Most of us know the basics of the story of Job. Job was a faithful and wealthy man in the Old Testament. God allowed Satan to bring tragedy to Job, and he lost his family, fortune, and health. Through the book, Job attempts to understand why this tragedy was occurring, and his friends come up with a variety of theories why this is happening to Job. Though they cannot figure it out, Job remains faithful. However, as the suffering continues, Job begins complaining and questioning why God would let this happen to him, when he didn’t do anything to deserve it.

Finally a young man Elihu speaks up and tells Job, in my words, “Yes you are having a rough time, but stop complaining. God doesn’t owe you, and it is arrogant for you to think that being good is some kind of gift to God”

In Job 35:12 he tells Job, “And when they [the oppressed] cry out, God does not answer because of their pride.”

We cannot know why God chooses to let us or others experience bad things, and we cannot think if we do good, somehow God is obligated to give us what we want. We should do good out of love and obedience, regardless of the consequences.

At the same time, however, Elihu continued in Job 36:15, “But by means of their suffering, he [God] rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity.”

When we experience tragedies, we need to come closer to God, searching for his comfort and guidance. Elihu’s comments are a valuable message for us all, particularly when we suffer. Take some time to read Job 32-37. It is full of relevant lessons for us today.

Dear Lord, We know you love us, but help us not forget that you are God and we are not. We cannot understand the complexities of your plan, or the reasons for events in our lives and the world. Help us trust you and draw closer to you in adversity, and teach others to do the same. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

It is amazing how much has changed in the broadcasting and internet content businesses in the last several years. There are hundreds of television channels available, hundreds of satellite radio channels, you can find a video on Youtube of almost anything, and there seems to be a podcast for just about any area of interest you might have.

For Christians, the great thing about this proliferation of information is the amazing opportunity we have to learn more about God’s word. Some of the best and most insightful preachers and Bible teachers are available to you on these media, if you look. Ultimately it is through more exposure that we learn and grow our faith.

Paul writes in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”

These technology alternatives are fantastic, but they cannot take the place of finding a “home church” where you feel comfortable and connected to other believers, and can worship, pray, confess, and commune with them.

Dear Lord, thank you for the incredible blessings of technology that allow your word to be spread and heard by more and more people. Help us take advantage of these technologies to strengthen our knowledge and faith. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have you ever been out in the dark late at night with a group, and someone leading the group has a flashlight. As you walk down a trail, or down the beach, all you can really see is the flashlight and what it shines on. The flashlight makes everything else appear darker and almost invisible.

Jesus says in Matthew 6:22, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.”

Bible commentaries have a number of interpretations of this verse, but I think one of the messages is, like a flashlight in the dark, where we look with our eyes will determine the direction for our thoughts and actions.

If we are looking at improper things, we are setting ourselves up to act improperly, and if we keep our focus on what is moral and proper, we are leading ourselves toward living moral and proper lives.

Dear Lord, You have provided us with many lessons for our lives in the Bible. Help us read and understand with the intent of implementing your wisdom. Help us keep our eyes set on what is good, right and proper, so that our actions will follow. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

There are numerous reasons people resist or reject the message of Jesus Christ. One that has been common since the beginning of Christianity is the difficulty scientific and academically “smart” people have with not being able to figure things out. During early Christianity, the brilliant academics were the Greeks. Even today, we study writings of Plato, and Aristotle, and the creations of the ancient Greeks.

The apostle Paul recognized this challenge that the “intellectuals” had with Christianity and wrote about it in 1 Corinthians 1:21-25. He wrote, “Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Greeks say it is all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.”

What if you needed to be smart enough to figure out how salvation worked in order to be saved. It would no longer be God saving, it would be the smart saving themselves; Which would essentially make them their own god. Ultimately, when people put their intelligence above their faith they are making themselves or their intellect their own god.

Dear Lord, we all have our struggles to overcome in order to surrender ourselves to you. Help us all see and believe the power and peace of salvation, your gift to us, and accept it with humility. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Do you remember when you were a child being taught that when you get angry, count to 10 before speaking? This is a simple solution to maintaining control of oneself. When we lose control of our actions due to our emotions like anger, we are easy targets for temptation. Targets for the temptation of saying and doing things we know are wrong.

Psalm 4:4 writes, “Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.” James 1:19 says, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”

It is easy to say, “Control yourself and don’t get angry,” but definitely not easy to do. However, like all temptation, with God’s help we can overcome all temptation.

Dear Lord, we all face the temptation to lose our control at times. Help us remember to stop and ask for your help to control ourselves and overcome this temptation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.