"WHO HAS RESISTED HIM AND COME OUT UNSCATHED?"

"....How can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?  Though they wished to dispute with Him, they could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.  His wisdom is profound, His power is vast.  Who has resisted Him and come out unscathed?"  (Job 9, NIV)

In this reply to his friends one can see why the Godhead commended him.

Consider just a little of what Job had to contend with.  His wife turned atheist on him, "Are you still trying to maintain your integrity.  Curse God and die?"  And his "friends?"  They said, in essence, that he got what he deserved.

But Job kept pressing on.  "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted....How then can I dispute with him?  How can I find words to argue with Him?...If it is a matter of justice, who can challenge Him?"  May you and I have such a heart.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for allowing me to be a part of Your Family which includes men like Job.  Amen.

,

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

DOES YOUR, ...."NIGHT DRAG ON...."

"When I lie down I think, 'How long before I get up?'  The night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn."  (Job 7:4, NIV)

This is a story of the anxious.  Yet there is peace when, "the night drags on...."  The Bible states it quite clearly:  "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For He Himself is our peace...."

Our Lord Jesus is not far away issuing out peace.  Jesus lives right inside each of His Followers, He Himself being to each Believer that very peace which delivers from, "....toss and turn until dawn."  

Suggestion:  If you suffer from what our text describes, try reading from the Bible at bedtime.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for such grace.  Amen.

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"ACQUAINTED WITH ALL MY WAYS"

"O Lord, You...are intimately acquainted with all my ways."  Psalm 139:3b, NASB)

Just read closely the "Life Style" of Jesus in the Gospels, and indeed, the Words of the whole of Scripture.  You will see over and over just how true is our text.

The more you read the Scriptures, the more we have written in our hearts and minds the very thoughts of the Triune God; therefore, when "doubts and fears assail," His Words will continually tell you, "O Lord, You...are intimately acquainted with all my ways."  

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for the constant and consistent reminders of Your Word.  Amen.

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

PSALM NUGGET, OT LESSON, NT LESSON

PSALM NUGGET:

"Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors."  (Psalm 119:24, NIV)

OT LESSON:    

"His own Presence save them."  (Isaiah 63:9, NIV)

NT LESSON:

"This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience--- it looks for a way of being constructive.  It is not possessive: it is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance."  (1 Corinthians 13:4, J.B. Phillips)  

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2