THE GRAYNESS OF GRIEF ABSENT THE LORD The grief that covered Job like a cloud affected even his ear for music. The lyre, a stringed instrument, was often employed by David to lighten the mood of King Saul. It was an instrument used in worship and in times of celebration. Yet, to Job’s ear, the
DO YOU TREASURE GOD’S WORD? Job lived during the time of the patriarchs before the written Word was given to Moses. Yet he knew the commands and words of the Lord that had been given personally to him or passed on to him from his forefathers. He lived by them and “treasured” them more than
OFFERING COMFORT THAT TRULY COMFORTS On top of all of Job’s grief he had to suffer the “futile comfort” of his so-called friends. Job had lost his children, his wealth and even his own health, yet those who came to pay their respects had no real comfort to give him. They only offered empty clichés.
DO YOU KNOW THAT YOUR REDEEMER LIVES? Long before Christ came to redeem us from our sin, Job already looked for such a “Redeemer.” Job placed his hope in Messiah as one peering through a veil. For the Book of Job is one of the oldest in the Bible. Yet, he knew not only that
ARE YOU STEADFASTLY EXCELLING IN THE LORD’S WORK? Be strong, immovable, always work with enthusiasm for the Lord. Why? Because of the resurrection and because whatever you plant in faith will grow and produce a harvest. The promise of eternal life should make us fearless in our focus. It should make us immovable (persistently firm
JESUS CHRIST, OUR ONLY MEDIATOR Job viewed God as so great and transcendent as to be unapproachable by man. For God worked in the realm of the heavens and the stormy seas, while man was limited to dry ground. He reasoned that if only there were a mediator that could stretch out his hands between
THE DESPAIRING NEED KINDNESS NOT CORRECTION Job’s friends came to share his grief, but ended up adding to his despair. They came to sit with Job after a series of terrible events had occurred. A hurricane had collapsed his oldest son’s house, killing all of Job’s children. Raiding parties had attacked his property and stolen
PRAISING THE LORD AT ALL TIMES Job worshiped the Lord both in happiness and in the midst of suffering. He recognized that all good comes from the Lord. When he lost all that he had, he did not lose his faith. In this, his faith was tested and found genuine. How we face good and
LOVE NEVER GIVES UP Paul’s love chapter (1 Cor. 13) is one of the most wonderful descriptions of “agape” love found in any literature in human history. Yet, love’s lofty attributes are beyond mortal humanity absent the Spirit which inspired Paul’s writing. For “agape” love is God’s kind of love. It is unconditional, enduring and
IS EVERY SPIRITUAL GIFT PRESENT IN THE LOCAL CHURCH? It is the Lord that gives out spiritual gifts to those who have believed and received Jesus. He gives them to each according to His will, so that the local church has every spiritual gift it needs to function and fulfill His commission. Yet, many churches