Reflections in The WORD

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When Reason Fails

“So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.” ~ Job 2:7

God never told Job or Job’s friends the reason for Job’s troubles (as recorded, for us, in Job 1-2). Therefore, in dealing with problems that come our way, our preoccupations should be on our response to the problems rather than the reason for the problems.

We often treat the problems in life like the problems with a car. If I know what’s wrong with the car then I can fix it. Or, if I can find someone who can figure out what’s wrong with the car then they can fix it for me. We think life can be treated in the same way: If we just know the reason then we can get it right.

We take this approach because we think of life deterministically: we assume for every effect there exists a rationally explainable cause. This however, was not true in Job’s situation. His troubles did not come because of any sin he had done. To be clear, Job was not perfect: no man was, no man is; except for our Lord, Jesus Christ.

We see the predicament of the cause-and-effect, deterministic approach with Job’s three friends. When they heard of his troubles, they journeyed from their homelands to commiserate with him. After mourning with him in silence for a week, they started talking with him. And each of them concluded that Job’s problems must have come upon him because of some sin. Job, they reasoned, must have sinned (THE CAUSE) since they last saw him and that was why God had allowed such a great tribulation (THE EFFECT) to engulf him.

However, as God made plain, they were wrong; so wrong that they were in trouble with God:

“And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.” ~ Job 42:7

Clearly, sometimes our troubles are the effect of wrong choices: e.g., careless driving is the cause of many accidents. However, there can come a time in a Believer’s life when things just fall apart, for no discernible reason: sometimes things just don’t “add up”.

“My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.”
~ Psalm 55:4-8

Job’s wife illustrates for us the other end of the wrong-response spectrum. Unlike Job’s friends, she had lived with Job all this time: she knew Job had not done anything to deserve his troubles: she knew there was no ‘cause’ for the ‘effect’ Job was facing. Therefore, she concluded that Job should “curse God, and die” (Job 2:9). In other words, if there is no rationale behind life’s difficulties, then life was not worth living and it certainly was not worth living God’s way. This approach says “If I can’t find a reasonable cause for these awful effects I am seeing/experiencing, then I might as well give up.”

This attitude is fairly prevalent: many people when faced with the inexplicabilities of life decline to live it. They give up on life by killing their senses (addictions, substance abuse) or killing their relationships (reclusiveness) or by killing themselves or by killing God (atheism).

Job, however, got it right. A careful reading of the book of Job reveals that Job did not just accept his plight passively or resignedly. Rather, Job argued his case vigorously against God, declaring repeatedly that God was unfair: there was no cause (he had not done anything wrong) for this calamity God had sent to him. Job went as far as to challenge God in court. If he could take God to court, Job reasoned that he would win the case against God. Job was just as trapped in deterministic, cause-and-affect thinking as his friends and his wife.

“Then Job answered and said, Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.” ~ Job 23:1-7

So what did Job do right?

What Job got right was that Job didn’t give up on life and God (as his wife seemed to do). He also, didn’t make up a cause where there was none, as his friends had erroneously done: Job didn’t try to “explain it away”.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

But, above all, what Job did right was to remain, to stand fast. In the midst of an onslaught of un-rationalize-able troubles including the crushing loss of all ten of his beloved children, for whom he had offered sacrifices daily to God just in case they accidentally sinned and angered Him (Job 1:5), Job never gave up on God or God’s way.

Job decided that he would wrestle with God until God worked it out. As far as Job was concerned, God had better show up because Job was not going anywhere. He was going to sit in the garbage dump scratching his painful boils and talking with God until God responded.

And if God didn’t respond, Job was sure there was a go-between called The Redeemer who would take up his cause for him.

“Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” ~ Job 19:22-27

Job was going to try to resolve the issue with God, even if he died waiting. His life wasn’t making sense anymore, but Job wasn’t about to leave God and Job wasn’t going to pretend he understood what God was doing.

God never did explain to Job, He responded (Job 39-42), but He never explained. Instead, God reminded Job that Job was just a man; Job’s responsibility was not to understand: Job’s job was to be faithful: to remain steadfast even when nothing made sense to him, even when reason failed.

Likewise, let us follow Job’s example.

(`“•.¸(`“•.¸(`“•.¸______________¸.•“´)¸.•“´)¸.•“´)

When things fall apart
And we just can’t explain
When life is a burden
And we are overwhelmed with pain
Let us hold on to God until He sees us through
Let us not make up reasons when only faith will do
Don’t leave now
Don’t give up
Don’t walk away
If you’ve run out of answers
Then you have more reason to stay

(¸.•“´(¸.•“´(¸.•“´______________`“•.¸)`“•.¸)`“•.¸)

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;
We are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken;
Cast down, but not destroyed”
~ 2 Corinthians 4:7-9

Babes in Christ

Published by reflectionsintheword

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.” ~ 1 Corinthians 3:1

Are you mourning, believer, because you are so weak in the divine life: because your faith is so little, your love so feeble? Cheer up, for you have cause for gratitude. Remember that in some things you are equal to the greatest and most full-grown Christian. You are as much bought with blood as he is.

You are as much an adopted child of God as any other believer. An infant is as truly a child of its parents as is the full-grown man. You are as completely justified, for your justification is not a thing of degrees: your little faith has made you clean every whit. You have as much right to the precious things of the covenant as the most advanced believers, for your right to covenant mercies lies not in your growth, but in the covenant itself; and your faith in Jesus is not the measure, but the token of your inheritance in Him.

You are as rich as the richest, if not in enjoyment, yet in real possession. The smallest star that gleams is set in heaven; the faintest ray of light has affinity with the great orb of day. In the family register of glory the small and the great are written with the same pen. You are as dear to your Father’s heart as the greatest in the family. Jesus is very tender over you.

You are like the smoking flax; a rougher spirit would say, ‘put out that smoking flax, it fills the room with an offensive odour!’ but the smoking flax He will not quench. You are like a bruised reed; and any less tender hand than that of the Chief Musician would tread upon you or throw you away, but He will never break the bruised reed. Instead of being downcast by reason of what you are, you should triumph in Christ.

Am I but little in Israel? Yet in Christ I am made to sit in heavenly places. Am I poor in faith? Still in Jesus I am heir of all things. Though ‘less than nothing I can boast, and vanity confess.’ yet, if the root of the matter be in me I will rejoice in the Lord, and glory in the God of my salvation.

Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening for October 19; Morning Devotional

Because of Mercy we have Life, Because of Life we have Hope

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“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” ~ Lamentations 3:22

Even when things are at their worst for us, God is still showing us mercy.

It often escapes us just how Holy God is and how unholy we are by comparison. Somehow, we have lost perspective: The Gospel of Christ has become the gospel of casualness: we somehow have mangled God’s love for us into our own self-importance. We often think that God “owes us” good health, a trouble-free life, money, employment, education and so on.

However, because of our sinfulness, what God “owes” us is judgment. Nevertheless, because of His mercy, God spares us (for a time). Instead, of immediate judgment, God gives us (a limited) time to call on Him for salvation, and to walk with Him for sanctification.

Jeremiah had spent his adult years as a very unpopular prophet, he had endured much persecution for his devotion to speaking out God’s message. Yet, when the Babylonians came and destroyed Jerusalem, he was not spared. He suffered just like everyone else.

However, in the midst of his anguish, Jeremiah realized that but for God’s mercy he, and everyone else on the planet, would be consumed. Despite his appointment (by God!) as a prophet (Jeremiah 1:5), Jeremiah still recognized his unworthiness before The Holy God.

If God does not continually exercise mercy, no one could stand, no one would have a chance. The life we live, however easy or however difficult, is afforded to us because of God’s mercy. Should God fail to look upon us mercifully we would ALL be consumed. And that does not just mean physical death. Except for God’s mercy, except for the Blood of Jesus, we would ALL instantly be dispatched to hell (Revelation 20:11-15)!!!

“And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.” ~ Isaiah 30:18

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” ~ Isaiah 64:6

Despite his personal sufferings and sorrows, Jeremiah recognized this truth: he realized that God didn’t owe him anything, rather he owed God everything. Every painful breath that Jeremiah breathed was given to Him by the mercies of God. Every anguished minute of his life was a chance to serve God.

Friends, brothers, sisters, we are alive and we have hope, even in the darkest trials, because God has been merciful to us.

Even when things are most difficult and most painful, God is yet showing us mercy because we are alive, we still have a chance to call on His Name. By God’s MERCY we have life… and with life we have HOPE.

Prescription for Depression

Published by reflectionsintheword

“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick…” ~ Proverbs 13:12a

In The Bible, the word heart is often used interchangeably with mind and refers to the “inner man”. The heart is also considered to be the seat of the emotions, appetites and passions. Hence, the phrase “heart sick”, in our text, refers to unhealthiness of the mind and in our modern terminology it describes depression.

Conversely, the word the verb defer simply means ‘put off’ or ‘delay’.

DIAGNOSIS

Our text, therefore, succinctly reveals one key cause of depression in humans: “hope deferred”. When we hope for something and it does come in what we think is a reasonable time: when our hopes are put off or delayed, we get depressed. For example:

In 1 Kings 21:4 King Ahab got depressed when Naboth refused to give/sell Ahab his garden. Eventually to relieve his depression, Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, had Naboth murdered so that Ahab could finally get the garden he didn’t need.
Jonah was depressed (and angry) because he had hoped Nineveh, the capital city of one of Israel’s fiercest enemies would have perished (Jonah 3:10-4:3). When Nineveh repented because of Jonah’s preaching, Jonah wished his own life would end: he lost his will to live.

Similarly, when things in our lives don’t go the way we hoped they would, when our hopes are not realized when we expect they should, we too often get depressed.

Many people struggle with depression when their search for a job fails over and over again. Some get depressed when their search for a suitable wife/husband fails. Parents get depressed about their rebellious children, the children they hoped would have become great successes. Sometimes, poor health makes us depressed (we had hoped and even striven to be healthy). Sometimes failing finances, or maybe the loss of a home brings depression (“it was our dream house”).

Whatever the circumstance may be, the cause for depression is often the same: “hope deferred”.

PRESCRIPTION

The prescription for depression, therefore, is not to have hope deferred.

How is that possible? We can’t control life’s events!!!???

The Bible, unsurprisingly, has the answer:

“Blessed [Happy] is the man… whose hope the LORD is.” ~ Jeremiah 17:7

The key to having fulfilled hope instead of deferred hope is to hope in The LORD. We will have our hope realized when we center our happiness and fulfillment on God, alone, instead of things, instead of people, instead of circumstances.

Ahab would not have been depressed if he had his heart set on serving in God’s vineyard (i.e., The Kingdom of God) instead of owning Naboth’s vineyard.

Jonah would not have been depressed if he was filled with God’s love rather than his own hate for the Ninevites.

Financial troubles won’t depress us, if we recognize that God is the One who supplies (now and forever) ALL our needs.

Our children’s ‘failings’ won’t depress us, if we are focused instead on their salvation. That is, when we are concerned with what God is doing in their lives to Glorify Himself, rather than what they are doing with their lives to glorify us.

Our (failing) health won’t depress us when we believe “For in him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

In The Scripture, Paul triumphs over his own physical struggles when he realized the ‘thorn in his flesh’ was part of God’s plan for him: the infirmity kept Paul humble and Paul’s commitment to God despite his physical challenge brought even more glory to God (2 Corinthians 12:6-10). Eventually, Paul declared:

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities… for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” ~ 2 Corinthians 6:10

Paul’s hope focused on fulfilling God’ will for his life rather than his own comfort. Therefore, Paul’s hope was NOT deferred!!! Paul found triumph instead.

God’s plans will be fulfilled in our lives when we walk in His will, according to His plans. Therefore, if our hope rests in God, our hope will come true. When we hope for things, persons or situations that are not part of God’s plan, we shouldn’t expect to receive them from His hand.

To be clear, The Scriptures do not suggest that we will never experience sadness, loneliness, anguish or pain.

However, if our hope is in the Lord, our hopes will never be deferred and our hearts will never get sick… when we submit completely to God’s plan we will be free from depression.

Recognizing Jesus in “The Night”

Published by reflectionsintheword

“But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled…” ~ Mark 6:49-50a

It seems strange to us, that the disciples would ever have been afraid of their own Master. They had been in great distress all through the night just because He was not with them.

There was nothing they had desired so much all through those long dark hours as that Jesus would come to them. Yet now, when He did come, they were in terror at the sight of Him. It was because they did not know that it was Jesus as His very unusual presence so affrighted them.

It is ofttimes just so with us. We are in some need or danger, and Jesus does not come to us. We call upon Him, and most earnestly desire His coming; yet He does not come.

At length [after what seems a long time] He comes, but often it is not as we had expected (i.e., in lovely visage and gentle deportment) but in the form of terror! It is in some great trial that He comes. Death enters our door and carries away a loved one. Or we experience some loss or some misfortune—at least it seems to us, loss or misfortune.

We cry out in terror! We do not know that it is Jesus, veiled in the dark robe, who has come! We do not know that this is the answer to our prayer for His presence and His help.

We are affrighted at the unusual form that moves over the waters in the dark night. We think it is new danger, when really it is the very divine love and divine help for which we have been longing and pleading!

We ought to learn that Jesus is in every providence that comes to us. He does not come in the sunshine only; quite as frequently it is in the dark night that He draws near.

It is our duty as Christians to train ourselves to see Christ in every event. Then, whether it is sorrow or joy which knocks at our door we shall give it loving welcome, knowing that Jesus Himself is veiled in whatever form it is, that He enters. Then we shall find, that when we welcome Him in the somber garments of affliction, He will always have a rich blessing for our lives!

by J. R. Miller (from “Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ” 1890)

Let’s Stay Together

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“Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.” ~ Habakkuk 1:4

Despite his frustration with what he perceives as God’s inaction/unresponsiveness (Habakkuk 1:2-3), Habakkuk provides us with keen insight into the challenge facing Believers (“the righteous”) in a society consisting mostly of Unbelievers (“the wicked”). Specifically, Habakkuk reveals that societies decline morally when the righteous are isolated (“for the wicked doth compass about the righteous”).

When the righteous are isolated, God’s law becomes ineffectual/useless as a standard (“the law is slacked”) and wrong judgment (discretion/measure) replaces righteous judgment in the public collective mindset (judgment: the process of forming an opinion or evaluation by discerning and comparing). In other words, in Habakkuk’s day, there were not enough righteous people left in Judah to work together to transform it: The country was weak spiritually because there were not enough righteous men to form a network to make it strong.

Jesus, just before His crucifixion, gave His disciples the blueprint for success in carrying on His ministry. One key feature of the blueprint was avoiding isolation:

“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” ~ Matthew 18:19-20

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are…
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:11, 21, 22 and 23)

Jesus tells us (Matthew 18:19-20, above) that His presence is assured wherever two or three (NOT just one) are gathered in His name; AND His power is made available whenever two (NOT just one) on earth agree on a mutual need to accomplish God’s will and purpose—see Matthew 6:9-10, James 4:3. In other words, strength lies not in our numbers, strength lies in our UNITY.

The importance of unity was further emphasized when, in a single prayer, Jesus prays FIVE times (John 17:11, 21, 22 and 23, above) that His disciples would be divinely knit together in unity: NOT left on their own as isolated individuals. And this was crucial so that the world of Unbelievers into which they were about to be thrust, would BELIEVE in Jesus the Son of God sent to save the world—i.e., that wrong-judgment (unbelief) would be replaced by right-judgment (belief).

Simply put, when Believers stay together, pray together, gather together and work together then Believers will thrive, remain strong and deliver right judgment (God’s message of redemption through Jesus).

Otherwise, when Believers are isolated—when “the wicked doth compass about the righteous”—then our societies experience moral and spiritual decline and wrong judgment becomes pervasive, endemic.

To be clear, unity of Believers does not guarantee the worlds salvation. However, it does assure that there is a definite source of Truth in the world (i.e., that God’s Law is not “slacked”) AND that right judgment (the Gospel) goes forth.

So let us who Believe in God, the God of the Bible, let us stay together, pray together, gather together and work together so that with Jesus in our presence we can be empowered by Him to accomplish His will here on earth and declare His truth by our UNITY.

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” ~ Hebrews 10:25

Bear ye one another’s burdens…

Published by reflectionsintheword

Many of us are presently going through some really tough times… Let us pray that God will make a way for all of us to take the time to talk with each other more… to share each others burdens.

It is especially crucial in times like these that the world sees Believers supporting each other, loving each other. I believe this would be a great relief to each of us struggling with the issues of life AND it would also be a powerful testimony of the truth of Jesus.

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” ~ John 13:34-35

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” ~ Galatians 6:2

GOD is FOR You!

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“…God is for me.” ~ Psalm 56:9b

Beloved, the greatest mercy a sinner can enjoy is to have God on his side, and employed in his most important concerns! In Christ, this mercy is yours!

God is for you!

He chose you in Christ before the world began.
He formed you to show forth His praise.
He preserved you in Christ until He called you by grace.
He quickened you by His Spirit, and led you to Jesus.
He has given you His Son, and promised every additional good.
He has said to you, “You are Mine!” You have said, “I am Yours!”
He is now your refuge and strength!

He is…
…tenderly concerned for your welfare,
…devotedly attached to your cause,
…and observes every step you take!

He may try your faith — but will certainly supply your needs.

He may exercise your patience — but will never turn a deaf ear to your cries, except you indulge iniquity in your heart.

No parent ever felt so deeply interested in the welfare of a beloved child as God does for all His children.

He says, Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you go through deep waters and great trouble I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior! (Isaiah 43:1-3).

Trusting such a promise, who can fail!

“God is the best friend — but the worst enemy!” (Thomas Watson)

by James Smith

Lessons from Noah’s Ark

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Don’t miss the boat.
Try to remember that we’re all in the same boat.
Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark, you know.
Stay fit. When you’re 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something REALLY big.
Don’t listen to critics, just get on with what has to be done.
Build your future on high ground.
For safety’s sake, travel in pairs.
Two heads are better than one.
Speed isn’t always an advantage; after all, the snails were on board with the cheetahs.
When you’re stressed, try floating awhile.
Remember that the ark was built by amateurs; it was the Titanic that was built by professionals.
Remember that woodpeckers inside are a larger threat than storms outside.
No matter what the difficulty, trust in the Almighty: There’ll be a rainbow at the end of the storm.

LIST obtained from here

PICTURE obtained from here

The Sudden Storms of Life

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“And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves…” ~ Matthew 8:23-24a

Had the disciples put out to sea without Christ’s bidding they would not have had the same reason to expect His protection and deliverance.

The lesson we learn here is, that storms may arise, even when we are in the plain line of Christian duty. We should not be discouraged by the difficulty or trouble which comes and conclude that we are in the wrong path.

We see, also, that Christ’s presence with His disciples, does not keep the storms away. There are no promises in the Bible that Christian people shall not have trials. The Gospel builds no high walls around us to break the force of the stormy winds. Troubles come to the Christian just as surely as to the worldly man.

There are the storms of temptation these sweep down with sudden and terrific power from the cold mountains of this world! Then, there are storms of sickness, of disappointment and adversity, of sorrow which make the waves and billows to roll over the soul.

On the Sea or Galilee, travelers say that a boat will be gliding along smoothly over the glassy surface, unbroken by a ripple when suddenly, without a moment’s warning a tempest will sweep down, and almost instantly, the boat will be tossed upon the angry waves.

Just so, do many of life’s storms come. Great troubles come when we least expect them. We may be at peace in a happy home. At an hour when we think all is calm, without warning the darling child whom we love so much, lies dead in our arms! The friend we trusted, and who we thought would never fail us proves false! The hopes cherished for years wither in our hands, like flowers when the frost comes!

The storms of life are nearly all sudden surprises. They do not hang out danger-signals days before, to warn us. The only way to be ready for them is to have Jesus with us in our boat.

by J. R. Miller (from “Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ” 1890)