Paths

One of the most terrifying chapters in the Bible is found in the Book of Job. Bildad, in an attempt to crush Jobs apparent pride, describes the fate of the man who rallies against God, flounders in sin and falls short of righteousness...he will be:

snuffed out, the light in his home will burn out, weakened, his schemes ensnare him, calamity is hungry for him, disaster is ready when he falls, death's firstborn eats at his limbs, he will be marched off to king of terrors, burning sulfur engulfs his home, roots dry up, he is forgotten, driven to darkness, no survivors or offspring, to the East and West men are appalled by him...a trap lies in his path. (Job 18)

Job, however, is prepared in heart and soul and mind for such torment. He knows that 'the righteous will hold to their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger.' (Job 17:9)

He is faithful and in turn is confident - not prideful - of his righteousness before God. The wicked may stumble along their path toward the 'King of Terror' - but Job will follow divine suffering down the path that leads to the Kingdom of Heaven.

This is a horrifying yet convicting chapter to read. Impossible to bypass without reflection on my own journey...my own path. I might ask you as well:

1. What path are you on? Do you walk by faith or by your own strength? (2 Cor. 5:7) - Not all 'paths' lead to the same destination. There are only two: that which Bildad describes and that which Job holds on to.
2. Are you in constant terror from the evil one?
3. As a believer you will suffer, yet have no reason to fear torment...Do you know that He protects you before and behind. (Psalm 139)
4. Cry out for Jesus. Repent. Seek Truth. Ask for divine justice and protection with an honest heart. (Romans 10:9-10) - And then rest in His salvation.

A Great Job

'My witness - advocate - intercessor - friend...'

Job is confident that his friends sitting with him in ash and dirt trying to comfort through confrontation are in the wrong. He's also confident that in the heavenly realms there is One who is working to right the unimaginable wrongs he is suffering through.

He doesn't abandon his faith because God has already proven Himself. He mourns, cries-out, pleads his case, defends his sinlessness, even hopes for death...but he doesn't abandon what he's known to be true.

As the apostle Paul said - there is One God, One Mediator between man and God...Jesus Christ, the One who is, was and is to come. The second person of the Trinity worked on Jobs behalf and is now interceding for us. For the good of all those who know Him and have responded to His call!

This is our God...a God who never changes.

From Job 16:19-21 NIV/NKJV

Word of Beard

'You will call and I will answer You; You will long for the creature Your hands have made.' Job 14:15

Through the incarnate Christ God called us , making us a new creation (new creatures) - He reconciles us to Himself as we confess with our mouths that 'He is Lord!'

Turning Courageous

What brought the Apostle Paul to a point in his life where being imprisoned, with the possibility of execution, simply meant another opportunity to glorify God and speak courageously about the resurrection and salvation of Jesus?

'To live is Christ and to die is gain.' (Philippians 1) - what a mantra!

Was it his miraculous conversion: a blinding bright light, the voice of the recently deceased, resurrected and ascended Messiah?

Or was it an opening of his spiritual eyes to the reality of Gods new work. An experiential knowledge of the new dispensation of Spirit and Grace upon the earth.

Many of us have witnessed pretty miraculous things: preserved life after a natural disaster, brutal car-crash survivors, mysterious healing of a terminally ill family member, random rent check in the mail...

How many hold onto that miracle as life-changing from that point onward? I would like to believe that if Jesus opened up the sky and told me to serve Him 100% that I would do so without fail...I've experienced that power in different ways and I still flounder at times.

Paul responded with zeal. He passionately took up his new calling, his new faith and never turned back.

Have you turned back? Have you doubted relentlessly, turned back and found yourself frozen in your tracks? Then PRAY. Pray for a renewed vision for your life, a tenderized heart for His Holiness and your neighbors lostness, a breath of fresh spiritual air found in the Word and written on your soul. You and I can be like Paul.

Word of Beard

Beginning next week I'll be posting a weekly verse entitled 'Word of Beard'. Why? Allow me to share:

First and foremost I'll share a passage and possibly comment on it simply because I want to.
Second and secondmost a friend mentioned that he'd appreciate regular updates on the uncanny journey of my beard.

Naturally this evolved into a combination of two of my favorite things: beards and scripture. Enjoy.

Job Cries Out for Jesus

'If only there were an arbitrator, one who would lay his hand upon us both (God and Job) and mediate - one who would spare the rod of the Lord and allow for dialogue between us...' (Job 9:32-35)

Without knowing it Job was crying out for a Savior. He was describing the role of the Messiah to come, Jesus, the one who stands in the gap between man and the Father staving off His wrath and reconciling man to Him.

Job knew suffering - he knew the blessing of God - he felt the effects of sin on the world. He simply wanted the freedom to speak with God, to plead his case personally and hear a response.

Christ is the mediator. He comforts us in our suffering. He sits with God the Father in heaven. He is the intercessor between us. We don't have to fear communicating with God. We don't have to feel trapped, unable to plead our case. We have an eternal arbitrator.

one = one

Through one man - Adam - sin entered the world making death inevitable.

Through one man - Jesus - sin was eradicated making life eternal.

God is not a God of chaos - He's a God of order...He's holy.

Like a mysterious mathematical equation, through Jesus, He's restored our relationship with Him.

From new physical creation (Adam) to new eternal creation (Jesus) YHWH is a God of renewal.

Romans 5