When Bad Things Happen

Scripture:
Job 1:13-22 (NASB)

Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said,

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

Devotional:

When things start happening or go wrong in our lives I turn to Nancy and say, “When it rains it pours.”  It seems that everything goes wrong all at the same time.  I know several years back it just seemed nothing would go right.  Every time I turned around something happened or didn’t work out.  Instead of turning to God giving praise all I could do was to shout in anger.  I didn’t have the kind of faith that Job had.  I still don’t although I do my best not to blame God.  My goal is to give praise.  I strive to be content and joyful in all things. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV):

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:11 (NIV)

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

I may not succeed but my goal is to find Christ’s peace and the joy He gives in all circumstances.  God doesn’t cause bad things to happen.  But if we allow Him to work in our lives He can use those times to strengthen us.  Dealing with the loss of a loved one, or the loss of a job can allow you to help someone else going through something similar.  God doesn’t cause us to go through the fiery furnace.  But He will lead us through it.  He will never forsake us.  When bad things happen do you blame God or do you give thanks and praise.  In the past I have blamed Him.  Now I strive to give praise and have a thankful heart no matter what happens.

Everyone Needs Encouragement

Scripture:
Acts 15:36-41 (NASB)

After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Devotional:

Have you ever had a disagreement with a fellow believer?  Did you not see things the same way?  Did they not stand up to your expectations?  There are times when we each of us may stumble, fall, or make a mistake.  Just remember that whoever you are in conflict with is still a chosen child of God.  

When Barnabas wanted to take John Mark he and Paul had such a disagreement they went separate ways.  To be honest I had always thought Paul was wrong.  After all each of us make mistakes and we all stumble from time to time.  John Mark needed some encouragement.  He needed someone to help him get back up and on track.  Barnabas did just that.  In fact later on Paul and John Mark reconciled their differences.  2 Timothy 4:11 (NASB), “Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.” 

John Mark was able to not only get back on track with God, doing God’s work, but he and Paul reconciled to the point where Paul specifically asked for him.  Who do you see that has stumbled?  Are they struggling to get things right in their lives?  Maybe you are the one God is calling to help them.  Instead of driving them away, like Paul, reach out and help them, as Barnabas did.  

Everyone needs encouragement or a helping hand from time to time.  It is OK to disagree with others.  Just remember that even if you disagree God loves them as much as He does you.  When two of my daughters fight I dislike their fighting.  I love each of them equally.  I hate to see them argue and fuss with one another.  I take great joy in seeing them getting along and playing together.  God loves each party equally.  He doesn’t like to see His children fighting amongst themselves.  He would prefer to see us getting along working together for His glory.

Battle Lines are Drawn

Scripture:
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NASB)

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.  No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Devotional:

Do you feel that you are being bombarded with temptation?  Are there times when you just cannot stand under the weight of it all?  There are times when sin just creeps in.  There it is before you know it.  The next thing you know you have sinned.  Other times sin comes at you like a ton of bricks.  You are overwhelmed and cannot withstand the pressure.  Maybe the sin is something you relish or is something you really enjoy. 

 

We can look at someone and wonder how they could buckle and give in to “that” sin.  We might think how could they, or why would they.  We might have the holier than though attitude and profess we would never do “that.”  Keep this thought in mind.  Someone is out there looking at your life and saying the exact same thing about you.  “How could you do…?”

Let’s face facts, the battle lines are drawn and sin is all around us.  Sometimes it is apparent and blatant.  We can easily identify it and firmly say no as we walk away.  Sometimes the sin is sneaky.  There is a hint of truth or “good” in it.  It can’t be bad, after all… Sometimes we are coerced or tricked into falling into sin.  We might feel that we are too weak to say no and walk away.  No matter how sin comes at you it can be repelled.  No matter how hard it is to say no, we have the means to do so.  No not by our own power.  Lord knows I cannot make it on my own.  But by grace and through the Holy Spirit we can firmly stand our ground.  God gives us what we need to be able to endure and stay true to Him.  

So the next time sin is all around you and you can’t hold out just look for God’s prompting.  He will provide a way for you to retreat and take a stand.  He will enable you to say no and walk away.  The problem is that we tend to fail to see it.  We think we can shoulder it all on our own.  Draw strength in the Holy Spirit that dwells in you.

Don't Don't Don't...

Scripture:
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (NASB)

“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Devotional:

Rules, regulations, don’t do this, and don’t do that.  It seems every time we turn around there is a new rule or law telling us what not to do.  Then we turn to the Bible and it is filled a bunch of don’ts as well.  What happened to being free?  People have thoughts about not being a Christian because of all the rules.  All the “do not do this or that” supposedly turns them away.  They turn away in the illusion of being free.  

But where is real freedom?  Why do we have all these rules?  Why do we have to follow them?  True freedom comes in our bondage to Christ.  The rules we follow are for our own good.  After all we give our kids rules.  Don’t go across the street is just one rule.  Kids ask why, and they don’t understand it is for their protection.  People ask God why and don’t realize it is for our welfare.  There is something more important than following the do not do this or that rule.  Why focus on what we cannot do?  Why not focus on what we are to do?  Instead of complaining that we cannot do, or have something we should look at what we can have or do.  Changing our focus will help us maintain our alignment toward God.  We will be too busy to care about the things we can’t do.  

We limit our kids TV or “screen” time.  There are times when they want to do nothing but watch a movie.  We shift their focus from a movie to riding a bike or reading a book.  We encourage them to play with a favorite toy or game.  Most of the time, they will soon forget about watching TV.  There are days when the TV remains forgotten.  Then there are days when not even thirty minutes go by and they want to watch something.  The plan is to change their focus so they don’t think about what they can’t have.  Instead they enjoy what they do have.  Just as with our kids there will be times when you shift your focus from the rules of don’ts to the things you should do will work.  Then there will be times when you quickly focus on the rules again.  Remember in the end a parent gives their children rules of don’ts for their own good.  God gives us rules of don’ts for our own good.  

Instead of thinking of Christianity as a rule book look at it as a relationship.  Focusing in this way may help forget all the don’ts.  After focusing on your relationship with Christ, you just might find you don’t have the time, or desire, to do any of the don’ts.