Job 10. 06.26.25

SCRIPTURE: Job 10:2 NIV

“I say to God: Do not declare me guilty, but tell me what charges you have against me.”

OBSERVATION

After hearing accusations from both Eliphaz and Bildad—

Job asks three questions:

1.      How can I be righteous before God in Court? (9:1-13)

2.      How can I meet God in Court? (10:14-35)

3.      Why was I ever born? (10:22)

First-The question of being righteous before God is not about salvation but about “vindication”. Job ponders this deeply provocative question not knowing any other way to clear himself before his friends. But would anyone DARE go to court with an opponent powerful enough to shake the earth, make the stars, and walk on waves? (9:7-8)

I remember a panel discussion with theologians who were posed a question, “Was God too harsh in his punishment of Adam and Eve when HE banished them from the Garden of Eden?” Each one took their turn attempting to answer the question in some form. Then it was R.C. Sproul’s turn.

I had never heard of him prior. He was sitting back in his chair, looking frail and wearing oxygen. As he began to speak- life literally poured into his body-he said, “Why would you ask such a foolish question as-Was God TOO harsh?

“The problem is, You don’t know who you are AND you don’t know who GOD IS. God can DO Anything HE wants to DO”.

This response shook the other theologians-and the host-yet Job seemed to grab hold of this same Truth—as did Paul when he said “Who are you a mere human to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the ONE who created it ‘why did you make me this way?’” (Romans 9:20-21)

Second-In order to prove himself righteous, Job would have to be able to meet God in Court. That poses several issues. But say the “invisible” God was found to accept a summons and you were able to meet HIM in Court—how then do you actually proceed to plead your case? As it happens, we know that Job finally DID meet God (Job 34-41) and The Lord asked Job seventy-seven questions!! Job was not able to answer one single question. His only response was to admit his ignorance and shut his mouth in silence.

Third-Why did you allow me to be born--seems a reasonable question at this point in his life enduring these sufferings. Job questioned his life’s meaning—and asked God for a few days of peace before his final days.

APPLICATION

What Does God DO with our Suffering?

Job could not understand what God was doing, and it was important at that time that he Not understand.

If Job had known that God was using him as a weapon to defeat Satan, he could have simply sat back and trustfully waited. But God was proving to Satan that Job WAS Trustworthy and would remain faithful. Asking questions is a part of our growing faith..Job was suffering deeply and he wasn’t given any explanation as to why and Job knew he had not committed any sinful act that would have brought a need for deep repentance.

Job was searching for answers…Why?

Job asked the SAME question the disciples asked when Mary came to anoint Jesus for his burial:                

“Why this waste?”    (Mark 14:4)

Yet the SAME question is asked throughout time—and there is something important to be gleaned.

In January 1955 five missionaries seeking to love and share the gospel message with the Huaorani Tribe in Ecuador were speared to death. They had spent time investing in learning the language and giving gifts to the tribe which were well received. When they finally believed they had an open door to make contact-all five men were killed. “Why the Suffering..Why the Waste?” Yet, several years later family members of these same men would return and make a second attempt that would prove successful and not only did it result in salvations but Nate (one of the original five who had been speared) had a sister Rachel who would come and minister and led the murderer of her brother to salvation and was able to offer forgiveness.

Why do I  (we) suffer…

God always has a Plan that is Good and For a Purpose. We, like Job, may not always have the opportunity to know God’s reasons. But how amazing that Job was chosen to chastise Satan. We may not always get our answers here on earth..some suffering may only be made clear in heaven.

“These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:7 NIV)

“This third- I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold.

They will call on My Name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are MY people,’

and they will say, ‘The Lord is OUR God.” (Zechariah 13:9 NIV)

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

Thank YOU for Your Good and Perfect Plans. You formed me in my mother’s womb. YOU clothed me with skin and knit my bones and sinews together and gave me life—showing me YOUR Unfailing Love. My Life is preserved by Your Care (vs 10-12). Thank You that even in suffering Your gracious Hand is on me and Your plans are good. My Trust IS in YOU. You are a good good Father. Refine me and have Your way. Prove the genuineness of my faith, test me, search my heart. Thank YOU for Your Promise to Complete the Good Work You began. My Hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness-I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly LEAN on Jesus Name. amen

Tina L Kudelka

Galatians 1 - 6.25.25

Scripture

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! (Gal 1:8)

Observation

Paul warns against false gospel or additions to the gospel. The Galatians were led to believe that they could earn salvation by good works or by following the law. Paul very clearly explains throughout the epistle that we are saved by grace only by putting our faith in the finished work on the cross by Jesus Christ.

Paul goes on to say that any teaching contrary to this, should not be accepted even if it is supposedly given by an angel from heaven! 

Application

Thank God that we are saved through grace. Thank God for his Word which is eternally set in heaven (Ps 119:89). John reminds us that in the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the word was God, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among men. (John 1: 1,2,14). Jesus and his word are the same. Jesus is the word who became flesh.  

We need to examine any teaching, prophecy or exhortation in the light of God’s word. If the teaching does not line up with the written word of God, we need to reject it, regardless of who is preaching it! This also applies to any direction we feel in our mind. If a thought does not align with the word of God, it is not from God, and we need to reject it.

Let us spend time reading and meditating on the word of God every single day of our life, so that the word of Christ richly dwells in us (Col 3:16). When we renew our mind everyday with the word of God, we will know what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom 12:2).

Prayer

Father, I pray that you will give me a desire for your word. Let your word be a lamp unto my feet, and a light to my path (Ps 119:105). Let the word of Christ dwell richly in me (Col 3:16). Help me to discern the voices that are not from you, by examining them in the light of your word. Help us to be like the Bereans who received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what was heard was true (Acts 17:11). Help me to renew my mind everyday with your word. Make my life a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you (Rom 12:1). In Jesus’s name. Amen

- Asha Chacko George

2 Corinthians 13 - 6.24.25

SCRIPTURE:  2 Corinthians 13:11, 14  “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice!  Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.  And the God of love and peace will be with you…May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

OBSERVATION:  On Paul’s third visit to the church in Corinth, he addressed them about the importance of growing and maturing in their faith together. He used the authority that God gave him as a leader to correct some of their their actions, and to strengthen and unite the church by being straightforward and sincere.  He called them to examine themselves to test whether they were in the faith, giving them an opportunity to see if they were really living right before God.

These people Paul was addressing were the leaders of the church who had great gifts and talents to offer which God had given to them, but Paul wanted to make sure that the evil practices of the unbelieving Corinthians hadn’t crept into their church. Things like: discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. Paul had already warned them on his second visit, and now during his third visit, he warned them once again about the importance of living differently from the unbelievers.

APPLICATION:  Paul’s message is the same to all Christ followers today.  The same Holy Spirit Who was leading Paul to warn and correct the Church in Corinth to examine their lives is the same Holy Spirit who is prompting us to examine our lives today, giving us the opportunity to check our heart, our attitudes, our habits, and our lifestyles in general.  Are we living differently than the unbelievers? 

PRAYER:  I pray like Paul, that as brothers and sisters in the Lord, we will strive for restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, and live in peace.  I pray as we fill ourselves with God’s love, compassion, wisdom and gentleness that we will live together in unity to serve the Lord with humility as we work together to resolve and correct the problems that arise in and out of the church, and that God will help us to be excellent leaders to the body of Christ, and to the unbelievers as well.   

- Robin Orefice