Great Is Thy Faithfulness

 

 

God is omnipotent. (all powerful) God is sovereign. (in charge) Two statements that flow easily off the lips of Christians, but do we really believe them? Do we agree with statements like the following from Job’s friend Elihu? Job 34:14 If He (God) should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,  15 All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.

It would be a complete reversal of what God did in Ge 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Which is easier for God? To give His life-giving breath or to take it away? It’s not a matter of which is easier, it’s a matter of His omnipotence and sovereignty.  He is able to do both!

 

This kind of power ought to prompt a proper sense of fear (the beginning of wisdom) in all of us. As a COVID-19 survivor, I know what it is like to be short of breath, (maybe God is trying to tell us something here!)

 

My breath, my very life is in His hands, and without His mercy and grace, I would return to the very dust that He used to create Adam. Therefore I join with the prophet Jeremiah, who said in La 3:22 Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

Might  be a good time to break out the hymnal this morning for this classic:

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

 

Jesus Loves the Little Children

 

Job 31:15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

 

The context of this remark by Job is connected to how he treats others, specifically in his case, his servants. Would that we all would remember this truth as we interact with all the human race, or maybe I should say human races. How did that Ray Stevens song go? “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

 

Wombs are all different of course, but each one is a studio where the Master Potter does His thing. Wombs know of no national boundaries and each one has its own unique environment. God begins His masterful sculpting by selecting the very sperm and egg that will determine things like hair color, the color of skin, the color of eyes, and everything else that goes into His finished project. Jer 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

Once He selects the raw material, He goes to work! Ps 139:14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

Every “clay pot,” if you will, uniquely put together and endowed with a soul from conception on. This individual soul of every man woman and child in every nation kick started by the very breath of God on the sixth day of Creation: Ge 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

 

We are clay pots animated by the very breath of God!  God had a purpose in mind for you even from the sixth day of Creation! And He has a purpose behind every one of us, and that purpose can be summed up in this manner: We are created to love and be loved. This is the greatest commandment for every “clay pot” that God has crafted in His workshop of the womb.

Mt 22:36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him," 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 "This is the first and great commandment. 39 "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

 

This loving creative process of God is why we can say with assurance: “Behind every set of eyes, is a soul that matters to God.”

So, c’mon clay pot! Sing it with me! “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

A Heart For the Poor

 

Job continues his defense to his friends in chapter 31 and he touches on fair wages and fair treatment for his servants. This sounds like something we need to consider if we are an employer, or even if we do business with someone engaged in unfair labor practices. Sometimes, getting a bigger bang for your buck comes with repercussions.

 

Job 31:13,14 says, “If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me,  14 What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?

What?

God rises up and punishes those who mistreat their workers?

Jas 5:1-4 reminds us of the truth of this matter! “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, (you hoarded them!) and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. (kind of reminds you of the parable of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31!) James continues: “You have heaped up treasure (not the good kind) in the last days.” This is the lot of those who neglect the poor. Such neglect is proof of a lack of reverence for God.  Pr 14:31 says, “He who oppresses the poor reproaches (insults) his Maker, But he who honors Him (God) has mercy on the needy. Ever consider that? Every penny given for the sake of the poor is honoring God!

 

Might be time to rework the old budget huh? Make a little room in there for the needy?

James continues: “4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.”

Whoa! God hears the cry of the poor and the oppressed and you can bet HE’s going to do something about it! And He’s going to do something about it because it’s proof positive of a lack of saving faith.

James explains this is Jas 2:15-17, “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

 

Dead faith is no faith at all! Good luck bringing the credentials of dead faith  to the Pearly Gates!

John puts it this way in 1Jo 3:17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

Now, the Bible is not saying that helping the poor is your non-revocable ticket to heaven! No! It is faith in Jesus alone that saves, but that faith will result in acts of mercy for the needy.

Jesus said in Mt 10:42 "And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, (a follower of Jesus) assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

 

Are you a follower of Jesus? Prove it! Make room in your heart for the poor. Your hands, and feet and wallet will follow! Such benevolence is an expression of Jesus living in you, bringing honor to the Father!

 

The Lustful Look

 

 

I think most people are aware of Jesus’ definition of adultery that He delivered in His “Sermon on the Mount.” Remember?  Mt 5:27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Whoa! Good luck in dodging that one!

But Jesus was not stating anything new! These “lustful looks,” are as old as Job and why he made a “covenant with his eyes” to avoid the “lustful adulterous leering,” that has plagued mankind ever since sin entered the world.

Job 31:1 "I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman? 2 For what is the allotment of God from above, And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? 3 Is it not destruction for the wicked, And disaster for the workers of iniquity? 4 Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps?

In our world today, that place to work out lustful looks is always a click away on our computers. It’s called “pornography.” And though we may think we are getting away with it in the privacy of our own homes, Job tells us that God “sees our ways and counts all our steps.”

I estimate that my junk mail folder in my computer gets at least three invitations a day to view pornography. This is an unwanted intrusion for me personally because I, like Job have made a covenant with my eyes. I join with the Psalmist in a desire to not set anything wicked before my eyes! Ps 101:3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;

 

This is not easy in a world that uses sex to sell everything. But just as there is a click to view it, there is also a click to put it in the trash can. By the grace of God, I choose the latter, and I seek to guard against it at all times.

 

If you struggle with pornography, you are not alone.  You will find that out as you share your struggles with others in a Bible Study group. Men, get together with other men and talk about it. Women, get together with other women and talk about it.

Help each other! Pray for each other! Make yourselves accountable to one another. Make a covenant with your eyes, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you keep it!

 

 

Drifting And The Lord's Prayer

 

I often drift away when I'm praying, ("O look a squirrel!") Has that ever happened to you? I don't beat myself up for that anymore. I just thank the Holy Spirit for catching me and getting me back on track.

 

When’s the last time you prayed the Lord’s Prayer? Have you ever found yourself mindlessly saying the words? Maybe joining in with the congregation with your lips, but your mind is off chasing squirrels? I know that’s happened to me!

Let’s talk about what we call the “Lord’s Prayer in todays version of Today’s Living Word:

The Lord's Prayer, it's mentioned twice by Jesus. In Matthew 6:9, He says "after this manner," “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.(in other words, use it as a model, no need to be verbatim) And by the way He precludes this instruction with the warning not to pray like the heathens with their “vain” repetitions.

Mt 6:7 "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

 

So, do our sometimes-mindless repetitions of the Lord’s prayer fall into the category of a “vain repetition? I don’t think so. Not in light of what Jesus said in Lu 11:2 He says "say" And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, (repeat it word for word.) Yes it might become rote, but God measures the intent of the heart, the moment we open it up to sincerely talk with Him.

The bigger question for you and I is this: Why are we praying it? What is our hearts desire as we pray the Lord’s Prayer. Is it to just join in with the lemmings, or is it a sincere desire to obey Jesus and pray as He instructed us, trusting our Father in heaven for the results?

 

I'll never forget my father-in-law's dying words. Lying on the gurney in the hospital, he looked at us and asked to pray the Lord's Prayer before he went into the operating room. He was in excruciating pain, yet able to recite the words of the prayer as he had many times before.  We prayed the words Jesus has told us to say:  in Lu 11:2-4, “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.  3 Give us day by day our daily bread.  4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."

I'm thankful Jesus has given us an option when our circumstances make it difficult to focus, or we just can't find the words. He gave us The Lord’s Prayer to “say.”

 

A Holy Fear

 

 

Job 28:28 And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.'"

Job declares a truth here that is found all over the Book of Proverbs and in other places of Scripture as well. God has a message for mankind. The wisest thing you could possibly do in this life is “fear the Lord.”

 

Pr 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Ps 111:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. “

 

Fear the Lord! Acknowledge Him as God! He made the earth and everything….I mean EVERYTHING in it, including you! Kneel in holy awe and reverence before Him! Tremble before His holiness! That’s right I said TREMBLE in fear, because you are a filthy sinner! That’s your starting point.

 

Jesus had this to say about His Father: Mt 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. That’s the ultimate destination for the unredeemed sinner!

 

Light has no fellowship with darkness. God has no fellowship with sinners. Something has to happen to remove that sin barrier between God and man before we can cease trembling.

The righteous prophet Isaiah was ushered into the presence of the Lord and look at his response! Isa 6:5 So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips,

Our lips are unclean because they are the fountain of our dark hearts, and again Jesus had this to say about our hearts: Mt 15:19 "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

 

Therefore, TREMBLE before the Lord! And fear Him for still another reason! He is able and willing to forgive your sins! Ps 130:4 But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.

You know your own struggles with forgiving others, but we have a holy God who is able and willing to forgive you, so TREMBLE!

 

Once our mindset is proper as it relates to the fear of the Lord, wisdom then breaks out in obedience.  Pr 16:6b puts it this way: And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.

And in Ex 20:20, Moses reminds us: "Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin."

And if we go back to the beginning of the Book of Job, we read this: Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.

 

Proper fear of God produces wisdom, and wisdom always breaks out in a desire to shun evil, seeking to live according to the commands of the One being feared. You can’t separate wisdom from obedience, if you do, you truly don’t have biblical wisdom.

 

 

 

Unrighteous Maggots

 

 

In Today’s Living Word, we pick it up with Bildad speaking in Job 25:4 How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman?  5 If even the moon does not shine, And the stars are not pure in His sight,  6 How much less man, who is a maggot, And a son of man, who is a worm?"

 

No need to sugarcoat it Bildad!

 

It is as David stated in the 51^st Psalm…..we are sinners from conception on! Ps 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

 

Since sin separates us from God, indeed, “how CAN we be pure before God? Has God made provision for the cleansing of an infant, that cute little baby who is referred to here as a maggot?   (Remind me to cross uncle Bildad (uncle downer) off the invite list for the first birthday party!)

 

The answer is yes He has! It always starts with faith of course! But one might ask, “How can an infant have saving faith. How can an infant experience regeneration? How can an infant be “born again?” That’s a very legitimate question. Ps 22:9 is instructive here: “For You are He who took me out of the womb, causing me to trust (have faith) when I was on my mother's breasts.”

 

That doesn’t sound like someone toddling down an aisle in an arena to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. An infant can’t express faith in that manner. It’s faith that always comes first and this God-given faith is the same faith that moves the feet down the aisle at a revival meeting. It’s a simple affirmation of what God has already done in your heart.  

Eph 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,  9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

One of the ways this saving faith comes to us (including infants) is through the act of water baptism. Baptism is a major part of the new covenant made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus!  Tit 3:4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

The kindness of God in expressed in the new covenant! Born again! Regenerated! Renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit! And this promise is good for children as well!

 

Ac 2:39 "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

 

Yes Bildad, we come out of the womb as unrighteous maggots, but after we emerge from the waters of the God-blessed gift of baptism, coupled with His gift of faith, we like Abraham walk before  Him….blameless.

 

But remember, (this is vital) baptism must be coupled with faith! Mr 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Simply stated, “he who lacks faith will be condemned…baptized or not!”

Great Reward

 

Job 22:6 For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason, And stripped the naked of their clothing. 7 You have not given the weary water to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry. 8 But the mighty man possessed the land, And the honorable man dwelt in it. 9 You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the fatherless was crushed. 10 Therefore snares are all around you, And sudden fear troubles you, 11 Or darkness so that you cannot see; And an abundance of water covers you.

 

Eliphaz continues to level false charges against Job. (1) He accuses him of taking advantage of the unfortunate. (Taking pledges for no reason) (2) He saw the poor and didn’t lift a finger to clothe them. (3) He denied refreshment to those who needed it. (4) He didn’t provide bread for the hungry. (5) He denied aid to the widow who came to him for help, and (6) left the orphans to fend for themselves. On the other hand, (7) he fawned over the well to do and those who had their act together.

 

Eliphaz is correct in saying that these attitudes and actions are not fitting for the children of God! But he wrongly accuses the “righteous” Job of being guilty of them all. He uses this “supposed” guilt of Job, to explain all the troubles that have come his way.

 

Anyone who has read their Bible, will have to admit that the cause of the poor is important to God. Let me share a few of those verses with you today, and let us allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us through these words:

 

Isa 58:10 If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

Lacking Holy Spirit guidance in your life? Looking for answers from God? Have you tried extending your heart to the poor?

 

Ps 41:1 “Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.”

Do you feel like you are drowning in the pressures that life brings your way? (“an abundance of water covers you?” )Have you considered helping the poor?

 

Pr 22:22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; 23 For the LORD will plead their cause, And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

 

Gripped by fear? Is your soul being plundered of joy? Maybe you should consider helping the poor!

 

Jesus reminds us in Mt 26:11 that we will always have the poor with us: "For you have the poor with you always,”

 

Why is that? God could wipe out poverty with the snap of his fingers! But the poor are with us, so that we can get a glimpse into the heart and compassion of God.  In short, the poor give us opportunity to be like Jesus!

 

Giving to the poor is one of the wisest investments you’ll make this side of heaven. Pr 19:17 reminds us: “He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given, “(Talk about a win/win investment!)

And in Lu 14:13,14 we read, “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.  14 "And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."  (Payback is on the way!) Mt 10:42 "And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

Let us not, allow these promises to be snatched away from us from the devil and our love of money.  Today! Now! While it is still light, let us sincerely ask God what we can do to help the poor that HE brings our way. Then let’s do it! As a Christ follower giving to the poor has great reward! Mt 10:42 "And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

He Is Risen!

 

Job 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

I have many fond memories of our little AFLC church plant called Living Word Lutheran, and one of them comes right out of this portion of the Book of Job. No, it’s not that those in attendance had to suffer through my lengthy sermons, rather it was the way we typically began our Sunday worship.

The question always begs to be asked, why do we meet on Sundays? Why do we call it the “Lord’s Day?” Because that’s the day the empty tomb was discovered! The bodily resurrection is the bottom line hope of our Christian faith!

 

“He is risen!”

 

“He is risen indeed!”

 

Without the resurrection of Christ our faith is futile and we are to be pitied among all! 1Co 15:13,14 reminds us: “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”

 

So, we met on Sundays, full of faith, and we began our worship in this fashion:

Pastor: “In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit….Amen.  For I know that my Redeemer lives and HE shall stand at last on the earth! He is risen!

 

Congregation: “HE IS RISEN INDEED!~

 

At Living Word, every Sunday was Easter Sunday! And at the beginning of every worship service we, declared the “reason for the hope that is in us,” as stated in 1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

The resurrection of Jesus is the reason for the hope that is in us, and I think we need to be reminded of it often!  

 

Maybe you need a little shot of hope today! Take these words from Job to heart. And note how very personal his declaration is! He’s not just a lost face in a crowd of worshipers. He, and  all the persevering saints  get the “meet and greet pass” as we “see Jesus for ourselves!

Yes, He is risen!

 

He is risen indeed.

There IS A Hell

There is a heaven......there is a hell! You and I will spend ETERNITY in one or the other. Heaven is ALL GOOD, hell is a complete absence of ANYTHING GOOD for ETERNITY! Let that sink in. 

That's a long long time to spend with the absence of anything good. You may scoff about it, but what if you are wrong and I am right?  Pr. 19:29 says, "Judgements are prepared for scoffers." 

I don't necessarily like the idea of preaching to "scare the hell" out of people, but Jesus didn't beat around the bush concerning hell! Four times in the Book of Matthew, He mentions an after life where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Mt 8:12, Mt 13:41,42, Mt 22:11-13, and Mt 24:44-51)

In the Book of Job chapter 18, we find another glimpse into hell. See if this is a place where you want to spend "forever."

 Job 18:11 Terrors frighten him on every side, And drive him to his feet. 12 His strength is starved, And destruction is ready at his side. 13 It devours patches of his skin; The firstborn of death devours his limbs. 14 He is uprooted from the shelter of his tent, And they parade him before the king of terrors. 15 They dwell in his tent who are none of his; Brimstone is scattered on his dwelling. 16 His roots are dried out below, And his branch withers above. 17 The memory of him perishes from the earth, And he has no name among the renowned. 18 He is driven from light into darkness, And chased out of the world. 19 He has neither son nor posterity among his people, Nor any remining in his dwellings. 20 Those in the west are astonished at his day, As those in the east are frightened. 21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, And this is the place of him who does not know God."

 "Terrors on every side"...No rest ("driven to his feet,"..."without strength,"... paraded before the evil one like a trophy..."brimstone" (unbearable heat all around)..."darkness," (a total absence of light,) ... no knowledge of loved ones, (unlike heaven where there will be full knowledge.) 

Is this where you want to spend your "forever?" Is this where you would want any other human being to spend eternity? Then believe the gospel! Live the gospel! Share the gospel! and pray that some may escape! 

Jesus wasn't kidding when He said there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth!" And Job wasn't kiddding when he said, "and this is the place of him who does not know God."

A Hefty Promise

 

 

I think most of us deal with guilt over past sins. It’s understandable. The accuser (the devil) has been cast down and he is very angry because he knows his time is short, so he is constantly reminding us that God couldn’t possibly forgive _______(name your sin) in hopes that we will despair and give up on faith.

 

But the Bible is loaded with references to God’s power to forgive all sins. There are various word pictures presented to us in His Word to remind us of His blanket forgiveness. One of my favorites is the reference to my sins being made “white as snow.” (I mean I do live in Wisconsin!)

Isa 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

 

Then there’s the reference to my sins being cast away as far as east is from the west: Ps 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

 

Other references include are sins being covered:  Ps 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. (David wrote this and his sins included murder and adultery!)

Blotted out and holy amnesia!  Isa 43:25 "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.

Pardoning and passing over!  Mic 7:18 Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.

 

“Putting away”:  Heb 9:26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

All these different word pictures of God’s forgiveness….seems like He wants us to get this.

 

If these aren’t enough, I found a new one today in the book of Job! Job 14:16 For now You number my steps, But do not watch over my sin. 17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And You cover my iniquity.

Maybe not as poetic and song worthy as “White as Snow” or, As Far As East Is From the West” But hey, through faith in Jesus Christ, all your sins are put in a bag and sealed by God. That’s a hefty promise! (Pun intended!) If that bag is sealed by God, ain’t no devil gonna bust it open! And God promises to keep it forever closed and covered!

 

The Lutheran commentator Lenski, has written this about God’s forgiveness. He says, when God forgives sins, He puts them in a place where even He can’t find them!

I hope this little devo today will help you the next time you struggle with guilt. Because of _________ (Name your sin) There is complete forgiveness with God, so that He may be feared (revered) (Ps 130:4)

 

Like Jiffy Pop On Steroids

 

 

Have you ever considered what will happen to you when your body is resurrected from the grave? What will happen when the Lord Jesus, the Holy One of Israel returns to earth with His nail-scarred body and the hosts of heaven? It’s going to be Jiffy Pop on steroids!

 

1Th 4:15-18 tells us: “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

 Still have a problem picturing that day? Let’s turn to 1 Cor 15 beginning at v35: “But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain--perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.

 Skipping to v42: “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”

Then to verse 50: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

The point is, if the Lord tarries on His return, our bodies are all like seeds, replete with heavenly DNA. We die and are planted in the ground. We don’t know what our glorified bodies will be like, but think of the changes that take place from ordinary garden seeds or flower seeds and the change they undergo, then multiply that by the infinite creative wisdom of God. It will be stunning!

 

Are you looking forward to that day? I hope so! Job was looking forward to it. He said in Job 14:14,15, “All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes.” (A body changed with no more painful sores!)  You shall call, (the trumpet will sound) and I will answer You.” (The dead in Christ will rise first)

 

What a great promise for those who put their faith in Christ….not so great for those who reject Him. Da 12:2 says, “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

 

All who have passed will awake when Jesus returns, the question is what will be our destination? What will we pass to? Everlasting life? Or shame and everlasting contempt?

What Sin

 

Job 13:20 "Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide myself from You: 21 Withdraw Your hand far from me, And let not the dread of You make me afraid. 22 Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me. 23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin. 24 Why do You hide Your face, And regard me as Your enemy? 25 Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And will You pursue dry stubble? 26 For You write bitter things against me, And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

Do you remember the sweet call of the Gospel in your life? In this portion of Job’s prayer, he is ripe for the call. He is asking for the touch of God, (“Do not withdraw Your hand from me.”) but he wants that touch without getting zapped.  He wants his picture of an angry God removed from his radar screen! (“Let not the dread of You make me afraid.”) This is a man who is weary of being oppressed by the Law, a soul that thirsts to hear the gospel. Isa 55:1-3 puts it so beautifully! “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.  2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.  3 Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you-The sure mercies of David.”

 

The Holy Spirit calls us with the assurance of forgiveness of our sins through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. When we hear that sure call, we, like Job, will answer. (v22) or we will speak (ask Jesus into our lives) and God will respond. (v22)

 

Having heard and believed the gospel we no longer need fear our past sins (reveal them to me Lord, (v23) I will confess them because I no longer fear the judgement they deserve since they are under the blood of Jesus!)  Even the unchecked sins of our youth Job, (v26) are forgiven and placed under the blood.

What sin is of a redeemed child of God is ever brought up for charges? The answer is not one. In Christ our sins are buried in the sea of forgetfulness. Mic 7:19 reminds us, “He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.”

 

One of my all-time favorite songs dealing with this truth was done my Morgan Cryar. It’s called “What Sin.” If you are struggling with receiving God’s forgiveness for your past sins, I encourage you to give it a listen!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGBtCfiSL5o

Intricate Unity

 

 

Are you “pro-life?.” Where do you stand on this issue? Are you swayed by the rhetoric of the world, or are you open to what the Bible says about when life begins?

 

There is no shortage of Bible verses that affirm God as the Creator of life in the womb. He is the Potter, we are the clay and we have no right to discard our fellow pots! Isa 45:9 says, "Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' Or shall your handiwork say, 'He has no hands'?”

 

Truth be told, God’s creative process for every individual begins even before conception. In light of “woe to him who strives with His Maker,” maybe we should get a better understanding of this truth.

Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

 

“BEFORE I FORMED YOU. In other words, God selected the very sperm and egg of Jeremiah’s parents to assemble this child who’s DNA  would be well suited to help him serve as a prophet to the nations.

But Jeremiah is not the only place in Scripture where we get a ringside seat to God’s creative process.  In the Book of Job, where we find Job complaining about his current situation, he gives us a very graphic look at the creative process. First of all, he reminds us of the marvel of the human body!

 

Job 10:8 'Your hands have made me and fashioned me, An intricate unity;

 

“An intricate unity!” What a great description of the human body. The more we explore the body and how we are put together, the more we should bow down and worship God. Every part of the body contributing to the whole. That kind of intricacy does not emerge from a swamp, there is intelligent design behind it!

 

Then in Job 10:10, Job gets graphic trying as best as he can to explain the act of fertilization! “Did you not pour me out like milk, And curdle me like cheese, 11 Clothe me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews? 12 You have granted me life and favor, And Your care has preserved my spirit. 13 'And these things You have hidden in Your heart; I know that this was with You:

Job knows this creative process was God’s doing from start to finish! Oh that we would know it too, especially in a nation where more than 62 million unborn children have been tossed aside through legalized abortion?  The intricate unity of God dissected by the abortionist’s curette.

 

God have mercy on us. And He will if we will but confess our sin and receive His promised forgiveness. There is no sin that Jesus did not pay for on the cross, even the sin of abortion.

I'm Miffed

 

 

Job 8:4 If your sons have sinned against Him, He has cast them away for their transgression.

I don’t mind telling you, I’m a whole lot miffed at this statement from Bildad. (Another one of Job’s so-called friends)

Job, who is greatly distressed with his painful sores, and still smarting emotionally from the tragic loss of all ten of his children, gets this slap in the face from a friend!

Okay, we know that Job’s children liked to party. Job 1:4 tells us: And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

But to come alongside a hurting parent and point blank tell them that they lost a child or children because of sin in the lives of their children is the height of insensitivity.  It is a pinnacle of pride and terrible theology.

Be careful Bildad, you are walking on thin ice. Jesus reminds us all in Mt 7:1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.  2 "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

By the way, this passage is one of the most misquoted passages in all of Scripture. Unbelievers often use it to excuse their sins and attempt to silence believers as they challenge sinful behavior in the world. But believers are called to judge sin, especially among the churched. Jas 5:19 says, “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,  20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

What we’re not called to do is telling God what kind of punishment to hand out to His wayward children. He’s the Father….not us. He will mete out discipline as He sees fit.

 

So put a sock in it Bildad! Especially if you have children of your own, because think about it, if your theology is correct, your children are in great danger.

The Holy Woodshed

 

 

Job 5:17 "Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. 18 For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.

 

Where have I seen this truth before?

 

I’ve seen it in the Book of Proverbs: Pr 3:11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction;  12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

I’ve seen it in the Book of Hebrews:  Heb 12:5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."

 And I’ve seen it in the Book of Revelation!  Re 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

 

From these verses, we can be assured that God loves His children and because He loves them, He takes them to the woodshed for holy spankings. The purpose of these “spankings” is to correct improper behavior and attitudes on behalf of the child. (You and I)

If you’ve ever been spanked by a parent, you know that you don’t look forward to the butt warming you are about to receive, nonetheless, if the discipline has been administered properly and lovingly, when it’s all over, you know that the spanking was really a loving thing to do, because to keep on misbehaving only invites more pain into your life.

 The spanking parent, should never spank in a rage. This is not about fury, it is about gentle, loving, correction. The child must clearly understand why he or she is being spanked, and then be assured that mom  and dad still loves them.

 

The question begs to be asked here, “How do we know when God is spanking us?” How do we know when we are being chastised? How does God operate in disciplining you and I? How does He communicate our wrongdoings to us, and how does He assure us after the fact, that He still loves us?”

 

My advice is “don’t go there.” Don’t be trying to figure out every bad event in your life and tying it into the discipline of God. It will drive you crazy and into a lifestyle of fearful legalism. Rather, remember 2Ti 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

 

God’s rebuking and correction is constantly before us in His Word. He tells us what we need to do in order to live the holy lives He desires for His children! Heb 12:10 says this about God’s discipline, “For they (our parents)  indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.

 Parental discipline is applied as needed for correction of the wayward child, (for a few days) but God’s correction is constantly applied through His Word for our long range profit, if we will but receive it!

 

Furthermore, according to Rev 3:19 God’s discipline is always aimed at behavior modification (repentance) and attitude adjustment. (a lack of zealousness for the things of God.) Re 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

 

God will apply correction to us through His Word, (and sometimes our circumstances)  in order to jolt us out of the dangerous position of unresolved sin and lukewarm faith expressed in Re 3:16 "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

O the love of our Father! Continually, lovingly, speaking guidance to us through His Word as He seeks to correct eternally dangerous behaviors and attitudes on our part. And when the dust settles, and the holy butt warming cools down, we know we have been loved and forgiven through the sacrifice of His only Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

 

Remember OJ?

 

 

Eliphaz continues his “spot on” declarations concerning God, and I want to back up those declarations with other portions of Scripture especially here as it relates to the justice of God. Get this truth into your heart lest any root of bitterness and unforgiveness develop in you. Nobody gets away with anything in this life. God knows! He sees! He will repay!

 

And consider this! Every single act of injustice was squared up on the cross. Jesus took the penalty for all injustices on Calvary! This means that the redeemed of God have all their “injustices” covered by the blood of Jesus. The “unredeemed? Well, “vengeance is Mine says the Lord, I will repay.” (Rom 12:19)

 

That some may get away with injustice because of the grace and mercy of God through the blood of Jesus may cause us to cry “foul!” But let us remember our own sinful condition and injustices from which we have been delivered through merciful God-granted faith in Jesus. As 2Co 5:21 reminds us: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

 

In this life, we have no clue as to how often God steps in and thwarts the plans of the enemy. Rest assured….He does, and rest assured, even when those evil plans unfold in real life, God will ultimately turn them out for His good! Ge 50:20 "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive”.

 

Eliphaz tells us: “He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot carry out their plans.” (Job 5:12) This truth is affirmed in Ps 33:10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.

 

Then in verse 13 Eliphaz asserts:  13 He catches the wise in their own craftiness, And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them. This truth is affirmed in Ps 9:15 The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.

 

 In verse 14 Eliphaz says, “14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, And grope at noontime as in the night.” And in  De 28:29 we read: "And you shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways; you shall be only oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save you.

In verse 15: “But He saves the needy from the sword, From the mouth of the mighty, And from their hand. And in  Ps 35:10 we read: “All my bones shall say, "LORD, who is like You, Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?"

 

Nobody gets away with anything in this life. God knows! He sees! He will repay!

And so Eliphaz can say in verse 16: So the poor have hope, And injustice shuts her mouth.”

 

The mouth of injustice was forever closed on Calvary when Jesus took the wrath of God against any and all sins, but woe to those who reject this free gift of forgiveness through faith in Jesus, because God asserts, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay!

Remember O.J. Simpson? Most people feel O.J. Simpson got away with murder, but in the end, all we can say is, “We’ll see about that, we’ll see.” If there is any repayment to be made for injustice, it’s in the hands of God.

Help Is On the Way

 

 

A funny thing happened on my way through the Book of Job. The plight of a widowed mother of four living in Sri Lanka was brought to my attention. I was asked to send off a note to “encourage her in her suffering.” It just so happened that I was up to Job 5:11, and this in part, was the note I sent:

 

“The story of Job is instructive as it relates to our sufferings here on earth. Job lost everything….including his good health. All ten of his children were killed in a windstorm, all his cattle, and crops were destroyed by raiders. Things were so bleak for him that his wife told him to curse God and die.

Three of Job’s friends came to his side to comfort him in his affliction, but they just made matters worse, telling Job that he must’ve sinned to have that kind of affliction in his life.  In spite of their bad advice, they did pass along some truths concerning affliction.

One of Job’s friends (Eliphaz) said this about God in  Job 5:11 “He sets on high those who are lowly, And those who mourn are lifted to safety.”  In other words, God sees our afflictions and help is on the way. If not in this life, then the next, and so we learn to persevere in our troubles.

We have the hope of the poor beggar Lazarus, whom Jesus told us about in Lu 16:19-25,  "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 "But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 "desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' 25 "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented

Eventually, the beggar’s relief came and the words of  Ps 113:7 rang true! “He (God) raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap,”

 

Help is on the way beloved! Persevere! Your afflictions are working on your behalf to produce EXCEEDING GLORY! 2Co 4:17 reminds us: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,”

I hope that note helped encourage that widow in Sri Lanka, I know that scripture from 2 Cor 4:17 helps me as I recover from the effects of Covid. Just think, “Far more exceeding and weighty glory is on the way for all God’s enduring children!”

Go Ahead, Marvel At the Rainmaker

 

 

Eliphaz knows a lot about God and he continues sharing that knowledge with his hapless friend Job in Job 5:10. He says, “He (God) gives rain on the earth, And sends waters on the fields.

God waters the earth. Have you ever considered that fact? Whether it’s rain, snow, or sleet, God has the last say on where that low pressure system or high-pressure system is moving. He determines droughts and He determines floods. hurricanes and blizzards are at His bidding.

This is not just wishful thinking on the part of Eliphaz. We find God the Rainmaker in other parts of Scripture as well.

Ps 65:9 You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; The river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, For so You have prepared it.  10 You water its ridges abundantly, You settle its furrows; You make it soft with showers, You bless its growth.

 Ps 147:8 Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.

 Jer 5:24 They do not say in their heart, "Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest."

 Jer 10:13 When He utters His voice, There is a multitude of waters in the heavens: "And He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, He brings the wind out of His treasuries."

 Ac 14:17 "Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."

 

In water is life, and God is behind it all. Though we have great science behind our weather predictions, and we should thank God for such knowledge, the truth is the weatherman isn’t always accurate with his forecasts. God, can turn the weather on a dime, and when He does, instead of bad-mouthing the weatherman, why don’t we pause and marvel at the God of Creation like the disciples did at their sudden change in the weather:  

Mt 8:26 But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  27 So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"