2009 – Day 240.Aug 29 – God Is In Control

Passage of the Day: Job 12 … Linked for study …

My Journal for Today: Don’t you just love our hero, Job! And what Job brings to the table in Chapter 12 is a model for any who’ve had to deal with the contentions or claims of legalists, … those who claim that they have a corner on understanding and wisdom but who represent darkness and doubt. And that is what Job had to listen to in the previous diatribe by Zophar and his other so-called “friends.”

Chuck Swindoll points out that LEGALISM often presents its ugly head in the form of cohorts of believers who act like bullies on the playground trying to take over the basketball court by intimidation. And it’s always interesting to see that a few loud bullies can draw a crowd of weaklings to themselves; and they can take over the playground unless someone is willing to stand up to them.

And that’s exactly what Job did here in Chapter 12; and don’t you just love the sarcasm of his open rebuke of Zophar, where he says, poetically and powerfully, in verse 1, “No doubt you are the people, … And wisdom will die with you!” And then Job goes about taking a stand up for what he believes is truth; and that is what we are commanded to do in God’s word by 1st Peter 3: 15 … to have an answer for those who challenge the truth of God’s word or misrepresent His truth. Now, I don’t exactly know if Job’s retort of Zophar fit into the latter part of Peter’s exhortation to confront our adversaries in “meekness.” However, he did have an answer for his three friends who were trying to place the legalists finger-pointing blame on Job, questioning his faith and his past life.

But as we can read here in today’s passage, Job didn’t let the legalists have their day. And I love the word picture Swindoll presents in explaining the importance of not letting legalistic bullies have their way. He says legalists are like roaches. They crawl around in the darkness and proliferate by feeding on the ooze of distrust and misunderstanding with gossip and half-truths. And if they are not brought out and confronted with the light of truth, they will gain strength and numbers. But Job, in Chapter 12, gave these three bully boys a dose of truth and light with his argument that God is the source of all truth; and that even when the circumstances of life seem out of control, God is in complete control. And Job shined the light on these roaches in the darkness of innuendo and doubt with forcefulness and truthfulness.

And Swindoll is right by extending the word picture of legalist bullies. When they are confronted with the light, you will see them run and hide. And that is when you often see splits in churches which are caused by legalists who, when they can’t get their way, will take their numbers and run to another church with their dogma of doubt and despair. But God will bless those who stand for right and righteousness, which is what good Christians must do when they are confronted by legalism in the church. And Job becomes a good model for this by his arguments today.

So, my friend, when you are confronted by the darkness of legalism, stand for God’s truth with love and with as much gentleness as God’s grace can give you; BUT … STAND and be heard and counted for truth. For, dear one, the light always dispels the darkness; and God’s will, which is found in His word, will always help the believer find God’s way to lead his people through that “valley of the shadow of death.”

My Prayer for Today: Lord, help me to shine Your light into the darkness of misunderstanding and doubt. Amen

2009 – Day 142.May 23 – Penetrating the Darkness

2009 – Day 142.May 23 – Penetrating the Darkness

Passage of the Day: 2nd Samuel 22: 1 – 31 or Psalm 18: 1 – 30 …
Link to 2nd Sam. 22 for study …
Also link to parallel version in Psalm 18 …

My Journal for Today: After reading these parallel versions of the same song from David, focus on Verse 29 of 2nd Sam. 22 or Verse 28 or Psalm 18, which truthfully sings …

28 For You will light my lamp;
The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

Now, Swindoll asks some pertinent questions, which I condense into one: “Ever been into some tough times when things seemed very dark?” Of course, you have; … we all have! Well, the bottom line becomes, “Is God your light in the dark times?” He obviously was for David; and the King of Israel captured his feelings about this in the poignant Psalm we read from two versions today, a song which we should remember to give us insight and encouragement when things seem so very dark.

I really love the story Swindoll tells in today’s devotional to illustrate the truth of verse 29 from 2nd Sam. 22. He relates his boyhood days, when his dad showed him how to gig flounder at night in shallow waters, by using a small lamp to light the way. He relates that the flounder would come into the shallows to feed on shrimp; and using the small lamp his dad used just gave enough light to see about one step forward and to reveal the flounder.

This story is doubly telling as a word picture; because there are times when we “flounder” in the darkness; and we need a light to move forward. And the light of God is very often just revealing enough to see one step at a time; but when we seek it, God’s light of truth is there to light the way. I think about this truth also with regard to following God’s word, which we know from Psalm 119: 105 is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.

We need to always remember the truth from these songs when things seem threatening and dark. If we’re willing to humble ourselves to seek God’s light, He will provide it, usually through His word, allowing us to see ahead just far enough to take the next step. Below I pray a prayer that I pray almost every day and very often when things are dark in my life.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, shine Your light brightly on my path so I can’t help but see it to follow You. Amen

2009 – Day 115.Apr. 26 – Walking In Victory

2009 – Day 115.Apr. 26 – Walking In Victory

Passage of the Day: 1st Samuel 18: 8 - 15 … Linked for your study …

My Journal for Today: The contrast between these two men is stark; and from this study of character, we learn a great lesson. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that David kept his focus on God; and he walked in victory. Whereas Saul became a prisoner to his own fears and jealousy; and he walked into a self-induced prison of paranoia.

So, we see the answer to the question, “How does a Christian walk in victory?” And the answer is right there, modeled by David. He focused on the Savior (i.e., God) and avoided the trap of falling prey to fear and reacting in anger. In spite of Saul’s hatred and even his aggressive anger, David CHOSE to love his king and to serve him; and he also chose to flee (as we’ll read later) rather than to strike back at his king.

David never took his eyes off of God; and as I sit here, reflecting on today’s passage, I have begun humming that old hymn, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, which has the formula which David used in the face of stress and worldly terror. In fact, I just plugged in my Ipod; and I’m listening to Alisa Dishong sing that old hymn …

Oh soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see.
There’s life for a look at my Savior,
And life more abundant and free.

[The Chorus] Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

Oh, how I love returning to this old song and singing its truth, especially when I allow myself to look inward at self rather than looking outward to my Savior. In fact, this morning as I listened to Alisa singing this beautiful truth, my mind/heart was taken to a parallel truth from God which I memorized years ago. It’s found in the formula Paul declared in his powerful exclamation from Galatians 6: 9, which says, And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Oh how Satan and the world want us to get wrapped up in self and to take our eyes off of the Savior. And as soon as that happens, we can fall prey to the same demons which captured Saul’s spirit … fear, jealousy, and even paranoia. But if we do not grow weary and look inward to self, keeping our eyes on our Lord, as did David, the ways and circumstances of life, the darkness of our world, will be diminished by the Light of the Savior, … in the light of His glory and grace.

It is my prayer this morning that you know and remember that old hymn and you have joined me, singing the words above to your own heart, no matter what things of this earth are trying to capture your spirit. As Paul also wrote to Timothy (in 2nd Tim. 1: 7 – paraphrased), … you have not been given, as a Christian, a spirit of fear, but rather a Spirit of love and power and of a sound mind. Never forget those truths above, dear one; and let the Spirit of God shine God’s Light into your heart to diminish the darkness of despair and doubt which our enemies would try to bring into your life.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, You are my Light. Shine brightly so that I may follow Your path, fleeing from Satan and self, and keeping my eyes on You, my Jesus. Amen