by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Job 11-13
Ramblings and speculations continue as Job and his “friends” try to figure out God.
I see so many people like that today, even though we now have a Bible. Our modern culture has invaded every aspect of society – including the church.
Today there are many Christians who don’t read the Bible and spend time with God. As a result, they are confused about His character and His ways. They continually speculate.
It’s not uncommon to hear people say, “I believe God wants…” as they go on to say something totally out in left field. They say that because they haven’t sought to know their Savior. They are just speculating.
Today, we don’t have the excuse Job did. He had no Bible and knew very little about God. We not only have the Bible, but many teachers who know our Father very well and can help us to discover the truths.
I pray that you and I won’t descend to the level of outrageous speculation, but will go to our Father and His word and ask Him for answers. James says, “If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”(James 1:5)
I praise Him for being such a great instructor.
Acts 9:1-21
You know the saying, “I saw the light?” I feel quite sure that the saying comes from Saul’s conversion. He truly “saw the light.”
Can you imagine the shock of Saul and the other travelers as a bright light beams around them – causing Saul to fall to the ground? (I’m not sure what caused him to fall. It could have been the presence of God overpowering him). Can you imagine their wonderment as a voice out of heaven startles them?
Blind and confused, Saul is taken to Damascus where he fasts for three days.
Now can you imagine the shock Ananias feels when he is told to go to Saul and lay hands on him? Ananias knows that Saul is one persecuting the church, and now he is supposed to go to the oppressor?
What a glorious moment when, as he obeys, the scales fall from Saul’s eyes and he begins to testify of his Lord.
God’s Word to Ananias, “He is a chosen instrument of mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.”(V.15)
Everyone is amazed. This is the first time that such a horrific opponent has openly been converted to Christianity. It’s scary, but it’s also thrilling to the others.
In modern times, we have seen quite a few dramatic conversions. C.S Lewis was an atheist before coming to Christ. Josh MacDowell was an agnostic. And we have seen many others. Often the ones who were the most adamantly opposed to Jesus become the most enthusiastic advocates.
That’s why we should never pre-judge people. There is no one who is beyond redemption when they truly encounter Jesus. That mean, ungodly person who works next to you may be on the verge of a great turnaround.
If God calls you to take the word to someone you know is totally lost, are you ready?
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Job 5-10
When I read Job, I realize once again how thankful I am for the Word of God. Just think what our lives would be like if we had to speculate about our Father, His character, and his purposes. That’s the way it was with Job and his friends. The only thing they had to go by was experience, and they just had to guess what life was all about. Of course they knew nothing about Satan.
That’s why the emotional roller coaster goes on and on. The friends jump around from topic to topic, and so does Job. Poor guy.
Eliphaz is trying to give Job advice. He says that “man is born for trouble.” But then he goes on to say that if it were him, he “would seek God.” And he winds up saying that “God is disciplining Job, and he should not despise it.”(All in Chapter 5)
Job’s answers come first with deep anguish. “Would that God were willing to crush me.”(6:9) But then with a reminder that he has not spoken ill of the Lord.
As Job continues, he rebukes his friends for not caring more. “For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend.”(6:14) Then he gets back on the subject of what God is doing, questioning the continual trials.
Bildad then takes his stand, saying that Job has to be in sin to be going through all of his trials. And Job counters with his credentials of righteousness.
More speculation.
I am so thankful that He has made Himself known to us. Aren’t you? We are so fortunate to live in our day – when His Spirit is actually living inside of us – and we have His Word to guide us. We are blessed!
Acts 8
We get a glimpse into the life of Saul before he knew Jesus. He was still a zealous man, but for the wrong cause. He was zealous for the cause of the Jewish leaders and for the persecution of the Christians. He had never met Jesus, but believed what the leaders told him and he thought he was on God’s side.
When the devil thinks he is bringing destruction to God’s kingdom, our Father always turns it around on him. The persecution of the church caused the people to scatter to other places. they were running to safety, but they were also scattering the word.
So Philip landed in Samaria – and those natives loved it. He was preaching and healing. Many paralyzed were getting healed.
When Peter and John joined the crowd, they began praying for the people to receive the Holy Spirit. The Word doesn’t say exactly what the demonstrations were, but we can be sure that the baptism was obvious, because Simon the magician wanted to buy the power to give the Holy Spirit. Needless to say, he was rebuked.
We wind up the chapter with Philip following the direction of an angel to go to Gaza and minister to an Ethiopian eunuch. So he tells the Ethiopian of Jesus and even baptizes this man, before being translated to Azotus. (He disappears and “finds himself” in Azotus).
Can you imagine the excitement these early Christians felt? So many supernatural activities. Their lives truly represented the kingdom of God.
I’m believing for more of the same in our generation. In countries where there is less sophistication and less busyness, more signs and wonders are reported than in our western world.
I want to see all that our Father has for us.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Esther 9-10
“On the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain mastery over them, it was turned to the contrary so that the Jews themselves gained the mastery over those who hated them.”(9:1)
That’s the way it is. When the armies around Israel today are threatening, they just have no idea who they are dealing with. God has a profound way of demonstrating His power for His people. He still has the covenant with Abraham.
There are many back-story accounts concerning Israel’s 6-day war with Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq in 1967. Everybody knew that Israel demolished the air forces and demoralized these four nations in just 6 days. What many never knew was that the other forces saw lights in the sky and heard noises which weren’t there. They thought they were encountering greater numbers and a greater power than they actually were. Hmmm…
Back to Esther. After the day of turning – of “turning from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday” ( 9:22), the Jews were raised into high esteem among the people.
Mordecai was then elevated to second in position in Persia, second only to King Ahasuerus. What a turnaround!
Do you need a turnaround? God has a way of doing it for you too.
Acts 7: 1-22
As Stephen stands before the council, they see his face like the face of an angel. Shouldn’t that be enough to stop any harassment? Not for them.
Now Stephen displays the boldness of Peter as he begins to speak before the council. The boldness and the knowledge.
It seems that if you want to have the Old Testament in a nutshell, this chapter would suffice. Stephen tells in detail the story of Abraham’s call, the birth of Isaac, and Jacob. Then he recounts how they went into Egypt to survive a famine and stayed there four hundred years…until the time “of the promise was approaching.”(V. 17)
Stephen knows his history extremely well, as he even recounts some nuances of scripture.
This reminds me of a precious man who is a friend of my husband and mine. He is 91 years old and has been preaching for 72 years – since he was 19. There is lots of fruit in his life, as he has started and oversees several churches – reaching from Atlanta to Chicago. When we go to visit him, he starts telling us stories.
His favorite story is to tell us again how he came to know the Lord, recounting every detail of his experience. Somewhere in the account, he says, “I love to tell the stories.”
Do you have a history which is precious to you? Maybe you have been through some hard times – as this man of God has. But do you have the story of your encounter with Jesus locked in your memory? Do you tell it often?
You can see in this passage concerning Stephen that the story of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is very dear to him. He has a history with God – based on the experiences of God’s dealings with man.
There is no greater faith builder than to remind yourself of all of the good God has done for you in the past. Think of it and tell it often.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Esther 6-8
I wonder who kept King Ahasuerus from sleeping and brought to his mind the chronicles for nighttime reading. I think I can guess.
Our God has a way of getting the job done. While the king reads the books, he happens to notice that Mordecai had never been rewarded for saving his life. What a terrific time for him to notice! Just when the awareness is needed.
So Haman’s own plans turn on him. The honor he plans for himself goes to Mordecai, and the gallows he plans for Mordecai is where Haman winds up. There is a proverb which states, “The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way. But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.” (Prov. 11:5). I think we are seeing this in action.
If you are facing some unjust issues, I would suggest that you really turn to God. Spend time with Him in prayer and reading the Word. He will guide you and He will take care of the problem for you.
There have been many times when I have faced problems which seemed insurmountable in the natural. As I would take the case to God, I would gain greater understanding and often some direction. In a couple of cases, He would show me that I was harboring unforgiveness toward those people. of course, i would have to let that go. Then he has ordered my steps.
The most exciting part, however, has been the times when I would see God at work – in a way that was impossible for me. he can get inside of hearts – with dreams, sending the right people across a path, having “just the right” TV programs come on the air. I have seen Him work in so many ways.
Our God is a God we can trust. If we do our part, honoring Him with our obedience, we will see His work on our behalf.
Acts 6
Stephen is a testimony to all of the lay people out there who want to walk in closeness with God. Sometimes people get the wrong impression that certain levels of closeness are only for the ministers. Stephen proves that idea to be wrong.
Stephen is a server. His job in the church is to serve the widows their meals. In fact, he is doing this so that the apostles are not burdened with anything but prayer and ministry of the word. So many might get the idea that Stephen isn’t that “spiritual.”
Wrong. Stephen is full of grace and power, and performing great wonders and signs among the people. (V. 8) When the religious leaders try to argue with Stephen, they are “unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.” (V.10)
Stephen is a sign to us, that we need to take the wraps off of our relationship with God. We don’t have to be timid or afraid that we aren’t valuable enough. God loves us all, and he wants our lives to be productive. Just as Stephen is shown with great wisdom, signs, and wonders, we can expect to the same.
Very few people, even good Christians, reach for God’s highest plan. It takes focus, energy, and fortitude to have that level of relationship with our Creator. But that relationship is available.
As we proceed with the New Testament, we will see more examples. Are you ready for the challenge?
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Esther 3-5
Pride personified! That’s Haman. He has conjured his way up the hierarchy so that he is second to the king, but his pride is about to bring him down.
Furious that Mordecai doesn’t bow down to him, Haman talks the king into killing all of the Jews. His lies seem to be working.
Little does he know that Esther, the queen, is a Jew, so he has a big surprise coming.
As the story unfolds, we see the bigger picture which God had all along, and we see that Mordecai knew how to walk it out. Remember, he had counseled Esther as she prepared for her selection as queen. His advice had procured that high position for her so that she now she was in the place of the king’s respect. Then he had advised her not to let her heritage be known. All of that advice will soon be paying off.
Now Mordecai solicits the help of his niece. It’s a risky thing he asks her to do, but he wants Esther to inform the king of her heritage now and ask for mercy on her people. Mordecai’s remark is one of the famous Bible passages. “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.”(4:14).
With all of the Jews fasting and praying, Esther begins the challenge and obviously has the king’s favor.
In the meantime, Haman’s pride is getting him in deeper and deeper. Furious over Mordecai’s attitude, he erects a gallows so that Mordecai can be hanged.
Tomorrow we will see the wrap up of these events.
Today, let’s remember Mordecai’s famous verse. There are times when the going seems tough as we walk out God’s plan for our lives. Yet this verse can bring great courage to us when we take it to heart. Each of us has a purpose, and the closer we walk with God, the closer we will get to the purpose. There will be times when we will realize that God’s hand on our lives is bringing us to a special moment. And we will be willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish what God has set before us.
Who knows, maybe you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.
Acts 5:21-42
These disciples are unstoppable.
Yesterday as we left, the apostles had been let out of prison by an angel, and told to go and teach in the temple. So when the officers go to the prison to take them before the council, the apostles are not there. They are reported to be teaching in the temple again.
As the men are now brought before the council, they inspire rage in the leaders. Peter begins to preach to the leaders again. And the results are obvious. “When they hear this they are cut to the quick and are intending to slay them.”(V. 33)
Gamaliel saves the day by reminding these leaders that if they kill the apostles, they might be fighting against God.
So we have two unstoppable forces. The disciples are unstoppable in their determination to preach the gospel. The church leaders are unstoppable in their course of evil. No miracle, no word, not even the demonstration of Jesus’ reality by the wisdom in His men. Nothing catches their attention to change course. They are on a mission to stomp out Christianity, and nothing will stop them, if they can help it.
Stubbornness for the right cause shows character; stubbornness for the wrong cause shows foolishness. I pray that you and I will have the first of these two.
We need to be determined and diligent for our cause, but we have to stay teachable. Only the teachable will stay on the right course, and that’s where we want to be.
