The terrible vengeance of the Judge of all the earth makes fiends cower down and tremble, even as dogs in the kennel fear the hunter's whip. "Fear not death, nor Satan's thrusts, God defends who in him trusts; Soul, remember, in thy pains, God o'er all forever reigns." In heaven none doubt the sovereignty of the King Eternal, but all fall on their faces to do him homage. Angels are his courtiers, the redeemed his favorites, and all delight to serve him day and night. May we soon reach the city of the great King! "For this life's long night of sadness He will give us peace and gladness. Soul, remember, in thy pains, God o'er all forever reigns." Daily Light on the Daily Path Lamentations 3:31,32 For the Lord will not reject forever, • For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness.Jeremiah 46:28 "O Jacob My servant, do not fear," declares the LORD, "For I am with you. For I will make a full end of all the nations Where I have driven you, Yet I will not make a full end of you; But I will correct you properly And by no means leave you unpunished." Isaiah 54:7,8,10,11 "For a brief moment I forsook you, But with great compassion I will gather you. • "In an outburst of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, But with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you," Says the LORD your Redeemer. • "For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken," Says the LORD who has compassion on you. • "O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, Behold, I will set your stones in antimony, And your foundations I will lay in sapphires. Micah 7:9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, And I will see His righteousness. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
    |