"Men Listened to Me....But Now...."

"Men listened to me and waited, and kept silence for my counsel....But now they mock at me, men younger than I, whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock." (Job 29:21 & 30:1)

In the midst of Job's deep suffering, he is considering his life's journey.  At one time he was "at the top of his game;" now, he's at the bottom.  This was painful for him.  Everything seemed to affirm that he was now an utter failure, "And now I am their taunting song; Yes, I am their byword.  They abhor me, they keep far from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face" (30:9, 10).

Remember how popular Jesus was with, "the multitudes"?  Now He was, "a stone's throw," from His "inner circle" disciples.  But while they slept, He was agonizing over what was to come, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me...."  Then, there was that horrendous cry from the Cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"  From the crowds yelling, "Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord," to this moment of mocking, "He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'"

My friend, do not succumb to some silly spirituality today.  I too can quote all the "countering" Scriptures and the latest catch phrases.  But the victory declarations do not diminish the moment of, "Why have You forsaken Me"? and, "they do not hesitate to spit in my face."  If you have ever been there, or perhaps are there now, you know in some measure the pain, even the agony of these two great men of the Bible.  

But consider for a moment, weary traveler, what Father says of two apparent "failures."  Of Job He says, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth...?"  And of our Lord Jesus, the One the Bible calls, "Immanuel, God with us," Father says, "This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased."  If this is "failure," you can have "success."

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, as I have been "there," I pray for anyone reading this who is now "there."  May You be able to say of both of us, "This is_____, in whom I am well pleased."  Amen.

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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

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"The Silent Dove in Distant Lands"

"Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; fighting all day he oppresses me."  (Psalm 56:1)

"....swallow me up," literally, "pants as a raging beast."  This was Saul's year after year pursuit of David.  You and I encounter such enemies of the Cross everyday, some very obvious and some, perhaps the most dangerous, we walk right by without a clue, still, "fighting all day he oppresses me."  This is not to justify paranoia; this is just the reality of our life in Jesus.

The title notation of this Psalm is, "The Silent Dove in Distant Lands."  Does this not sound like the journey of the Follower of Jesus?  While, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof," and while we are, "joint heirs with Christ," it is also true that, as Hebrews 11 says, "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange (foreign) country....For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God."  Does this not sound like a "....Silent Dove in Distant Lands"?  

Verses 6-9:  There are those who, "....mark my steps, when they lie in wait for my life," yet, "The Lord [Jesus Christ Who] Is my Shepherd," does not forget me.  Even in his wanderings and tears, this "Silent Dove in Distant Lands" knows that, "You keep track of all my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book."  And as continual unrelenting attacks come my way, "My enemies will retreat when I call to You for help" (NLT).  

Father, in Jesus' Name, no matter all the bravado of some, I affirm that, "My enemies will retreat (only) when I call to You for help."  Amen.

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REMEMBER: The video devotional which comes to you with the username "58TROJAN23" is NOT a virus.

 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

58trojan23 sent you a video: "APF DEVOTIONAL"

58trojan23 has shared a video with you on YouTube: APF DEVOTIONAL "How Small a Whisper We Hear of Him!"
© 2012 YouTube, LLC 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066