July 6, 2006 - Job 32-33 and Acts 14
There are many great truths we should learn from the book of Job. One of them is that God sometimes allows Satan to afflict believers for the purpose of proving their faith in Him and growing their faith in Him. This is hard for us to take, because we don't like pain. However, the truth is that we learn more from pain than from happiness. Sometimes, it takes pain to move us to be more like Jesus. That is what God is accomplishing in our lives above all else. He has decided that every believer will become more like Christ. We should cooperate with Him in His efforts to bring that result, instead of arguing with Him. After all that should be the goal we have for our lives, too.
In chapters 32 and 33 Elihu, the young friend, speaks up. He is pretty wordy, but he says some good things to Job and the other friends. Basically, he tells us that God has to do a lot of things sometimes to get our attention. He is trying to enlighten us about the light of life. (33:29-30) We must not argue with Him, because no one is greater than God, so no one can contend with Him. (33:12-13) He had heard Job say that he wanted to reason with God about what was going on, and he is warning Job and all of us against that feeling. We should accept God's will. We should not argue with God. I pray that all of us will understand that truth and rest in the Lord, instead of contending with Him.
In Acts 14 the same could be said of Paul and Barnabas. Even though they were following God's will, there were many troubles. Paul was even stoned and left for dead. Did Paul and Barnabas complain? I do not see any complaining. In fact, they say that trouble is a part of advancing to heaven, to the kingdom of God. (v.22) That is a much better attitude than contending with God. We should see troubles as the pavement to heaven. We should see them as things that will help to shape us to be more like Jesus. Then, we can cooperate with the Holy Spirit, instead of fighting against His efforts to mold our lives as God sees fit.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 34-35 and Acts 15:1-21.
In chapters 32 and 33 Elihu, the young friend, speaks up. He is pretty wordy, but he says some good things to Job and the other friends. Basically, he tells us that God has to do a lot of things sometimes to get our attention. He is trying to enlighten us about the light of life. (33:29-30) We must not argue with Him, because no one is greater than God, so no one can contend with Him. (33:12-13) He had heard Job say that he wanted to reason with God about what was going on, and he is warning Job and all of us against that feeling. We should accept God's will. We should not argue with God. I pray that all of us will understand that truth and rest in the Lord, instead of contending with Him.
In Acts 14 the same could be said of Paul and Barnabas. Even though they were following God's will, there were many troubles. Paul was even stoned and left for dead. Did Paul and Barnabas complain? I do not see any complaining. In fact, they say that trouble is a part of advancing to heaven, to the kingdom of God. (v.22) That is a much better attitude than contending with God. We should see troubles as the pavement to heaven. We should see them as things that will help to shape us to be more like Jesus. Then, we can cooperate with the Holy Spirit, instead of fighting against His efforts to mold our lives as God sees fit.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 34-35 and Acts 15:1-21.