Daily Bible Study: For your Own Good 06.16.10

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Today is Wednesday June 16, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Job, chapters 5-8. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-june-16

Today's Message: For Our Own Good
Those who choose to follow Christ rejoice in the fact no matter what they are going through Jesus is right there to carry the burdens and help them through every one of them. We praise God even when we are chastised for a sin we committed and take the steps needed to repent and reconcile with God. From time to time it seems as though we are being chastised for sins we have not committed. On top of that the first thing people, especially some Christians, think is what are you doing wrong that God is punishing you. The truth is we are all going to face what seems like chastisement at times, it is not a punishment, it is a kind of intervention to get us to put our trust in God, increase our faith in Him, and get us to take our minds off our own troubles and think of others. “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” - I Peter 2:19-22. There are going to be times when we suffer for things we have not done just as Jesus suffered for all the sins of the world and never committed one sin, but we must not forget that God is always with us and uses every one of the trials and sufferings that we face for our own good. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28.

Job, was even considered by God as a perfect man, he may have sinned from time to time, but he did everything he could to avoid sin and remained faithful to God and that made him perfect in God's eyes. All of a sudden it seemed as though Job were being severely chastised. Within a matter of days he suffered complete financial loss, all his children had been killed, his wife had turned against him, and he was experiencing intense physical suffering. Job was in severe pain, I am sure he felt a little discouraged, and felt all alone so, when four of his friends showed up he thought they would be the ones to comfort him and give him a little encouragement. For a week they just sat there in silence, that was probably the best thing they did for him because once they opened their mouths the persecution began. Eliphaz was the first to respond, telling Jon that he was being chastised by God for hidden sin. “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.” - Job 5:17-20. Eliphaz went as far as saying just come clean, God will forgive you for it. He was right in that God redeems all who repent, but he was wrong in assuming that Job was suffering because he had hidden sin in his life. That's why Jesus tells us, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” - John 7:24. We sometimes find ourselves making rash statements in the midst of unexpected trials, I admit there have been times when I have had my own opinion about someone who has not been to church for a while and hear about them struggling. However, I realize that I have no right to judge a person that is struggling, or soon I will be facing rightful judgment myself for my false judgment. We must not make the mistake of assumption based on what we see on the outside. The only one who truly knows what is going on is God.

For reasons Job did not understand, God was not coming to his defense, he responds to Eliphaz's accusations, “Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up. For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me...Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.” - Job 6:2-4,8-10. Job did not know what to say, he was spiritually drained and thought God had left him to deal with all this on his own, but he never once cursed God, but embraced Him. He was literally ready for God to just take him away from all this. When a child of God understands the reason for suffering, the heaviest load will not crush him, but when tragedy occurs with no sign of God's presence, we are all prone to become discouraged. However, we must not forget that God is always with us. He never leaves nor forsakes us. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” - Hebrews 13:5,6.

As Christian, we have a new nature in us, born of God, with the indwelling Holy Spirit who reminds us that God is still in control of our circumstances and that we can trust in the promises of His Word. The more we put our trust in God the more we can expect Satan to interfere, but we must not forget that God allows him to do this. We are going to face wrongful suffering and persecution for things we have not done, but as long as we keep our eyes on Jesus we can endure all of it and come out stronger and more powerful to withstand more of Satan's attacks. Jesus even had to face Satan, He had the same flesh that we have and could have fallen into his temptation as well, but He put His faith in someone much stronger than Satan. His God! He kept His eyes on God and He gave Him the power and strength to endure the temptations. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” -I Corinthians 10:13. God will never allow Satan to tempt us with things that we can not handle, He always makes a way for us to get out of every situation. Praise God! If you are struggling right now, being persecuted, or wrongfully judged by friends or enemies, cast your burdens upon Jesus. He will carry them for you, then you will be able to help others and soon yours will be lightened. “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” - Psalm 55:22. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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