Date:
Thursday,
May 28, 2015
Chapters: Job 7-9
Message Title: Dealing With Negative People
Hello My Friend,
There is a saying, “With friends such as these, who needs enemies.”, we all have friends or know people that we wonder why we even talk to them. They never have anything positive to say and if they find out you are having some difficulties they are quick to accuse and or point out your faults as to why they are happening. You know, we can get ten positive reviews, and one only negative one, and it will be that negative one that haunts us. The truth is, we have to deal with negative people every day, and they are pleased to remain that way, but we do not have to let them get to us. We have a great and mighty King who will lift us up and even shine through us so that they are put in their place, simply by us being nice to them. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” - Romans 12:19-21.
Friends, who needs them sometimes, as Job lies there in pain while his friends look him up and down and try to analyze him for the affliction he is in, he starts wondering why they are even there. Eliphaz is convinced that he has some great sin that he needs to confess, but Job answers Eliphaz, discouraged that if these are his last days on earth why he has to hear this. “Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling? As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work: So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day. My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.” - Job 7:1-5,11.
When we are ill, the last thing we want is people telling us how much of a wretch we are, especially when we have not even done anything wrong. Job states a fact that we are all appointed to die, whichever way God sees fit, but we all have a right to speak to God on the matter. God wants to hear our complaints, we can talk to God and even ask Him questions in a way that is respectful to Him. Even if we get really upset sometimes and yell at Him as to why it's happening, He wants to hear us. Sorrow brings us closer to God, and believe it or not, so does confronting Him on matters that seem to just hover over us continuously. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6,7.
As if one friend criticizing him was not bad enough, here comes Bildad. There is not much given about Bildad, but his name means, son of contention (strife), his view of job was that he was a hypocrite, and if he would just confess his sins God would cure him. “How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones. If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee. Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow. Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:” - Job 8:2-6,17-20.
Bildad does make some good points in his response, God is merciful and forgiving, and He will remove His judgment upon us when we repent of our sins. What he failed to recognize was that prosperity and affliction comes to all, regardless of the way we live our lives. It's not our works of righteousness that gets us points with God, it's the only righteous one that we can look upon who does that. We are sinners, and no matter how good try to be, we mess up, thanks to our flesh and the sin nature that we possess. That's why we need Jesus, He is our righteousness, and when we accept Him as our Saviour, we are covered in it, God no longer sees us as sinners, He sees His Son, and as long as He sees Him we are perfect in His eyes. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” - 1 John 5:10-12,17,18.
Job answers Bildad, he knows that he has never been without sin, but also knows that only God is his judge. “I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him. How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him? Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice. For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.” - Job 9:2-4,13-17.
There is a lot of controversy over judging someone and making the correct judgment of someone. There is a t-shirt going around that says in huge letters, “ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE ME.”, while this is true, it is usually people who are not living in a way that pleases God that throws this in our faces when we confront them. In Job's case, they were making a false judgment of him based on his circumstances, once again, drawing the conclusion that he needed to repent of his sins to stop the judgment. Okay, we all make false judgments sometimes, it's easy to accuse when we are not really paying attention and only hear a word here and there from someone else. Let me tell you, it is the gossips that cause a person to judge someone, so, instead of taking someone at their word or even listening to someone who constantly criticizes others, walk away. Go to the person and ask them what is going on rather than judge for yourself what is probably not true to begin with. We can avoid negativity by walking away from those who have nothing nice to say. “Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” - 2 Timothy 2:14-16.
Today's Prayer: God, It's amazing what You reveal to us in such a simple form, we can't always avoid those who are negative and quick to judge us, but we can stay positive when we are near them. Lord, I want to live a life that is pleasing to You, I want to live in a way that others see Your Son in me, and that there are no appearances of evil in me. I know that You do not look at past to determine my future, You look at me through Your Son, and I thank You for that because I know I can never fully be without sin until the day you take me home. Lead me and guide me, let me be a positive force that is needed with so much negativity in the world, let me take all negativity with a grain of salt, reminded that You know the steps that I take, and let me remain positive. Thank You so much for saving me from my sins and the horrible life I could have lived had I not turned to Your Son. In Jesus' name, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Subscribe: Daily Devotion
Ready To Follow Jesus?: God's Price
Visit Our Website: I'm Following Jesus
Like Us On Facebook: I'm Following Jesus
Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Chapters: Job 7-9
Message Title: Dealing With Negative People
Hello My Friend,
There is a saying, “With friends such as these, who needs enemies.”, we all have friends or know people that we wonder why we even talk to them. They never have anything positive to say and if they find out you are having some difficulties they are quick to accuse and or point out your faults as to why they are happening. You know, we can get ten positive reviews, and one only negative one, and it will be that negative one that haunts us. The truth is, we have to deal with negative people every day, and they are pleased to remain that way, but we do not have to let them get to us. We have a great and mighty King who will lift us up and even shine through us so that they are put in their place, simply by us being nice to them. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” - Romans 12:19-21.
Friends, who needs them sometimes, as Job lies there in pain while his friends look him up and down and try to analyze him for the affliction he is in, he starts wondering why they are even there. Eliphaz is convinced that he has some great sin that he needs to confess, but Job answers Eliphaz, discouraged that if these are his last days on earth why he has to hear this. “Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling? As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work: So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day. My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.” - Job 7:1-5,11.
When we are ill, the last thing we want is people telling us how much of a wretch we are, especially when we have not even done anything wrong. Job states a fact that we are all appointed to die, whichever way God sees fit, but we all have a right to speak to God on the matter. God wants to hear our complaints, we can talk to God and even ask Him questions in a way that is respectful to Him. Even if we get really upset sometimes and yell at Him as to why it's happening, He wants to hear us. Sorrow brings us closer to God, and believe it or not, so does confronting Him on matters that seem to just hover over us continuously. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6,7.
As if one friend criticizing him was not bad enough, here comes Bildad. There is not much given about Bildad, but his name means, son of contention (strife), his view of job was that he was a hypocrite, and if he would just confess his sins God would cure him. “How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones. If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee. Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow. Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:” - Job 8:2-6,17-20.
Bildad does make some good points in his response, God is merciful and forgiving, and He will remove His judgment upon us when we repent of our sins. What he failed to recognize was that prosperity and affliction comes to all, regardless of the way we live our lives. It's not our works of righteousness that gets us points with God, it's the only righteous one that we can look upon who does that. We are sinners, and no matter how good try to be, we mess up, thanks to our flesh and the sin nature that we possess. That's why we need Jesus, He is our righteousness, and when we accept Him as our Saviour, we are covered in it, God no longer sees us as sinners, He sees His Son, and as long as He sees Him we are perfect in His eyes. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” - 1 John 5:10-12,17,18.
Job answers Bildad, he knows that he has never been without sin, but also knows that only God is his judge. “I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him. How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him? Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice. For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.” - Job 9:2-4,13-17.
There is a lot of controversy over judging someone and making the correct judgment of someone. There is a t-shirt going around that says in huge letters, “ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE ME.”, while this is true, it is usually people who are not living in a way that pleases God that throws this in our faces when we confront them. In Job's case, they were making a false judgment of him based on his circumstances, once again, drawing the conclusion that he needed to repent of his sins to stop the judgment. Okay, we all make false judgments sometimes, it's easy to accuse when we are not really paying attention and only hear a word here and there from someone else. Let me tell you, it is the gossips that cause a person to judge someone, so, instead of taking someone at their word or even listening to someone who constantly criticizes others, walk away. Go to the person and ask them what is going on rather than judge for yourself what is probably not true to begin with. We can avoid negativity by walking away from those who have nothing nice to say. “Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” - 2 Timothy 2:14-16.
Today's Prayer: God, It's amazing what You reveal to us in such a simple form, we can't always avoid those who are negative and quick to judge us, but we can stay positive when we are near them. Lord, I want to live a life that is pleasing to You, I want to live in a way that others see Your Son in me, and that there are no appearances of evil in me. I know that You do not look at past to determine my future, You look at me through Your Son, and I thank You for that because I know I can never fully be without sin until the day you take me home. Lead me and guide me, let me be a positive force that is needed with so much negativity in the world, let me take all negativity with a grain of salt, reminded that You know the steps that I take, and let me remain positive. Thank You so much for saving me from my sins and the horrible life I could have lived had I not turned to Your Son. In Jesus' name, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Subscribe: Daily Devotion
Ready To Follow Jesus?: God's Price
Visit Our Website: I'm Following Jesus
Like Us On Facebook: I'm Following Jesus
Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.