Quote for the Day
“In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”
Today's Prayer
This week pray for those who are traveling that they may be an encouragement to someone that they may never see again. Pray that God uses them in a manner that only He and the one encouraged will ever be aware. Ask God that His power shine through to that person this week.
Job chapter 12
Job chapter 12 (NIV)Job1 Then Job replied:2 “Doubtless you are the people, and wisdom will die with you!3 But I have a mind as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know all these things?4 “I have become a laughingstock to my friends, though I called upon God and he answered— a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!5 Men at ease have contempt for misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.6 The tents of marauders are undisturbed, and those who provoke God are secure— those who carry their god in their hands.7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you;8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you.9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?10 In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.11 Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food?12 Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?13 “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.14 What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man he imprisons cannot be released.15 If he holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.16 To him belong strength and victory; both deceived and deceiver are his.17 He leads counselors away stripped and makes fools of judges.18 He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist.19 He leads priests away stripped and overthrows men long established.20 He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders.21 He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.22 He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.23 He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them.24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he sends them wandering through a trackless waste.25 They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.
Message
Job, in the midst of his trauma and receiving NO help from his friends, now has to remind them all of the power of God. It is totally amazing to me that this man, who has more to complain about than any man, is the one who has the “ability” to tell everyone that he still believes that GOD is in control, and they should also believe! Job has a full understanding of the power and person behind his current state in life. He simply has a question: “Why am I to suffer now?” He never says God is NOT allowed to do this; he is only asking for the reason.Job’s friends have had only one answer for Job: “You’re a bad person. Confess, and you will be healed. And then you’ll be rich, and maybe even famous.” Job is very much aware that this is a feeble answer. Not because he feels so righteous himself, but because he knows God and knows God is in charge of all. In verse 16, Job proclaims, “…To him belong strength and victory!”How do we encourage others??? This is never an easy task, but it seems to me that God has asked us to fellowship and encourage each other for a reason: to be built up. Most of us are well aware of our sins and shortcomings and do not need the admonishment to change. Instead, we need the encouragement to draw closer to God. Job continued to plead with his friends and God to allow him to draw close and see his sin (if there was any), but continued to receive worthless platitudes from his friends.This week focus on what you have done to encourage others. Is there anyone around you who is hurting and needs a word of encouragement? Be the one who helps them draw closer to God, not someone who pushes them further away in their pain. We all fall short of knowing who God is and how He works. Telling a friend that he has failed or sinned only compounds the frustration. Job needed encouragement, to know God, and to be known by Him at that moment. Just as we all do. Read the chapter below each day this week and soak in the POWER of God. Remember that Job acknowledged God’s power even as he sat in the gutter, suffering both physical and spiritual pain.