KNOWING GOD
God protected Job’s physical wellbeing when He allowed Satan to destroy Job’s wealth and family. The faithful response of Job to these circumstances caused Satan to request the ability to tempt Job with severe physical affliction. God allowed Satan to do this.
Job found himself covered with loathsome sores from head to toe. He was so disfigured from this condition that his friends did not recognize him. The pain and discomfort were so severe that he scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery for relief. This was his condition 24/7.
Curse God and die was the remedy Job’s wife offered. She saw his situation as hopeless. These circumstances affected her greatly because she had lost all of her comforts in life also; and now she had to endure the intense suffering of her husband.
Job’s understanding of who God is provided faith to endure evil circumstances without sinning. He reprimanded his faithless wife with these words: Shall we receive good from God and shall we not receive evil? Job understood that God allows bad things to happen to his people for their good and His glory.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God today for the circumstances He is using in your life for your good.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
KNOWING GOD
Satan attacked Job and destroyed his wealth, his livelihood, and his family. Job’s response to this personal tragedy displayed his understanding of who God is and how He works in the world. Grief for his losses brought Job to God in worship as he stated his utter dependence upon God, and his understanding of God’s sovereignty.
Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.
In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Job’s response to events of sad providence is a model for God’s people to follow. In the midst of sadness God does not change; He is still the loving Father who carries His children through difficult circumstances.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God as you acknowledge His hand in your circumstances today.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
KNOWING GOD
These verses give insight into Who is restraining evil on earth. The book of Genesis presents the account of Satan’s impact on God’s perfect creation; sin, man’s fall from perfect fellowship with God, and a curse placed on man’s perfect environment. Job provides a picture of Satan’s power in the world. It is restrained by God’s sovereignty and grace.
Satan cannot act against a child of God without permission from God. Grace and mercy surround God’s children, protecting them from Satan’s attacks. So in the discussion about Job, Satan has to ask God if he can test Job’s faith and love for God. God permits the test.
Evil may surround us but, it is not total evil. God’s grace decreases the impact of Satan’s work in the world. When God’s grace is no longer present, unrestrained evil exists without the force of good; this is hell.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God today as you feel the protection from evil that His grace and mercy provide.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
KNOWING GOD
KNOWING GOD
The book of Job teaches that God is present in the suffering of His people, while working all things for their good. This truth is so difficult to embrace when one is enduring circumstances that seem hopeless. God is in control sounds very clinical to the heart that is breaking under the burden of pain and deadly distress.
How is God glorified in the suffering His children? As Job found, suffering brings a greater knowledge of who God is and how He works in the hearts of His people, making them more like Him. Matthew Henry wrote a great introduction to this book. It is not a quick read but, it is well worth the time for background information on the book of Job.
Job is introduced as a Godly man; blameless, upright, feared God, turned away from evil. He was a man of wealth. He was also a family man who was concerned for the spiritual well being of his children, praying for them continually.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God today as you live a blameless and upright life.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
HAPPY EASTER
The power for awe factor living is found in this chapter of the Bible. It is the resurrection power of Jesus, celebrated by God’s people today. Jesus is alive! He is forming His people into what He wants them to be. Resurrection power transforms lives.
What is Jesus telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy our risen Savior today as you worship Him.
HAVE A BLESSED RESURRECTION DAY!
AWE FACTOR LIVING
Acts 28:1-03
The Book of Acts seems to end rather abruptly, leaving the reader to wonder what happened to Paul? He is left in Rome under house arrest faithfully preaching the Gospel to all who will listen. A website that gives a good summary of Paul’s life is http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/paul.html .
Paul was martyred for his faithfulness to Christ. Throughout history God has used the writings of Paul found in the New Testament to bring people to faith in Christ and to keep Christians strong in faith. Paul is a role model for taking the Gospel to the world without hesitation for personal expense.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God today as you share the Gospel.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
AWE FACTOR LIVING
The awe factor proclaims the Kingdom of God and teaches about the Lord Jesus Christ with boldness. Paul reached his final destination, Rome. He had much freedom as a prisoner being under house arrest with minimal security.
After three days he invited the Jewish leaders in Rome to meet with him. He explained his situation to them, of which they knew nothing. Then he invited them back and shared the Gospel with them. Some became Christians as a result of Paul’s faithfulness.
The last paragraph of the Book of Acts states: He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. What a role model!
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God today as you boldly share the Gospel.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
AWE FACTOR LIVING
The awe factor is encouraged by the body of Christ. After spending three months of winter on the Island of Malta the travelers found passage on another ship heading to Rome. At various ports on the trip, Paul was allowed to get off the ship and spend time with Christian brothers.
Paul was encouraged by God’s faithfulness in growing His church. When Paul finally reached Rome he was not placed in prison. He was under house arrest, guarded by one soldier. This gave Paul the freedom to lay the foundation for the church of Rome.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God today as you are encouraged by other Christians.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
AWE FACTOR LIVING
The awe factor is protected by providential grace. All of the crew and passengers on the ship made it safely to the island near the ship wreck. God had prepared special care for the wreck victims from the hands of the people who lived on this island named Malta.
God’s providence brought Paul to these people so the good news of the Gospel could be given to them. The text doesn’t indicate that Paul preached. It does say he spent much time healing people and it would seem that in the process they were told about Jesus.
The people of the island provided all the goods the visitors needed until they could travel; then the natives of Malta provided what was needed for their trip. Providential grace was at work. What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God as you see His providential grace at work in your life.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
AWE FACTOR LIVING
The awe factor protects others because of providential grace. The inevitable shipwreck occurred as foretold by Paul. God promised that there would be no loss of life when the ship went aground. The soldiers, however, made a plan to kill all of the prisoners so they could not escape.
But, Julian the centurion, wanted to keep Paul alive; so none of the prisoners were killed. Rather they were instructed to head for the shore by swimming or on planks. And so it was all were brought safely to land.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God today as you see His grace at work in the world.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
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