Job 15-19 [The Message]

The Bible gives us an overview of Job’s life. To us is revealed his beginning, his perseverance through his trial, and the way God rewarded him in the end.

“We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.” [James 5:11 NLT]

If for no other reason than to give us hope in our own struggles, this book points up how merciful God is and how unmerciful people can be. This is why God’s Word is the best counsellor when we experiences life’s challenges.

The Lord will complete what his purpose is for me. Lord, your gracious love is eternal; do not abandon your personal work in me. [Ps. 138:8 ISV]

Job 11-14 [The Message]

This question is probably more prominent on my mind than yours. The scripture says “It’s appointed unto man once to die, and then the judgement.” [Heb. 9:27] We all have a so-called appointment with death.

When my sisters and I were discussing the upcoming funerals for our parents, the funeral director said, “In my many years of funerals, I have noticed that often your family will pass on a significant day.” He was right. My mom passed on MY BIRTHDAY.

It’s not wise for us to always be wondering about the timing of our death. We should be laser focused on the days we have left to make them count.

Moses said this: “So teach us to number our days, (realize the brevity of life) that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” [Ps. 90:12]

So, MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT!

Prayer: “Lord, help me not consider today a throw-away day. Show me how to make it really count for You.”

Job 7-10 [The Message]

Wow! Did Job ever complain?! He even declared, “I wish I’d never been born.”

Did God bring about all his suffering? No. It was Satan, but God did allow it. Satan is on a leash, and God is holding the handle.

It’s really pointless in this life to try to figure out the WHY when we suffer. It only leads to despair and wrong conclusions. It’s definitely NOT FAITH.

We know, having read the end of the story, that God more than adequately compensated Job for his trouble. God can do that. He is no man’s debtor. There is nothing we lose but that God has something better to replace it with. It could very well happen in this life, let alone the life to come.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [1Cor. 2:9]

Job 3-6 [The Message]

(Since the book of Job must be considered as a whole to get the message, I will focus on meaningful issues that come from that day’s passage)

Job discusses what he’s looking for from his friends after they begin pontificating about his struggles. He essentially says, “Hey, don’t try to give me reasons why I’m suffering. Just sit with me and be an understanding, supportive friend.”

From my personal experience, I can say my friends don’t piously try to give me reasons why I have cancer in my blood. That would be difficult to deal with. But when they treat me as normal as possible, and enjoy doing friendship activities together, I’m good. God gives me the grace necessary to deal with whatever challenges I’m experiencing. Their brand of grace can’t match His.

And (Jesus) said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. [2 Cor. 12:9, 10]

Job 1, 2 [The Message]

How can one man endure the afflictions Satan laid upon Job? God had such confidence in him that He authorized Satan to sift him and bring him to his knees. Still, Job maintained his personal integrity and would not curse God. (Funny how people are quick to attribute all calamity to God)

In considering the different ways Job was banged around by Satan, we clearly see how our enemy can do his damage. Afflictions, weather violence, enemy attacks were all ploys of Satan. Yet, Job remained faithful to God.

Can not God reward us when we endure the trials of life? Yes, He can. Does He care. YES! If He knows about every sparrow that hits the ground, is He not much more watching over you? YOU are the Apple (retina) of His eye! He will protect you. He will reward you. There are better days to come.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. [Ps. 34:19]

Esther had been elevated to a position of influence that could not come by any means save the providential power of God. What’s more, she had amazing favor with Xerxes to the extent that whatever she wanted, she got. Thankfully, she used her influence to help her people, the Jews. In their redemption sweep of purging the ones who had planned their extinction, they notedly took no spoil. All they wanted was their lives.

New Testament Christians are instructed not to fear those that can take their lives, but fear only God who holds their eternal destiny.

Never be afraid of those who can kill the body but are powerless to kill the soul! Far better to stand in awe of the One who has the power to destroy body and soul in the fires of destruction! [Matt. 10:28 PHILLIPS]

And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. [Rev. 12:11]

Esther 5-7 [The Message]

The finest script writers in Tinseltown could not write a more dramatic and climactic text than that of the story of Esther. A king, a good guy, a bad guy, and a beautiful woman… all the characters are there. Haman was hanged on the gallows that he built to prove that bad guys DON’T WIN.

Noteworthy is the way there was strategic planning on Esther’s part to fully communicate her dilemma. She played it up to the climactic moment that she revealed her grave concern to the king, that Haman wanted to exterminate her and all Jews.

In sharing the Gospel, it would be wise to plan creative and convincing ways to share God’s plan of redemption to the lost. Instead of clobbering sinners with what’s awaiting them in Gehenna Hell, we can take time to fast and pray for them and script a message that’s more appealing.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. [James 3:17]

Esther 4 [The Message]

This is one of the most memorable and significant action phrases in the whole Bible. Mordecai challenged Esther to wake up and realize that the favor which had been shown to her could be used for the good of an entire people group. She had the star-power to impact King Xerxes’s decision to allow all the Jews to be murdered ie. the first Holocaust.

The favor we have been shown by God is to be enjoyed for certain. It can also be used to impact the culture around us. Do we agree with the ungodly legislation being passed that will provide legal permission to persecute Christians? The recently passed “Respect for Marriage Act” could actually open the door for persecution against the religious freedom to object to immoral marriage relationship. https://youtu.be/yDaECVmd2gk

We are to be salt and light to the world around us.

Esther 1-3 [The Message]

It happens today. it happened in the Holocaust. It happened in Esther’s day. Some people just hate Jews. Some people hate whites. Some people hate blacks. Some people hate Hispanics. Hate, hate, hate. How horrible.

When this happens, there is a severe lack of God’s love. Christ Jesus died for the sins of EVERY MAN who would confess them and call Him Lord.

When you find yourself the target of senseless hatred, what can you do? You can do what Mordecai suggested … have a three day fast. Cry out to the Lord for vindication.

Especially, don’t be a hater yourself. Love all men like Jesus does. Children should be taught this in the home. They generally carry the culture of their home with them the rest of their life.

Neh. 13 [The Message]

One of the messier jobs for spiritual leaders is that of holding the saints accountable to the Word and eliminating un-scriptural elements of faith. God’s leaders must know the Word to the extent that they can identify heretical thinking and behavior and remove it.

Nehemiah cast Tobiah out of the Temple. He had connived his way in through unholy marriage relationships with Temple leaders. He set up his own business enterprises in the Temple storerooms that were to be used to take care of the Levitical priests. (Carnal enterprises usually displace vital Kingdom ministries)

Godly New Testament leaders don’t run roughshod over the saints. They meekly and lovingly instruct them in the correct way to go.

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; [2 Tim. 2:24, 25]