by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Job 22-24
Eliphaz hits upon a tremendous truth about God. He says, “Please receive instruction from His (God’s) mouth, and establish His words in your heart.” (22:22) Then he goes on to list the blessings of being one of God’s people.
Now I have a question: how does he know this?Which words is he talking about? This was before the time of God’s Word being sent to us in written or even oral form. The first books of the Bible were not written until Moses came along.
It’s interesting to think about these things, because we know that God spoke to Adam, Noah, and Abraham among others. There was communication, but not the written word. We really don’t know how that communication came – maybe through dreams or thoughts.
I think about Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible attributes, His eternal power, and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through that which He made.” There is an evidence of God which we have by just looking around us – if we will do that.
I am just so thankful for the written Word. It explains the things which are hard to understand and it lets us know the source of questionable events. The Word also tells us God’s overall plan, and where we are going from here.
Yet even before these people had the written Word, God seemed to let these people know of His existence, just as Paul said. However, their knowledge was sketchy and therefore all of the speculation provided by everyone in the book of Job.
Today we have an incredible blessing in the Word of God. I am so thankful that when there are questions I can go and read and understand God’s nature, His plan, and His purpose.
Thank you, Lord, for your Word.
Acts 11
We see a manifestation of the “seed principle” to the fullest. The Jewish nation had been the Fig Tree which God had raised up over all of those centuries, producing the fruit of the law, a nation who knew God, and a nation who realized that they could not be holy in themselves. The seed from that fruit, God’s holy Seed, was Jesus.
When God planted His seed through the cross, He was expecting a great harvest – a harvest of sons and daughters which would come from the new birth being released into the earth And from this seed would spring many other seeds which would eventually reach to the uttermost parts of the earth. Just as trees release their seed pods and the wind scatters them far and wide, God Himself was releasing His seeds which would be scattered throughout the world by the wind of the Holy Spirit.
In this passage of Acts we see some of the first seed pods being scattered. The new birth of Cornelius made quite a stir among the apostles. At first they “took issue” with the salvation, but then they “quieted down, and glorified God, saying, ‘Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.'”(V. 18).
So the scene was set for more scattering to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch and eventually to us!
The New Covenant was on the way around the world – so that all nations and tongues could receive the gift from God. This was surreal to the people of that day. No longer were Jews the only ones who would be the keepers of the flame for God; now that privilege had been extended to all.
My prayer is that we will all appreciate what has been delivered to us. No words can explain what it means to us to have even a better covenant than the Jews. We have the very life of God living on the inside of us – giving us wisdom and power to live the life God designed for us.
May we never take it for granted!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Job 11-13
Ramblings and speculations continue as Job and his “friends” try to figure out God.
I see so many people like that today, even though we now have a Bible. Our modern culture has invaded every aspect of society – including the church.
Today there are many Christians who don’t read the Bible and spend time with God. As a result, they are confused about His character and His ways. They continually speculate.
It’s not uncommon to hear people say, “I believe God wants…” as they go on to say something totally out in left field. They say that because they haven’t sought to know their Savior. They are just speculating.
Today, we don’t have the excuse Job did. He had no Bible and knew very little about God. We not only have the Bible, but many teachers who know our Father very well and can help us to discover the truths.
I pray that you and I won’t descend to the level of outrageous speculation, but will go to our Father and His word and ask Him for answers. James says, “If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”(James 1:5)
I praise Him for being such a great instructor.
Acts 9:1-21
You know the saying, “I saw the light?” I feel quite sure that the saying comes from Saul’s conversion. He truly “saw the light.”
Can you imagine the shock of Saul and the other travelers as a bright light beams around them – causing Saul to fall to the ground? (I’m not sure what caused him to fall. It could have been the presence of God overpowering him). Can you imagine their wonderment as a voice out of heaven startles them?
Blind and confused, Saul is taken to Damascus where he fasts for three days.
Now can you imagine the shock Ananias feels when he is told to go to Saul and lay hands on him? Ananias knows that Saul is one persecuting the church, and now he is supposed to go to the oppressor?
What a glorious moment when, as he obeys, the scales fall from Saul’s eyes and he begins to testify of his Lord.
God’s Word to Ananias, “He is a chosen instrument of mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.”(V.15)
Everyone is amazed. This is the first time that such a horrific opponent has openly been converted to Christianity. It’s scary, but it’s also thrilling to the others.
In modern times, we have seen quite a few dramatic conversions. C.S Lewis was an atheist before coming to Christ. Josh MacDowell was an agnostic. And we have seen many others. Often the ones who were the most adamantly opposed to Jesus become the most enthusiastic advocates.
That’s why we should never pre-judge people. There is no one who is beyond redemption when they truly encounter Jesus. That mean, ungodly person who works next to you may be on the verge of a great turnaround.
If God calls you to take the word to someone you know is totally lost, are you ready?
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Job 5-10
When I read Job, I realize once again how thankful I am for the Word of God. Just think what our lives would be like if we had to speculate about our Father, His character, and his purposes. That’s the way it was with Job and his friends. The only thing they had to go by was experience, and they just had to guess what life was all about. Of course they knew nothing about Satan.
That’s why the emotional roller coaster goes on and on. The friends jump around from topic to topic, and so does Job. Poor guy.
Eliphaz is trying to give Job advice. He says that “man is born for trouble.” But then he goes on to say that if it were him, he “would seek God.” And he winds up saying that “God is disciplining Job, and he should not despise it.”(All in Chapter 5)
Job’s answers come first with deep anguish. “Would that God were willing to crush me.”(6:9) But then with a reminder that he has not spoken ill of the Lord.
As Job continues, he rebukes his friends for not caring more. “For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend.”(6:14) Then he gets back on the subject of what God is doing, questioning the continual trials.
Bildad then takes his stand, saying that Job has to be in sin to be going through all of his trials. And Job counters with his credentials of righteousness.
More speculation.
I am so thankful that He has made Himself known to us. Aren’t you? We are so fortunate to live in our day – when His Spirit is actually living inside of us – and we have His Word to guide us. We are blessed!
Acts 8
We get a glimpse into the life of Saul before he knew Jesus. He was still a zealous man, but for the wrong cause. He was zealous for the cause of the Jewish leaders and for the persecution of the Christians. He had never met Jesus, but believed what the leaders told him and he thought he was on God’s side.
When the devil thinks he is bringing destruction to God’s kingdom, our Father always turns it around on him. The persecution of the church caused the people to scatter to other places. they were running to safety, but they were also scattering the word.
So Philip landed in Samaria – and those natives loved it. He was preaching and healing. Many paralyzed were getting healed.
When Peter and John joined the crowd, they began praying for the people to receive the Holy Spirit. The Word doesn’t say exactly what the demonstrations were, but we can be sure that the baptism was obvious, because Simon the magician wanted to buy the power to give the Holy Spirit. Needless to say, he was rebuked.
We wind up the chapter with Philip following the direction of an angel to go to Gaza and minister to an Ethiopian eunuch. So he tells the Ethiopian of Jesus and even baptizes this man, before being translated to Azotus. (He disappears and “finds himself” in Azotus).
Can you imagine the excitement these early Christians felt? So many supernatural activities. Their lives truly represented the kingdom of God.
I’m believing for more of the same in our generation. In countries where there is less sophistication and less busyness, more signs and wonders are reported than in our western world.
I want to see all that our Father has for us.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Job 1-4
Uh-oh, we’ve come to Job. My husband and I get kidded about Job. I personally think that it is the most misunderstood book in the Bible.
II Timothy 2:15 says “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the Word of truth.” Handling accurately. That’s a significant term. it means context and perspective, and that’s what we have been trying to do all year. We want the Word in context.
So what about Job? He lived about the same time as Abraham – maybe a little after him. And he came from the same region. He is different from the other people we have been studying in the Bible, because he isn’t a Jew. He isn’t in covenant with God.
Job is an example of a man who is trying to live a good and blessed life outside of a covenant with his Creator. He is praying and trying to live a holy life, without a covenant. The Jews had the covenant of Abraham. We have the covenant cut through the blood of Jesus. So we have been focusing on people who had at their hands a covenant, and now we come to one who doesn’t.
So as we look at these chapters, let’s keep this in perspective.
First, let’s remember that after the fall of man, the devil had free reign in the earth. He had few limitations as to who he could influence. That’s why God was so adamant about the Jews not socializing with their neighbors. He was trying to keep them on track. So the devil had great entrance into Job’s life.
Second, notice that throughout these passages, Job thinks that everything which happens to him is from God. There are some today who believe that. When people die untimely deaths, you often hear people quote Job and say “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.”(1:21)
Wrong. The Lord gave, and Satan took away. Job doesn’t realize who his enemy is.
Third, notice that whereas we saw Abraham being a man of faith – always believing God, Job is full of fear. He doesn’t really know the nature of God, so he tries to be righteous in his own strength. (Which is impossible). He is afraid that his children have sinned, so he often offers burnt offerings.
I have compassion on Job, as God does. He was being blessed, even in his state.
I think of Job as being like the “good” people we meet who are not Christians. We see in our society many who are not walking with God, but who seem to “be sweet.” Sometimes they may be faithful to their families, give to causes for the poor, etc.
But man’s goodness is not what gets us into the relationship with God. It’s the fact that we receive Jesus and His sacrifice for us. That’s what gets us in.
It’s something to think about.
Acts 7:21-60
Do you know where the phrase “gnashing your teeth” came from. It might be from here, because that’s what the leaders are doing as they hear the words of Stephen.He is pointing out to them that they have neglected the Word of God, having become “stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears.”(51)
Stephen looks up and sees Jesus giving him a standing ovation, as the priests cover their ears, yell loudly, and rush him out for his stoning. He is to be the first Christian martyr.
So Stephen gets stoned to death by this wild crowd, but he enters into heaven to be with his Lord.
His final words are like those of Jesus, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”(60) He then leaves the earth. Stephen is showing the nature of His Lord.
Could we do the same?
One of the experiences which led my husband to his salvation was a newsletter telling about martyrs. He read the story of a young girl who was taken out in her schoolyard and told that if she didn’t deny Jesus she would be shot. Refusing the commands, the girl was shot as a demonstration before her classmates.
My husband was troubled, not knowing whether he would do the same. This set him on a Bible-reading journey to decide if he really believed in Jesus. That was about 35 years ago, and that answer is clear today.
Now one more question. If we are willing to die for Him, are we willing to live for Him? That may be harder.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Esther 9-10
“On the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain mastery over them, it was turned to the contrary so that the Jews themselves gained the mastery over those who hated them.”(9:1)
That’s the way it is. When the armies around Israel today are threatening, they just have no idea who they are dealing with. God has a profound way of demonstrating His power for His people. He still has the covenant with Abraham.
There are many back-story accounts concerning Israel’s 6-day war with Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq in 1967. Everybody knew that Israel demolished the air forces and demoralized these four nations in just 6 days. What many never knew was that the other forces saw lights in the sky and heard noises which weren’t there. They thought they were encountering greater numbers and a greater power than they actually were. Hmmm…
Back to Esther. After the day of turning – of “turning from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday” ( 9:22), the Jews were raised into high esteem among the people.
Mordecai was then elevated to second in position in Persia, second only to King Ahasuerus. What a turnaround!
Do you need a turnaround? God has a way of doing it for you too.
Acts 7: 1-22
As Stephen stands before the council, they see his face like the face of an angel. Shouldn’t that be enough to stop any harassment? Not for them.
Now Stephen displays the boldness of Peter as he begins to speak before the council. The boldness and the knowledge.
It seems that if you want to have the Old Testament in a nutshell, this chapter would suffice. Stephen tells in detail the story of Abraham’s call, the birth of Isaac, and Jacob. Then he recounts how they went into Egypt to survive a famine and stayed there four hundred years…until the time “of the promise was approaching.”(V. 17)
Stephen knows his history extremely well, as he even recounts some nuances of scripture.
This reminds me of a precious man who is a friend of my husband and mine. He is 91 years old and has been preaching for 72 years – since he was 19. There is lots of fruit in his life, as he has started and oversees several churches – reaching from Atlanta to Chicago. When we go to visit him, he starts telling us stories.
His favorite story is to tell us again how he came to know the Lord, recounting every detail of his experience. Somewhere in the account, he says, “I love to tell the stories.”
Do you have a history which is precious to you? Maybe you have been through some hard times – as this man of God has. But do you have the story of your encounter with Jesus locked in your memory? Do you tell it often?
You can see in this passage concerning Stephen that the story of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is very dear to him. He has a history with God – based on the experiences of God’s dealings with man.
There is no greater faith builder than to remind yourself of all of the good God has done for you in the past. Think of it and tell it often.
