Genesis 43, Mark 13, Job 9, Romans 13

Scripture

“If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.  Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.”     Job 9: 33-35 (NIV) 

Observation/Application

I get uncomfortable when I read certain accounts from the Old Testament.   Old Testament books often describe a vengeful and merciless world.  While God’s people are often the victims of such violence, they are sometimes the perpetrators.  Witness the Jews’ response to Haman’s evil plan in Esther 9, which we read about a week ago.  God, himself, takes vengeance as we learned when we read the accounts of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah.  I find myself wanting to rationalize these acts, so they make sense to me.  As if God needs me to justify his decisions.  And now we read about Job.  “In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job.  This man was  blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” (Job 1:1)   God basically allows one of his most faithful and obedient followers to be abused by Satan.  God allows Satan to strip Job of his family, his possessions, and his health.  What???  I am becoming reconciled with the fact that there are some things about God’s ways that I will never understand this side of heaven. 

But this I do understand: 

Job suffered the despair of not knowing the redemption of Christ. 
I, however,  am secure in the hope that
there is someone to arbitrate between God and me;
someone who lays his hand upon us both
and removes God’s rod from me,
so that his terror frightens me no more.

 

Prayer

Almighty God,  thank you that you provided a way, The Way, for me to stand righteous in your presence.  Though my suffering may never be as intense as Job’s, it is so comforting to rest in the knowledge that you have redeemed me through the sacrifice of your Son.  While the trials and the storms that I face may be real, they are temporary.  Thank you that you have already notified me that my story ends with a “happily ever after.”

Greg (gmd40187)

Gen. 42, Mark 12, Job 8, Rom. 12

Scripture:

⁸ “Ask the former generations
and find out what their fathers learned,

⁹ for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,
and our days on earth are but a shadow.

¹⁰ Will they not instruct you and tell you?
Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?” – Job 8:8-10

Thoughts:

[Side note: I don't understand Job. One thing I observe about the text are his friends' incessant submissions of wisdom  and his paralleled persistent rejection of their advice. Despite the ongoing banter, I admire their dedication to Job as a friend. Job 2:13 "Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was." I wonder if even my closest pals would stick around in silence and then for days after to hear me mope.]

I got the chance to hang out with my dad for several hours this afternoon. Over the past few days snow-bound at home and with a pandemic of the cabin fever, multiple opportunities arose for a good bit of family bonding, laughs, memories, and all that sentimental stuff. S’mores, walks in the snow, shoveling parties…but nothing beats just one-on-one time with dad.

My categories about relationships have been stretched and changed recently. I’ve learned that they can’t be forged, forced, or based on a series of rules. A good bit of what the Bible documents is based on this theme: God seeking right relationship with man based on a list of requirements and sacrifices. Since man can’t ever live up to these expectations, God sends His son to pay the price for our mistakes and opens the door to true, authentic relationship. Finally, the way is open to intimacy with God based on time, intimacy, and desire versus the former: necessity and formality.

Bildad has some pretty good things to say to Job. In his spot, it’s sage advice: consider what past generations have figured out. And this is a big part of a relationship between a father and a son. The thought crossed my mind today, “Before I become who I am I will become my father.” I will know the things he knows, I will learn from his life, I will grow as he has grown.

Connecting the dots: A huge portion of my relationship with my heavenly Dad is mirrored in my interactions with my earthly one. I’m learning that as I get older, I actually want to spend time with him. I want to be more like him. I want to have His heart for people and love like He does. But no checklist of qualities, fulfillment of expectations, or assortment of neckties will ever make me like my dad. Rather, only in spending time with my Father will I reflect more His likeness.

Heavenly Dad,

I just want to spend more time aware of Your presence. I know You are here. Remind me that You are near. Thanks for my dad and how You show me more of Yourself through our relationship. Love,

-Christian

Gen. 41; Mark 11; Job 7; Rom. 11

Scripture

²²“Have^[f] faith in God,” Jesus answered. ²³“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. ²⁴Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 22-24 (NIV)

Observation/Application

I do wonder what my prayer life would look like if I could boldly and confidently approach the Lord with my requests. I feel something holds me back. I pray for others and their needs without hesitation, but when it comes to me … I have more trouble. And I wonder if it’s my on-going battle with forgiveness. I wish that I could just forgive and have it be over with. Instead, my resentments towards others creep up on me unexpectedly–even when I think I’m over it. And I can feel all kinds of awful rekindled in my heart.

Of course, I can put on the happy face and be civil towards others. I can even take extra steps to show unexpected kindnesses–but these actions are unable to quench this yuck that’s tangled up inside of me. Sometimes, they’re just enough to make me think I have forgiven. Later, I’m taken off guard when hurt feelings flare up. This not only continues to injure my relationships with others, but it hinders my relationship with the Lord and the work I do for him.

Prayer

Father, humbly I approach you with this problem. Please change my heart. Do these wounds stem from an unconscious hierarchy I’ve imagined? Help me to stop putting myself above others. Feed me truth to root out the lies I tell myself about my place in this world … and the motives of others.

Courtney (66books35)

Genesis 40, Mark 10, Job 6, Romans 10

“Children, how hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  Mark 10:24-25

There is so much of me that’s glad I don’t have to worry about this set of scripture.  Honestly…riches have never really come in to play in my life despite how hard I have strived to get them.  The duplicity is that I strive for them, never get them and then sometimes feel happy that I didn’t get them.  Maybe this duplicity is the very hand of God protecting me from that which might destroy me?  Whatever the reason may be, riches never provided me the possible misconception that I could afford to “buy” my way to heaven or to even see it become a distraction from my faith.

That said, it is easy to see how a lifestyle engrossed in wealth could so quickly have the potential to lead to a gluttonous self-serving emotional Band-Aid replacement of what God can only provide.  And conversely, it’s also easy to see how frequently and easily the impoverished can come to complete reliance on God through their utmost dependence upon his providence.

“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”  Mark 10:15

A wealth distraction is obviously not an issue for a little child.  They own nothing, they live in innocence and they completely rely on the provision of a parent to cloth, feed and nurture them through growth.  What they also don’t have is a lifetime of opinions, preconceptions, expectations and baggage that guide their decisions.  Their strengths, talents and abilities haven’t been discovered and the things that build into a prideful spirit haven’t been absorbed or become the controlling factor for their life.  And finally, the philosophy that they can do it on their own in their own way hasn’t yet emerged.  All these factors make this childlike way of life an asset for engaging the kingdom of God.

Hmmm…come to think of it, maybe my camels are a bit more stout than I thought?  Maybe the riches that bloat my engagement with God are not the financial ones, but instead the self reliant performance based driving forces I surround myself with?  Who knew that the 5-letter word “PRIDE” would have such a hard time making it through that needle?

“With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”  Mark 10:27

Amen to that!

Gen. 39; Mark 9; Job 5; Rom. 9

Scripture

“Everything is possible for him who believes.” Mark 9:23 (NIV)

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24 (NIV)

Observation / Application

A man had brought his son who was possessed by an evil spirit. At times the spirit would seize him and throw him to the ground. He would foam at the mouth and gnash his teeth. This has been going on for some time. The father was desperate. He brought the boy to the disciples but they could not drive out the evil spirit. Why not? They used to be able to – why wasn’t it working?

When the disciples ask Jesus why they couldn’t drive out the evil spirit Jesus tells them “This kind can come out only by prayer.” So that’s it? It seems that the disciples might have been relying on their own power instead of the power of God. Or maybe it was the father that lacked faith. The father did ask “help me overcome my unbelief!” How many of my prayers start out “Help me”? Lots of them!!! And I’m so glad that Jesus answers them!

Then in Romans 9 Paul explains that most of the nation of Israel will not be saved because they have pursued righteousness as if it were by works, not faith. Faith. Belief. Simple, yes?

Prayer

Lord, help me overcome by unbelief! Help me to remember to pray for your power to be worked through me and to not rely on my own power. Help me!