Thoughts for Life: The Lord Speaks

Philip Yancey: We can find nearly every argument in the book of Job about why there is pain in the world, but the arguing never seems to help Job much.

His is a crisis of relationship more than a crisis of doubt. Can he trust God? Job wants one thing above all else: an appearance by the one Person who can explain his miserable fate. He wants to meet God Himself, face to face. (Google image, God Speaks)
Eventually Job gets his wish. God shows up in person (see Job 38:1) He times His entrance with perfect irony, just as Job's friend Elihu is expounding on why Job has no right to expect a visit from God.

No one — not Job, nor any of his friends — is prepared for what God has to say. Job has saved up a long list of questions, but it is God, not job, who asks the questions. "Brace yourself like a man," He begins; "I will question you, and you shall answer me" (v.3).

Brushing aside thirty-five chapters' worth of debates on the problem of pain, God plunges into a majestic poem on the wonders of the natural world.

God's speech defines the vast difference between the God of all creation and one puny man like Job. His presence spectacularly answers Job's biggest question: Is any body out here? Job can only respond, "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know: (43:3).

INSIGHT: Mart Dehaan-"After all Job had endured, how could the Lord of heaven respond to his honest, agonizing questions with more questions?
Job forgot the case he wanted to argue in the court of heaven (Job 23:1-10). The presence and questions of God suddenly reawakened the trust he'd expressed in those first moments of the worst days of his life (1:21; 2:10).
We, on the other had, have an advantage that Job lacked. In the prologue of Job' story, we are taken behind the scenes to see how God viewed Job (1:1-2:10).
What if our lives had such a prologue? Would it help to know that more is going on than we can see and that it's better than we imagine? Even if we aren't an exemplary example as Job was, can we take heart in being one of the dearly loved sinners for whom Christ died?"

Our prayer today-

"Lord, we have so many questions about life and its unfairness. You have shown Yourself good to us. Help us to trust You for what we cannot understand." Amen.

"No Calamity is beyond God's sovereignty."

Today's Bible verses-

Psalm 40:5 (NIV)“Many, Lord my God, are the

wonders you have done, the things you planned

for us. None can compare with you; were I to

speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too

many to declare.”

Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) "Fear thou not; for I am with
thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will
strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will
uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 a (NIV) "Love is patient, love is
kind. (5) It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not
proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
(6) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the
truth. (7) It always protects, always trusts, always
hopes, always perseveres. (8) Love never fails."

Today's quotes-

~ Kirsten Holmberg- "We all go through difficult seasons in life. We may be tempted to question God's love for us during those times. Let's recall the many ways He's shown us His unfailing love. When we stop to consider His goodness, we find that He is indeed a loving Father."

~ Tom Elliff- "As we pray for God's blessing, our prayers should similarly include praise, consecration and petition. We are asking God to cause someone or something to accomplish in a supernatural fashion more than would naturally be possible. As we do that, praising Him builds our faith; consecration (offering ourselves to Him to use however He wishes) settles the issue of lordship; and then the door is open for making an effective petition."

Today's popular post- by Lee Forbes

(Jesus coming, Google image)

He Promised He Would Come Again

He promised He would come again
To take His children home
Where sin will never raise its head And pilgrims never roam

SEPTEMBER 30, 2018

Count it All Joy

Speaker: Rick Sinclair . Series: Faith IRL Location: CFC Potsdam

List of recent sermons of CFC ministers. CFC Potsdam church has a live service at 10 am Sunday's for shut-ins. If for some reason you can't make it to the church you usually attend, click on the above link, and still get fed!

Upcoming posts-

#89 The Anointing Confers Spiritual Authority
9th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

#90 The Anointing Places God's Seal Upon You
11th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

The Tsunami Warning
13th- Saturday's post by Ron Hutchcraft

#91 The Anointing is for You, If . . .
16th- Tuesday's posts by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel