“The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” (Job 28:28b) Do you search for wisdom? There are those who spend their entire lives chasing after it and striving to find out what it truly means to be wise. Three times in the Old Testament we are told from whence it comes: true wisdom both fears the Lord and shuns evil. To fear the Lord ... [Continue Reading]
Where is Justice? (Job 21-23)
Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? (Job 21:7) Job's friends argued with him that the suffering he was dealing with was as a result of his sin. If he simply removed the sin, his life would suddenly be all roses. Job wasn't too pleased with their perspective because he understood a deeper truth: good behavior doesn't always lead to the ... [Continue Reading]
Holding Onto Hope (Job 17-20)
I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27) Within the confines of this Old Testament book of wisdom literature is a statement that is incredibly profound. Job ... [Continue Reading]
The Other Side of a Story (Job 14-16)
I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you. But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief. (Job 16:4-5) We live in a culture that applauds the armchair critics. Everyone has a platform to speak his or her mind on the issues of the day without fear, behind the ... [Continue Reading]
When Less is More (Job 10-13)
If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom. (Job 13:5) One of the prayers that I have regularly prayed over the last decade or so has been a prayer for wisdom. I want to make wise choices, I want to say wise things, and I want to live my life wisely. The thing about wisdom, though, is that it knows when to keep silent. The fool blathers on ... [Continue Reading]
Light in Dark Times (Job 6-9)
I despise my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone; my days have no meaning. (Job 7:16) In the moment of our pain, it's hard not to feel despair. When the news arrives of the death of a loved one or the discovery of the much-feared diagnosis, our immediate response is one of disheartenment. In Job's case, his emotional state brought him to the conclusion that his ... [Continue Reading]
I Will Not Be Shaken (Job 1-5)
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:20-21) One of the marks of a person of great faith is that he or she trusts the Lord regardless of the present ... [Continue Reading]
Finding Hope
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 Twelve years ago I was home from college for the summer, and I found an old box of letters that my Grandma had written to our family over the years. One particular letter had a profound impact on me when I read it then, and today I was reminded of it. My ... [Continue Reading]
Reaching Out to God
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:7-8a There are times when God seems silent. I remember my freshman year in college when I had a crisis of faith. I was sitting in Sunday school one morning, and a doubt crept into my mind: what if all of this is fake? What if God ... [Continue Reading]
Oh, What to Do!
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4 If I had a black marker that I could use in my Bible to mark out the things that I don’t like, this verse would probably make the list. To be friends with people here on earth ... [Continue Reading]
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