Let God Be the Fixer

Today’s reading is Job 38-42.

If you are like me, you fall into the miserable comforter mold like Job’s three friends again and again and again (Job 16:2). There are many great lessons to learn about comforting the suffering from Job, but perhaps the best is seen at the very end. One of the biggest hindrances to being a comforter is trying to be a fixer. Job’s three friends collectively spent nine chapters trying to fix Job’s problem with poor advice, and it wouldn’t work. But, in the last chapter, God fixes Job’s problems. What is the lesson to learn? Most of the time, when folks need comfort, I just need to silently sympathize. God can fix the problem without my help.

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 1-5.

Breathe and Praise God

Today’s reading is Job 32-37.

“If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to the dust” (Job 34:14-15, ESV). Do you feel like God has abandoned you? Take a breath. Do you feel like God hasn’t been blessing you enough lately? Take a breath. Do you wish God would do more for you? Take a breath. Then remember that if God were to remove His Spirit and breath from you, you would perish and return to dust. There is but one encouragement for us today. Breathe and praise God!

Tomorrow’s reading is Job 38-42.

God is Here Even When We Can’t Feel Him

Today’s reading is Job 20-24.

“Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside” (Job 23:8-11, ESV). Despite the hype of emotional sermonizing by many preachers and the small group banter, sometimes the God Filled feel God Abandoned. Just ask Job. In these moments, the God Filled have to remember it is not about what we feel, but about what is real. And God really is there working on our behalf whether we feel Him or not. He knows the way we take, so let us hold fast to his steps. In the end, we will come out as gold. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Job 25-31.

The God Filled aren’t Governed by the Gray Haired

Today’s reading is Job 15-19.

It may shock you to find out that the God Filled do not assume that every thing the aged say is God’s will. Eliphaz made this second mistake in Job 15:10 (we saw his first mistake in Job 4:12ff). The aged and grey-haired were among Job’s friends and they agreed with Eliphaz. Certainly there was some truth to what Eliphaz believed because of them, and the God Filled never dismiss the more experienced out of hand, but his application to Job was completely wrong. Today, many who claim to be in Christ act as if whatever the aged among us say is gospel. Eliphaz stands as a monument to how wrong this can be. As Paul wrote, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV). Don’t misunderstand, the God Filled don’t assume that what the young say is God’s will either. The God Filled look to God’s revealed standard, His Word and respect anyone young or old who simply look there too. What are you looking to for direction?

Monday’s reading is Job 20-24.

Glorify God with Truth

Today’s reading is Job 11-14.

Surely God deserves to be glorified above all else. We should hold nothing back as we long to bring praise, honor, and glory to Him. However, lying about Him or being partial to Him won’t bring Him glory. Thus, Job warned his three friends that if they responded to his suffering by simply saying, “God only let’s sinners suffer, so you must be an awful sinner, Job,” they would be judged and rebuked (Job 13:6-12). God doesn’t need us to sand down His rough edges, dull His sharpness, or simplify His complexity. Certainly, when folks misrepresent God, we strive to correct misunderstanding, but God is only glorified when we tell the truth about Him. Just because something sounds like it glorifies God, doesn’t mean it does. And just because it doesn’t appeal to man’s cultural sensibilities, doesn’t mean it detracts from His glory. Glorify God with impartial truth, and let God deal with His own PR campaign.

Tomorrow’s reading is Job 15-19.

The God Filled aren’t Governed by Traditions of the Past

Today’s reading is Job 8-10.

It may shock you to find out that the God Filled do not assume that every tradition passed down from those who went before them is really from God. Bildad made that mistake in Job 8:8-10. He had inquired of bygone ages and considered what the fathers searched out and it seemed like God’s own will to him. Certainly, there was some truth to what Bildad said, but his application to Job was completely wrong. Today, many who claim to be in Christ act like whatever has been passed down to them from one church to another, from one “Christian” to another, must be God’s will. They try to trace some kind of lineage back to Jesus Christ and His apostles and prophets instead of just looking at what was given to the world by Jesus Christ through His apostles and prophets, God’s Word. Just because a thousand ancient worthies claim something doesn’t mean it is a message from God. The God Filled look to God’s revealed standard, His Word. What are you looking to?

Tomorrow’s reading is Job 11-14.

The God Filled aren’t Governed by Dreams and Visions

Today’s reading is Job 4-7.

It may shock you to find out that the God Filled do not assume that every thought, vision, or dream that enters their head is really from God. Eliphaz made that mistake in Job 4:12-21. He had something that seemed like a vision or a revelation. Certainly there was some truth to what he believed because of it, but his application to Job was completely wrong. Today, many who claim to be in Christ act as if any thought that enters their head must be God breathed. Eliphaz stands as a monument to how wrong this is. As Paul wrote, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV). Just because we think it, dream it, envision it, doesn’t mean it is a message from God. The God Filled look to God’s revealed standard, His Word. What are you looking to for direction?

Tomorrow’s reading is Job 8-10.

The God Filled Perspective for Enduring Sorrow

Today’s reading is Esther 8-10; Job 1-3

Being God Filled doesn’t mean living a life of sunshine and blue skies, waltzing through a park. In fact, it means living a life under attack from Satan as he tries to convince us God doesn’t care and isn’t looking out for us. And Job (the book) teaches us that God allows us to face these hardships even when He could stop them. That presents a huge challenge for us. Yet, in the beginning of Job’s struggle we see a great God Filled approach to these attacks. Job said, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10, ESV). The God Filled recognize the supreme sovereignty of God and understand that His grace is sufficient (cf. II Corinthians 12:9). Whatever God is letting us face, whether good or evil, in the end it will be for our good and His glory (cf. Romans 8:28). As the rest of the book of Job will demonstrate, this doesn’t necessarily make suffering easy to endure, but it does give us perspective so that we can endure. Whatever you’re facing, hang on to God; He really is there, and He really does care.

Tomorrow’s reading is Job 4-7