January 13, 2012

God Does Great Things Which We Cannot Comprehend (1/13)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Job 35-37.

“God thunders with His voice wondrously, doing great things which we cannot comprehend” (Job 37:5).

As Elihu continued his response to Job, he affirmed God’s greatness and His place over all things. When you read through Job 37, you can see all the things mentioned by Elihu over which God has power. He focused primarily on the natural world – that which He created and which continues to be governed by the natural laws He established in the beginning.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: , , ,
January 12, 2012

"The Abundant in Years May Not Be Wise" (1/12)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Job 32-34.

“I thought age should speak, and increased years should teach wisdom. But it is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. The abundant in years may not be wise, nor may elders understand justice” (Job 32:7-9).

After listening to Job and his three friends debate the cause of Job’s suffering, the younger man Elihu finally spoke up. He was frustrated with Job’s answers and the inability of the three men to refute him. Surely the older, wiser men should have been teaching wisdom, not the young man Elihu.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: , ,
January 11, 2012

Facts About Idols

The Golden Calf

Idolatry is condemned in both the Old and New Testaments (Exodus 20:3-6; 1 Corinthians 6:9). There are a number of things that have the potential of becoming idols for us if we allow them. They are not limited to graven images but could include things like money, possessions, careers, and even people. The warning issued by John at the end of his first epistle – “Little children, guard yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21) – remains an important reminder for Christians today.

With the danger of idolatry being a reality and having the divinely given warning in mind, let us notice a few facts about idols.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: , , , ,
January 11, 2012

A Man of Integrity (1/11)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Job 29-31.

“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? (Job 31:1).”

As Job defended his integrity, he stated that his purity in heart was such that he would not even look at  a woman. While many in our culture argue that there is nothing wrong with just looking, Job made a covenant — a conscious decision and commitment — that he would not look with lust at one of the opposite sex.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: , , , , , ,
January 10, 2012

He Hangs the Earth on Nothing (1/10)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Job 24-28.

“He stretches out the north over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing” (Job 26:7).”

This is one of those passages that helps reinforce the validity and inspiration of the Bible. How were the ancients to know that the earth was suspended in space? How were they to know the earth was not resting upon some foundation, whether that foundation was the backs of elephants, turtles, or something else? Myths like these existed, but Job believed something that was not only different, but correct.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: , ,
January 9, 2012

The Wicked Prosper (1/9)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Job 21-23.

“Why do the wicked still live, continue on, also become very powerful? Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes, their houses are safe from fear, and the rod of God is not on them. His ox mates without fail; his cow calves and does not abort. They send forth their little ones like the flock, and their children skip about. They sing to the timbrel and harp and rejoice at the sound of the flute. They spend their days in prosperity, and suddenly they go down to Sheol. They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we entreat Him?’” (Job 21:7-15).

Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: , ,
January 8, 2012

I Know That My Redeemer Lives (1/8)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Job 17-20.

“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth” (Job 19:25).

Job’s troubles were not going to be solved by his own actions. He understood this. Only God could deliver him. Despite the fact that his wife urged him to reject God (Job 2:9) and his friends repeatedly told him that God was the one who had afflicted him, Job held to his faith in the Lord. As long as his Redeemer lived, he had hope.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: , , , ,