My Thoughts Are Not Yours

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Saturday, June 04, 2016
Chapters: Job 32-34
Message: My Thoughts Are Not Yours

Hello My Friend,

I am in a long distance relationship with a guy where most of our communication is texting, once in a while he or I will say something that was misunderstood and led to an argument. You know, words have a way of expressing themselves by our emotions, if you are irritable you may interpret something that was never intended. It is a known fact that sometimes we are guilty of misunderstanding words, even God’s, and we too have said things that were misunderstood. While misunderstandings are inevitable, we can get past them and learn valuable lessons through them, most of all that God’s thoughts are not as our own. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” - Isaiah 55:5,9.

We tend to form opinions on things we see and hear quite often with jagged thoughts to begin with. When Job’s friends saw that he lost everything he had and was laying there in pain they automatically formed an opinion of him, he must have some unconfessed sin that God is punishing him for. After Job stopped speaking his friends said no more because they misunderstood his words, they thought he thought himself to be without any sin. There was another man sitting there the entire time, a younger man, listening to everything all four men said, Elihu. He was a forefather of Samuel who would later be a prophet and judge in Israel years later.

“So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.” - Job 32:1-5,9,10.

“I also will shew mine opinion.” Opinion, The judgment formed of the mind of any statement, theory or event, supported by evidence that renders it a possibility, but is not an absolute certainty. Everyone has opinions, everyone forms their own judgment on things they see or read. Many of the opinions formed of God are, in fact based on opinion and not true facts, the same is true on how they interpret His Word. We have to learn that not everyone who says they know the Bible knows God’s Word. And we have to understand that what God sees as good or righteous is not the same as we see it. Only we can make the best decisions based on what facts we have, and we do have a right to defend ourselves.

“Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;” - I Corinthians 8:7-10.

God gave us His Word as a guide to show us what He sees a right and wrong. Some things are not spelled out for us, but as we read and study His Word we learn that the Holy Spirit will tell us what is wrong. All churches draw up bylaws to follow if you want to be or remain a member, if caught breaking one of those laws they must be disciplined under the law of God to remain a member, some churches even revoke them. To be honest, most of the bylaws are based on opinions of the persons in charge of the church, rather than what the Word of God says. Elihu was angry at Job because he said he was justified and did nothing wrong in this case. Elihu accuses him of saying he was righteous ans without any sin at all. He does give a little insight to the grace of God.

“Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.” - Job 33:8-14,23,24.

“Deliver him from going down to the pit:” Elihu seems to be making the mistake many people make, in his opinion he believes God chooses who gets to go to heaven by their works. God, in fact does choose who goes to heaven, He chooses those who choose His Son. Do not make the mistake of thinking that those who were here before Jesus came were saved by their works alone, if that were the case many would be in hell right now. The only way they could be saved was by confession and atonement of their sins to God as well. Jesus just made it permanent, He became the messenger, the one among a thousand to stand before God in our behalf to show our righteousness. It is not our righteousness, but Christ’s that is upon us by believing ans receiving Him.

“Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.” - Isaiah 43:10-12.

“and beside me there is no saviour.” This is proof right here, that Jesus is God in the flesh, God gave Himself as a ransom to pay the price for our sin, Jew or not, He is the same God to all who believe in Him. Elihu continues, now he upbraids Job for going against God’s judgment on him, bit for someone who claims to have heard everything he said, he sure misunderstood a lot of it.

“Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God. Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.” - Job 34:2-10.

“Let us choose to us judgment:” Elihu formed his opinion on Job based on things that he said, but he interpreted them the way he heard them, and what he heard was not what Job actually said. See what he says here, “let us know among ourselves what is good.”, this is proof that we form an opinion on what we believe is good or bad, which is why our wisdom is not the same as God’s. We have to learn that we cannot form opinions based on the things we see, and sometimes even what we read or hear. If we take the time to truly listen without those jagged thoughts we would see the facts.

“Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” - Romans 7:13-16,25.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed through the messenger (33:23). Jesus is the messenger, the mediator between God and man, if you believe in Christ He stands before God on your behalf and presents you as righteous. “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” - Romans 3:22,23.

Today's Prayer: God, I want to live my live according to Your Word, I know the things that I go through are not always about Your judgment or tests, it's about trusting You and believing that You can do anything You say You can do. When I am being persecuted, afflicted, or judged by others help me to respond with the true knowledge that You have given me, let me not be taken by those who have formed an opinion on me, but by Your truths. Also, let me not form opinions, but learn the facts and truth. Keep me around people who tell Your truths truthfully and keep me in Your Word to let the Holy Spirit be my Guide to Your truths as I study them. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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