Ephesians 4 - 7.4.25

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Observation:

This is one of the verses for Christian living in this chapter of Ephesians. It seems easy to be negative but takes work to be positive. When one of my employees make a mistake, it is easy to say you made a stupid mistake or that was not very smart. One negative remark can wash away many positive remarks. Curse words and slander can have a negative effect on how non-believers view us. Think about how much you love uplifting words. It says it may benefit those who listen. It is up to the individual if they will listen and accept the benefit of a positive word.

Application:

Our best step is to start with prayer before we open our mouths. There are other verses that talk about our tongue, both positive and negative.

Psalm 15:3 - “whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others.”

Psalm 37:30 - “The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.”

Proverbs 10:31 - “From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced.”

Proverbs 11:12 - “Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.”

Proverbs 12:18 - “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Proverbs 21:23 - “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”

This is just a few of many scriptures about what comes out of our mouth. The amazing thing is when you benefit others, it seems to give you God’s joy in return.

Prayer

Lord, you are so loving and kind to me, may the words I speak be uplifting to those around me. Your written word benefits me Lord. Let the words out of my mouth glorify you, Jesus, and benefit those around me. On this day, the 4th of July. In Jesus name Amen.

 - Robert Oberg

Job 17 - 7.3.25

The book of Job is a book that requires the sequence of chapters in an attempt to understand why God would test Job, and raises the question, How far would God go to test me? Have I ever been tested? Read this summary of the book of Job: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/oldtestament/section11/

SCRIPTURE

Chapter 17 Job Confronts both God and His Friends

(1-2) Job’s broken spirit. “My spirit is broken, My days are extinguished, The grave is ready for me. Are not mockers with me? And does not my eye dwell on their provocation?”

(3-5) Job begs heaven to sustain and support him.

(6-9) A faint, bright glimmer in the hopeless condition of Job. Job explains his present condition and the ultimate resolution he trusts in

(10-16) Job’s sense of hopelessness. My days are past, my purposes are broken off: Job accepted now that his good years and strong years were behind him, and anticipated not the quick death he once longed for, but perhaps a progressive loss of strength and ability until he simply perished.

Accepting what seems ineveitable..Where there is my hope?

OBSERVATION

The author of the book of Job is uncertain but is thought to be the oldest book in the Old Testament. Ancient it is beyond all dispute. It probably belongs to the period covered by the book of Genesis; and possibly, to the time of Abraham. Its lesson, therefore, is the oldest lesson we could have; and it takes us back to the first lesson taught in the Bible itself.” (Bullinger)

Circumstances in our life may be unexpected and out of our control. Some we may choose. Our own humiliation is inevitable. The frailty of humanity and the fallen nature of this world combine together to make the humiliation of man certain, yet it may come in many forms. Our humiliation may come to us through our own sin, through our own weaknesses and poor choices, through circumstances beyond our control, or by what others caused purposely or by accident. And we will feel helpless and hopeless. Definition of Humiliation is the feeling of being ashamed or losing respect for yourself, or an occasion when you have experienced this… WHERE THERE IS MY HOPE?

Job had lost all hope and felt that death was the only answer. At the same time, this comfort did not sit well with Job. He recognized that it was a slender and frail hope to trust in the grave; he could not be confident that hope would follow him down to Sheol (The Bible says Sheol is the grave or place of the dead) and give him rest.)

Job therefore concludes this speech with a conflicted hope; wishing for death but not being satisfied or confident in that hope. What he really wanted was a resolution from God, but seems to have given up hope for that. And Job was accepting death if it came quickly.

APPLICATION

It is a call to all of us that even when life’s trials seem insurmountable, holding onto our faith in God can give us the strength to endure (resolution). Even in the face of death, Job hopes in God’s ultimate justice, setting an example of unwavering faith for generations to come What have you lost in your lifetime?

Have you ever felt humiliation because of something you said or did? Or someone did and it has affected you?

Regarding humiliation: Thankfully, the humiliation of humanity has its model and sympathy in the life of Jesus. He climbed the ladder down from heaven’s glory to the lowest of human experience We are also thankful that humiliation serves as a gateway to grace. The principle stands true: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34)

Do you ever ask WHERE ARE YOU GOD? Job is talking to GOD. He made a *resolution to never stop asking but he was losing hope! Are these the same questions you may be asking? And you see no answer? No one can even imagine the loss of losing one family member let alone an entire family and a health condition that is seen by everyone and is not responding to treatment and prayer. And friends who think it’s your fault or that’s what you get out conversations with them. And after you’ve prayed and had others pray, nothing has changed; your prayers are unanswered and you are losing hope. And you’ve tried all you know to do. And you pour out your heart and all your thoughts to HIM again, as the last “hope”. And what you really want is to hear from GOD…”God why haven’t you healed me, why did my family member die, why don’t my friends understand?” And the answer is resolution…I will never stop praying and asking for___________! *Definition of Resolution: a firm decision to do or not to do something: In the seasons of life, we all will have family problems/ health problems/works situations where we don’t see our prayers answered. Call out to him and thank him for what He has already done. And come with fresh RESOLUTION Jesus Christ my GOD, I KNOW YOUR WILL be done BUT I WILL never stop asking. HOPE—THE GOOD NEWS HE WILL! God’s words never fail. AND ALMOST THE END OF THE BOOK OF JOB.

PRAYER

Lord, your word is a lamp unto our feet. Our hope and trust are in You. YOUR Unfailing grace Never ends. Right now, if the reader is struggling with problems in the season of life they are in…Speak to them in a way and voice that is individual in this precious season you have given them/us. We trust in your unfailing word and we thank you for those who TRUST in your unfailing grace. Thank you, Father God, LORD Jesus Christ that you are with us AND OUR FAMILIES in every season of life. Let us come humbly, in a fresh resolution of hope in you, Jesus. Because of your sacrifice Jesus we come humbly and thankfully that we have eternal (today and forever) life with you! AMEN

- Charleen Zakarian

Ephesians 2 - 7.2.25

Scripture:

Ephesians 2:4-5

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  

Ephesians 2:8-10

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Observation

Faith versus works – in multiple places in the New Testament, Paul and others remind us that there is nothing we did and nothing we could possibly do to earn God’s love and forgiveness. It is so hard for us to understand, because that’s not the way we think. We understand that actions have consequences, and hard work brings rewards. We often think we deserve things – both good and bad. When we succeed, it is so easy to credit our “righteousness” or hard work.

Application

I don’t know how long it will take me to truly understand and internalize God’s love for me and the concept that He loves me no matter what. But today I realized two things:

1.     Until we truly understand and acknowledge that we were lost and dead in our sin, we will not be able to properly honor Him for what He has done for us.

2.     And if we truly believe in His saving grace, it should change us and it should be evident in our lives. And when we feel like we’re failing, the answer should be to draw closer to Him, soaking in His presence, not doing more trying to earn his love and forgiveness.

“Only faith, not works, can bring us acceptance with God. But good works are the vital consequence and evidence of life with God (Titus 2:14; 3:8, 14; James 2:14–26). God chose us to make us holy sons and daughters (1:4, 5), and He has now fashioned us to be new bearers of His image (4:24), designed for the kind of life that conforms to God’s character.” ESV Reformation Study Bible

Prayer

Thank you for your patience with me – that you continue to work on my heart and reveal yourself to me even when I am so slow to learn the lessons. Thank you for your unfailing love and forgiveness. Thank you that you have prepared me, through your presence living in me, to share your love with others. Thank you for your grace. Continue to change me daily.

- Debbie Dunn