Job 3

Job 3 is a chapter filled with despair.  Job is having a bad day, bad week and feels like a bad life.  He has gone from being on top of the world to not feeling like he can even see the bottom of things.  Job wants to escape the pain and hurt.  He speaks out and breaks “the silence”.  Is it ok to question God?  Job asks the “why” word five times in this chapter and throws in a “where” and “who” for good measure.  God is not irritated when we ask why?  He knows that we don’t understand all that happens in life.  He knows that we will have questions when things seem to go wrong.  When a child dies, when people suffer, when hunger is causing pain.  He is not offended, but the question is, what do we do after the why?  Questioning is a natural part of being human.  And the answer is that we won’t know the answer to a lot of the why questions we ask.  God alone knows that and we only “see dimly” for now as it says in Corinthians but someday we will see clearly.  Someday we will understand why things happen.  God does have a plan – not always clear or apparent to us – but always a plan.  And His plan “always works together for good” as it says in Romans 8:28.  Always – that is a powerful truth we need to cling to.

 

So the real question is whether we are able to trust God even when we can’t answer the questions.  Are we willing to believe that what He has said in His Word are true?  Can we put our faith in His promises and believe that in every situation He is in control and has a perfect plan for us?  God wants to have us live with that kind of faith.  Job exhibits it in his life.  It is not easy, it does not make sense, and people will challenge our decision to live in faith as well.  They may make fun of us.  They will call us crazy.  But God is faithful.  He never leaves us nor forsakes us.  He has our best interest in His hands.  He loves us and paid a very steep price for us through Jesus.  We should feel free to break the silence, talk with God, and then we need to fall back on God’s truth and trust Him.  Can you do that?  Can you trust Him even when you don’t have the answers?  That is what real faith is.  Hebrews tells us it is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”.  It is not simple.  But it is important we get there……are you ready?

Job 2

Job 2 continues the attack of the enemy on Job.  Satan had destroyed Job’s family and taken most of what he had, and now he seeks God’s permission to attack him personally.  He is covered with sores from head to toe and was in real pain.  Satan took his best shot at getting Job to turn from God in chapter one, and now that he failed in that attempt, he comes at him again.  Lesson here to learn – the enemy is focused on destroying us.  He absolutely does not want us to have a relationship with God that matters.  He will come at us in every way possible and take from us anything he can to keep us apart from God.  What we have to do is focus like Job on staying connected.  Even when Job’s wife lost hope and faith, Job held fast.  He was steadfast in his trust of God.  I love what he says: “We take the good days from God–why not also the bad days?”  We will have some bad days.  Life happens and it doesn’t always happen the way we want.  But God is faithful and has promised to never leave nor forsake us.  Doesn’t mean it won’t feel like it.  Doesn’t mean we will always understand.  But it does mean He is true to His Word and will always be there.

 

We also meet his three friends in this chapter.  They come from three different places, so it shows us that Job is a well known and connected guy.  And it shows that the enemy is certainly unafraid to target everyone.  After all, Job is described as a “friend” of God.  He is not some ordinary person who has a little relationship with the Father.  He is close to God and a dedicated and committed follower.  And often that is exactly who the enemy goes after, and he comes after us where we think we are not vulnerable, in the area we believe we have no exposure.  The enemy will come against us where we least expect it.  The three amigos come and couldn’t believe what they saw – how bad Job’s plight was.  So they cry out and sit there in silence for seven days “without saying a word”.  Ever have those moments when you just don’t know what to say.  It often happens to me in the hospital or at a funeral.  But being there is often the most important thing and we have to give these guys credit for that – they showed up and stayed even though helpless to address the situation.  Do you have friends who would sit with you for days when needed?  More and more it seems we are all too busy to get involved at that kind of level. You can’t make those relationships when you need them.  They require ongoing and constant investment ahead of time – you have to build friendships that last over time.  So it is time to make those investments in some folks.  Do it now before you need them later……

Job 1

 Job was “a man who lived in Uz”.  Scripture tells us these things about him:

1. “He was honest inside and out
2. He was a man of his word
3. He was totally devoted to God
4. He hated evil with a passion”

We learn that he had 10 kids and was a very wealthy man.  Kids were a bunch of partiers and Job made sure that he prayed for them early in the morning after one of their parties.  He loved and served God well.  The story takes a turn when Satan wants to see what happens when life gets tough.  So God allows Satan to test Job.  A series of things happen that certainly would try anyone:

1. The animals and field hands were killed
2. Lightning struck the sheep and shepherds and fried them
3. The camels and camel drivers were massacred
4. A tornado struck the house where his kids were partying and they all died

Definitely a bad day.  Scripture tells us “Job got to his feet, ripped his robe, shaved his head, then fell to the ground and worshiped”.  That seems like an unusual response to a series of bad things doesn’t it?  Well it does until you consider that Job had a deep relationship with God. He knew it all belonged to God and that everything was in God’s hands.  “Not once through all this did Job sin; not once did he blame God”.  He never once wavered in his commitment to God nor did he doubt that God was there and still in control.  There are many questions we will feel as we read through Job’s life which I won’t be able to answer.  But what we can learn is that Job trusted God, lived with passion and devotion, and put his life in God’s hands.  It wasn’t an easy thing, but God was there and never left him.  When bad things happen we need to run to God.  That is our lesson from Job today.

Isaiah 66

Isaiah 66 is the final chapter in His recordings, and it starts off with a bang.  God speaks His truth this way: “I made all this.  I own all this”!  We sometimes forget the obvious.  God does own it all.  Not some of it, not most of it, ALL of it.  Everything on this planet and in this universe is His.  We are at most stewards of what He entrusts to us.  But sometimes we let the “me” syndrome take over and actually begin to believe that we own it.  After all, we work hard to earn money to buy stuff don’t we?  We spend much of our life working hard to get a paycheck so we can go to the store and buy things we never use or don’t need.  At least I am guilty and holding my hand up high.  We could talk about that for a long time, but the next statement is the one that really whacked me.  “But there is something I’m looking for: a person simple and plain, reverently responsive to what I say”.  My bride reminds me that “simple” is good.  We don’t need a life cluttered with a lot of stuff.  We don’t need complex or difficult.  We need life that allows us to spend our time investing in people, not working so we can have more things that won’t fit into our already full closets.  Have you ever thought about how many of us rent extra storage to hold on to things we don’t need and likely will never use?  The storage industry is one of the fasted growing in our country because we don’t get the truth of this chapter – it all belongs to God and we need to live a simple life.  Declutter as my bride would say.

 

But the second part of that verse really hit me.  What is God looking for?  Someone who is “reverently responsive”.  Pretty simple ask isn’t it?  Seems simple enough but so hard to really live.  God wants us to realize who He is and then respond to His Word and direction for our lives.  He actually demands it.  It is my prayer to become that man.  To put God in His rightful place – first in my own life – and then in my family, business, church and everywhere else I am.  But secondly to realize another thing that Isaiah records: “I know everything they’ve ever done or thought. I’m going to come and then gather everyone–all nations, all languages. They’ll come and see my glory”.  There are no secrets – God knows all – and He alone deserves and will receive the glory.  How much better if I give it to Him now.  The day is coming when He will be recognized by all, but today I have the opportunity to express my gratitude and put Him where He belongs.  Life is not about me.  It is about God and the relationship I have with Him.  It is all His….Lord help me never forget that truth and to live “reverently responsive” to your every Word.

Isaiah 65

Isaiah 65 tells us just how much God wants to have a relationship with us.  He says “I’m here, right here….ready to be found”.  So the issue with God is not His availability to us.  He is always there and ready.  The issue is our looking, our seeking.  Scripture also tells us we will find Him “if we seek Him with all our heart”.  It isn’t some accidental relationship.  We have to want it and pursue it, but we can do it confident that God is there with open arms and ready to connect.  I love what Isaiah writes about that: “Before they call out, I’ll answer. Before they’ve finished speaking, I’ll have heard”.  God is ready – the real question is “are you”.

 

The second thing that jumped out at me has to do with lists.  As we enter this Christmas season, the common thread for many kids is how they stack up on Santa’s list.  He is checking his list and counting it twice, gonna find out who’s been naughty and nice.  You know the song.  But Isaiah tells us that God has a very different list – well maybe not so different in some respects – but the outcome is certainly more important than whether I get a gift of a lump of coal.  Check this out: “Their sins are all written out– I have the list before me”.  Does God keep track of how we live?  Yep – He absolutely does.  We will have to answer for it when we stand before Him at judgement day.  Life does matter, and how we live does determine our eternity.  The good news is that Christmas is all about fixing this sin problem.  Jesus came to give us a way to get our name on the sin list erased.  We need to have a saving relationship with Him – to make Him Lord of our life.  But His birth in that manger set up the foundation through which His death on the cross could free us from the penalty of sin.  It isn’t automatic – we have to ask Him to come into our heart and be our Savior, but God loves us enough to make a way.  So the real question this Christmas is what will you do with Jesus?  Is He your Savior?

Isaiah 64

Isaiah makes a few very key observations in chapter 64.  First he reminds us just how far above us God really is.  Sometimes people think they are like God – maybe even equal to Him.  There have been times in history where people have actually claimed to be God, and some days we act like it even today.  But we are not, and never will be.  There is only one God, and Isaiah points out just how far from our human ways He is: “Since before time began no one has ever imagined, No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you who works for those who wait for him”.  The reality is that we can’t even imagine God, we are unable to comprehend all that He is.  God is such a wonderful and powerful creator.  He is in a class all by Himself.

 

That said, Isaiah reminds us of a very important fact.  “Still, GOD, you are our Father. We’re the clay and you’re our potter: All of us are what you made us”.  God is our Father.  He created us.  We are what He made us.  Do you think about that at all?  Do you ever stop to consider that God Himself designed you and created you just the way He wanted.  I am reminded of something I used to hear – God don’t make no junk.  He didn’t make a mistake when you or I were created.  Are we perfect?  Well certainly I am not.  But I am what God created and what I need to remember is that He isn’t done with me yet.  I am clay in His hands and He continues to mold my life.  He has a perfect plan and wants to continue to shape me and make me what He desires.  But I have to allow Him to do that.  I can’t jump off the table and say leave me alone if I expect Him to continue molding me.  I have to be willing to trust Him and allow Him the freedom.  Is that risky?  I don’t see how it could be since He has the master plan and has demonstrated how deeply He loves us.  Will it always be fun?  Not likely as there are things in our lives that have to be scraped away.  But God will do it lovingly and in a way that moves us closer to that perfection He has for us – holiness and godliness – to become like Jesus.  There will be some pain and struggle on our part mostly because we resist and refuse rather than cooperate.  But at the end of the day we need to cling to the fact that God is and will always be our Father.  He is not going anywhere.  Sin may cause a rift between us – He can’t stand that and will deal with it – but it doesn’t change our standing as a son or daughter of the King.  Ponder well the words of Isaiah.  God has much to do in and through us!

Isaiah 63

Isaiah 63 talks about the struggle that the children of Israel have had in their relationship with God.  Isaiah points out the difficulties in walking with God, and the way God has sometimes poured out His wrath when His people strayed.  But I was struck by a couple things in this passage.  First is the way Isaiah begins to put it all in perspective: “I’ll make a list of GOD’s gracious dealings, all the things GOD has done that need praising, All the generous bounties of GOD, his great goodness….”  What’s on your list of things that God has done that need praising?  Is it pretty short or pretty long?  Have you thought of a list at all?  How about all the things He has given and provided you?  We need to stop and take stock of what God has done in our life.  Testimonies are simply a statement of what God has done, but sometimes we don’t take the time to stop and reflect on exactly what all that is.  God has done much for each of us.  He has blessed us, been gracious and poured His bounty upon us.  We need to stop, smell the roses of His love, and express that.  We need to give testimony to Him!

A second statement Isaiah makes involves our salvation.  People were in trouble and God needed to come up with a plan.  The common wisdom in the world today is to delegate things.  And that is what came to mind for me as I read Isaiah’s words about this.  God didn’t delegate: “He didn’t send someone else to help them. He did it himself, in person”.  Have you ever considered that before.  I hadn’t.  The God of the Universe chose to come to earth as a man to deal with our sin problem HIMSELF.  He didn’t pass the buck.  He didn’t create some other means to fix our problem.  He took on the very nature of man and sent His Son to fix our mess.  He didn’t sent some ambassador….He came in person.  Wow – what a loving God we serve.  And the amazing thing is that the One who created this world wants a personal relationship with you and me.  We don’t deserve it.  We are not worthy, yet because of His nature and love, He wants us to come to Him and be in relationship.  You can’t delegate that either.  Your mom and dad’s faith won’t save you.  Your husband or wife can’t drag  you along into heaven.  Each and every one of us have to have that personal and saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  No other way – no delegation allowed.  It is between you and God.  What will you do with Jesus?  That is the one question only you can answer!

Isaiah 62

Isaiah 62 contains a couple thoughts that we need to ponder.  First Isaiah points out that “foreign countries will see your righteousness, and world leaders your glory”.  He is referring to Jerusalem here, but what I want to consider is the impact of our lives on those around us.  We don’t live in a vacuum.  There are many people who see us on a daily basis.  We are their picture of how to connect with and live with God.  God has a desire to lift up His own – and He wants us to glorify Him through the way we relate to Him and how we live our lives.  Sometimes you may be like me and question if it really matters how we live?  Does anybody really care?  Well for sure God cares and cares a lot.  But there are many, and far more than any of us really know, that are watching our every move to see how we live.  I learned this the hard way as a kid in high school that did a few stupid things.  Didn’t think it was any big deal – didn’t hurt anyone buy myself right?  They weren’t even all that bad.  The problem and real realization came when some parents of kids in sixth grade at the time came to me and said their kids were mimicking my behavior.  They were acting like I was.  They wanted to do what I did.  I honestly hardly knew these kids, but that isn’t the point.  The issue is that our lives and how we live them make a difference.  It may be a family member, someone in our neighborhood, a person at work or in church but somebody is paying attention and uses you and me as a guage for how to live.  We need to pay attention to that very carefully.  We need to be sure they see our “righteousness” and that God is glorified by what we do.

 

Isaiah goes on to say “I’ve posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. Day and night they keep at it, praying, calling out, reminding GOD to remember”.  My kids grew up listening to a tune called “Angels Watching over You”.  God is paying attention.  We have angels and watchmen in our lives.  There is no vacuum where we go that is free from God’s watchful eye.  It is comforting to know that, but it also has helped me to realize that I can’t just go somewhere and close the door and shut God out.  He sees anyway.  So many men struggle with pornography.  They view it in the dark, doors closed, thinking it doesn’t hurt anyone so no big deal.  That is just wrong thinking.  It is first of all sin, so it hurts God and self.  But the impact of junk we take into our lives is that it always comes back out some way or another.  It does matter.  It does hurt and God does know.  That is true of so many sins we think we are getting away with.  Little lies, mishandling things that aren’t ours from work or other places, the list could be long.  Remember that there are watchmen on the walls of your life.  They see and know all that is happening.  They are there to protect, but they also are there to keep us on track.  Don’t let the enemy convince you that anything is ok if it doesn’t line up with God’s Truth!

Isaiah 61

Isaiah 61 is a refreshing chapter that tells us of the calling Isaiah has.  He tells us: “He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners”.  Isaiah knew his calling and his mission.  How about you?  Do you know what God wants to do with your life?  Do you know what God has called you to do?  God has a plan for each of us – a plan that is specific and detailed just like the calling that Isaiah had.  Do you know what that is?  So many people move through life never even taking the time to seek God’s will for their life – to understand what His desire is.  He wants us to experience life fully – and that happens when we walk where He wants us to be. 

 

That joy is expressed by Isaiah in this chapter.  “I will sing for joy in GOD, explode in praise from deep in my soul”.  When is the last time you sang praise to God loudly?  Does it happen in the shower, or driving down the road?  We were created to praise Him.  We were given the ability to find joy in our relationship.  God wants us to express it.  Another one of those things we let busyness crowd out.  Or the possible embarrassment of being overheard?  We need to let God know how much we love Him.  We need to express our joy and explode.  Oh that all of us could know His plan and then express our joy openly and deeply from our soul.  Such a picture of the wonderful life God wants for each of us.  Have you found it?  Do you have it?  If not, don’t settle for less.  It is what God has in store.  We need to seek Him.  When we do scripture tells us we will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart.

Isaiah 60

Isaiah 60 is a refreshing wake up call.  In fact, Isaiah starts it out that way with a big shout: “Wake Up”.  Look around and see God.  He is everywhere.  He is in control.  This is His earth and world we live in.  “His sunrise glory breaks over you”.  We have so much to be grateful for yet so often we miss God in the little things around us.  The sunshine, the food we eat, the water we drink, the morning air (a bit cold for some of us right now).  But Isaiah is helping point people to the reality that God is alive and well, and we need to recognize that the God of the Old Testament is just as alive and well today as He was in Isaiah’s time.  God is all around us.  “Look up!  Look around!”  Do you recognize Him when you look?  Do you even notice that He is in control?  So often we get so engrossed in the little part of the world we live in that we miss God completely.  We go through the day busy in our own little patch and don’t stop to see God.  It is nose to the grindstone and heads down, but we need to stop and take a look up.  We all need to take some time daily, multiple times during the day, to stop our schedules and see God’s hand and handiwork all around us.

 

Isaiah also tells us to recognize our position with God.  “You’ll know that I, GOD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, Champion of Jacob”.  Do you know where you stand with God?  Do you recognize just how important you are to Him?  He sent His only Son for your sin (and mine).  He gave all He had to redeem you and me.  He wants to make sure we know Him and that we have a relationship with Him.  “GOD will be your eternal light, your God will bathe you in splendor”.  He wants to make a continual and persistent difference in our lives.  God is not content to just sit by idly on the sidelines.  He created us, He created the world He has entrusted to us, and He wants us to know Him and be in deep relationship.  Are you there?  Do you know Him?