DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- TRUE CHRISTIANS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – TRUE CHRISTIANS

"For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God." (Romans 2:28-29)

In Romans chapter 2, Paul was addressing the Jews who thought that they are good because they knew the law, and they judged other people who are not Jews because they didn't do certain Jewish traditions, such as circumcision. Paul wrote that just doing the outward things was not the issue. It is a matter of the heart.

We do not have the same issue that faced the early church – of the Jewish tradition and circumcision. But we do have the same issue regarding Christians. Without doing damage to the Scripture, we might substitute the word "Christian" for the word "Jew." "He is not a Christian who is one outwardly....but he is Christian who is one inwardly....whose praise is not from men but from God."

How often do we hear the comment about someone, "He (or she) is a good Christian." They appear to be Christians because of their outward appearance and conduct. Indeed, many people who are not Believers do things that we consider "Christian." They may not claim to be believers in the Lord Jesus, but they are thought to be Christians because they do things that appear to be Christian. They receive the praise of men, but not of God because their heart is not right.

In my youth, I was raised in a holiness tradition, and I judged other people by my standard of holiness. In my tradition, women did not wear lipstick or ear-rings. If I saw a girl that did not wear lipstick, I thought she must be Christians. Nor did we go to dances. So anyone who did not dance must be a Christian. Now, I am glad that I was raised in a holiness tradition, but my concept of what constituted a good Christian was mostly based on outward appearances. If they acted like a Christian, then they must be a Christian. But Christianity is not an act which is external. It is the inward condition of the heart. It is more than what we do; it is who we are, which should be reflected in what we do.

Circumcision of the heart is the most important thing. In natural terms, Circumcision is the cutting away the flesh for cleanliness. In spiritual terms, it is the cutting off the flesh for holiness. Oh God. Circumcise my heart.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.' " (Romans 1:16-17)

We are coming back to the New Testament for awhile. As we pick up in Romans chapter 1, a word needs to be said about how we will approach this book. This will not be a theological treatise of this writing of the Apostle Paul. It would be impossible to do an in depth study of Romans in the limited time we have. We will try to get the flavor of the flow of the river. But we will be flying at 15,000 feet so we will not be examining every bend in the river.

Romans was written to the saints – the believers in Jesus – who lived in Rome.

To these fellow Christians, Paul set the foundation of the Gospel – the assurance that the Gospel of Jesus is true and it is the only power that can save, for those who live by faith in Christ.

In the rest of this chapter, the Apostle contrasted this salvation to the wrath of God against all ungodliness of people who reject the truth of the Gospel. They suppress the truth of what is obvious – that there is a God who created the world. They exchange the truth of God for the lie and worship themselves as god. Since they forsake God's truth, God give themselves over to their vile passions. They know the righteousness judgment of God against sin. But they continue in their unrightousness and are deserving of death.

This is the essence of salvation. We are all sinners and have violated God's righteousness and have worshiped ourselves with our vile lusts. We deserve to be separated from God. But the Gospel of Christ provides a solution. We are saved from God's wrath on our unrighteousness by the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. He paid the price of redemption for us, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are brought into relationship with God.

We do not need to be reticent of being called "saints" because we have been made righteous with God's righteousness through our faith in Christ, and we live in that faith. What a wonderful salvation we enjoy.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- OUR REFUGE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – OUR REFUGE

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the mist of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah." (Psalm 46:1-3)

I am not given to dreams. I have so many of them that make no sense, probably caused by eating too much before I went to bed. Most of my dreams are forgotten five minutes after I wake up. But I had a dream during the last presidential last election cycle that sticks in my memory. In my dream, I was in a house at the ocean-side. The house had a big picture window overlooking the ocean. At the beginning of the dream, the ocean was calm, as smooth as glass. But as the dream progressed, a storm moved in and ocean became more and more turbulent. The waves were crashing and the wind was blowing, as it might be during a hurricane. But I was in the house looking out the window, and inside the house it remained calm. Although I could see the storm on the outside, it did not affect the serenity of the inside of the house. I had no fear of the storm because I was safe in the house.

I believe God was giving me assurance that He was in control and that I didn't need to fear about the results of the election. Now, a year later as I see the trouble of our nation, I can still live at peace in Christ, my refuge.

I think that is a picture of what this psalm speaks of. We have a refuge. Even though the earth is shaken, and the waves of the sea roar and the waves crash, we need not fear. He is a very present help in the time of trouble.

It may not be an election. It may be some other thing that concerns and troubles me, but I can be at rest as I trust in my Refuge. As verses 10 and 11 say, I can be still and know that God is God. The God of Jacob is my refuge.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- BRAGGING ON GOD

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – BRAGGING ON GOD

"In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever. Selah." (Psalm 44:8)

We are so prone to take the credit for the good things in our lives. We boast about our kids, our home, our successes. But if we really understood that "every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights," as the Scriptures says in James 1:17, we might be more apt to give God the glory. God is the source of everything in our lives that is good, and He deserves the praise.

At its root, the word translated boast" is from Hebrew word, Halal, from which we get the word Hallelujah. It means to shine. Jesus said to let our lights so shine that men will see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). Whatever is good in our lives is meant to make God look good – not us.

This psalm is reminiscent of Psalm 34:1-3: "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD. The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together."

God is worthy of our boasting, because, as Korah exclaimed, "You are my king, O God" (vs. 4). He is the source of every good thing. A song puts it this way: "All the glory belongs to Jesus, all the praise belongs to Him. All that I am or every hope to be, all the glory belongs to Him."

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation" (Psalm 68:19). "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits" (Psalm 103:2). Let us boast about the Lord together.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HURRY UP AND WAIT

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – HURRY UP AND WAIT

"I waited patiently for the LORD, and He inclined to me, and heard my cry." (Psalm 40:1)

"Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me!" (Psalm 40:13)

Just a minute, David! Is this a contradiction? In the first verse, David said that he waited patiently for the LORD. In the next breath, he plead with the LORD to hurry up and deliver him. Which is it, David? Is it possible to be patient in a hurry? I have never been in the Army, but I understand that this is the motto: Hurry up and wait!

Perhaps the Hebrew idea of patience is different than our 21^st century English. Often we think patience is passively folding our hands in waiting for something to happen. But the Hebrew idea is more an expectant looking forward to something. An example might be a child who is waiting for Christmas to come. He wants it to happen tomorrow. As adults, we patiently wait for Christmas to come as we expectantly look forward to that wonderful day.

It is possible to expectantly look forward to God's deliverance while at the same time wanting Him to hurry up and bring the answer. We don't want to stay in our time of challenge any longer than necessary, while at the same time trusting God in eager anticipation.

We patiently wait for Jesus's return, while at same time we desire for Him to return quickly. Jesus said, "Surely I am coming quickly." It has been centuries since He said this, so we patiently wait in eager anticipation for His return. At the same time, we say, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).

While we are in the waiting room – whatever the situation is – we wait patiently for God's timing to be fulfilled, but we also can desire that God bring His answer quickly. If we don't keep this perspective, we can become frustrated and discouraged when things don't happen as quickly as we want.

So as we wait patiently for the Lord – eagerly anticipating His answer, we must not become so passive that we lose our sense of urgency.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE FEAR OF THE LORD

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE FEAR OF THE LORD

"Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him .... Come you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord."

(Psalm 34:9, 11)

As we read these two psalms, Psalm 33 and 34, there is a word that keeps popping up. It is the word "fear." In addition to our focus verses, it appears four other times:

     "Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him." (33:8-9)

     "Behold the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy" (33:18)

     "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him" (34:7).

The Scripture is filled with the admonition: "Fear not."  So how do we understand this commandment to "fear of the Lord?" The Hebrew word includes awe and reverence, but it also includes a dreadful terror. I think that we have dumbed down fear and replaced it with "respect."

We are experiencing a culture that has lost its fear – either of man's judgment or God's judgment. Thieves can simply walk out of stores with sacks of unpaid merchandise because there is no fear of judgment. Even the political and legal system has lost the fear of God. It is like the judge that Jesus spoke of who did not fear God nor regard man (Luke 18:2-4). Psalm 36:1 speaks of this when David wrote, "An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes" (cf: Romans 3:18). The ungodly should rightly fear God because they will someday stand before God and answer for their sins. Jesus himself said, "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:38). People who do not trust Christ should be afraid because of their sinful acts. As the Scripture says, "Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (II Corinthians 5:11).

After searching for the meaning of life in all the wrong places, Solomon ended his quest by saying, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). That fear is in the context of judgment.

It is comforting for those who have accepted the Lord Jesus as Savior to know that we do not have to fear God's judgment on sin, because Jesus took the punishment and wrath of God for our sin when He died on the cross. Yet I wonder if we haven't lost the fear of God – the holy, omnipotent, eternal God who rules the universe.

The Apostle Peter gave these instructions: "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king" (I Peter 2:17). There is a difference between honoring or respecting the king and fearing God. Let us remember the words of the book of Hebrews: "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrew 12:28).

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- TRUSTING GOD WITH MY TIMES

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – TRUSTING GOD WITH MY TIMES

"But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and those who persecute me." (Psalm 31:14-15)

We sing the song, "I trust in God, wherever I may be, upon the land or on the stormy sea. Though billows roll, He keeps my soul. My Heavenly Father watches over me."

But do we really believe that our times are in His hands? When life goes awry and we struggle against the tides of time, do we really believe that He is control? Can we really trust Him with our lives?

King David, the psalmist, had his times when things did not go the way he would have wished. Running from Saul for his life. Running from his son Absalom for his life. Was this really what God intended for his life? Was God really in control of his times?

The answer is "yes." He could sing as in verse 1, "In You, O LORD, I put my trust." But in reality, where else can you place your trust? Can you trust yourself with your life? Can you trust your family? Can you trust your church? Can you trust the government? There really is no other place to place our trust.

If I don't trust God, then there are no other alternatives than these. When you look at David's life, you can see vividly the times that He took control rather than trusting God. Trusting myself usually ends up a mess.

When life does not go the way I think it should, I can trust that He is in control of my times. My times are in His hand. And I can't think of any place I would rather be.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- LIFE PRAISE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – LIFE PRAISE

"Give unto the LORD; O you mighty ones, Give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory do to His name. Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." (Psalm 29:1-2)

What do you give to someone who has everything?  Often we are faced with that question when we are trying to decide what to give someone for their birthday or for Christmas. What do you give God who has everything – who needs nothing? He has the universe at his beck and call. Whatever earthly things I could give Him would pale in comparison.

What could I give God than would please Him more than anything since He does not need anything? David, the psalmist, says that there is one thing we give God that is truly a blessing to Him – glory, honor and worship.

This is more than lip-service. It is easy to honor God with our lips, but it is another thing to give life-service. That is, bringing praise and honor to God through the way we live. He says to worship God in the beauty of holiness.

I can give Him worship and praise and glory. Consider what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Thessalonika: "Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (II Thessalonians 1:11-12). This was Paul's attitude: "according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so not also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:20-21). By his life or by his death, he wanted to glorify God.

God is glorified and magnified, not just by what we say, but by how we live and how we die. May our lives be praise to our wonderful Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our holy living brings God honor. As the psalm says, "Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- KEEP KEEPING ON

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – KEEP KEEPING ON

"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!" (Psalm 28:13-14)

The thing that keeps a person going in any endeavor is keeping his heart focused on the end result. A marathon runner would lose heart and be tempted to quit in the middle of the race if he did not keep his mind centered on the joy of crossing the finish line. A writer is encouraged to keep writing even when he has a mental block by the prospect of seeing his labor in print. Any project that a person is engaged in is urged on by the desire to see the finished product.

So it is with the Christian life. At times when we are slogging through the mud or trudging through the desert, and the going becomes difficult, we are tempted to lose heart unless we keep our eyes on the goal – the goodness of God in our lives.

So, be of good courage. Keep your eyes on Jesus, and he will strengthen your resolve. Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GOD'S REPUTATION

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – GOD'S REPUTATION

"He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." (Psalm 23:3b)

There are benefits for living righteous and holy lives. We avoid a lot of negative consequences when we do what is right. But there is a higher purpose for living by God's standards. It is His name's sake.

In Hebrew, the word "sake" connotes honor, fame, and reputation. God is concerned about the honor and reputation of His name. When He leads us in paths of righteousness and we walk in them, not only are we blessed but it enhances God's reputation. His name is honored when we walk His paths.

Psalm 23 is a song about the Good Shepherd. A shepherd's reputation as a good herdsman is known by how well the sheep thrive. If they are sick and skinny and the fleece is bad, then it indicates that the shepherd is not taking very good care of his sheep. If they are healthy, then the reputation of the shepherd is honored.

Psalm 25 also expresses this thought about God's reputation. David, the psalmist, prays that God's loving kindness and tender mercies will be remembered and that the sins of his youth will not be held against him, "for Your goodness' sake, O Lord" (Psalm 25:6-7). God's reputation for being a good God is shown by his mercy and loving kindness.

Also in Psalm 25, David prays that God will pardon his great iniquities "for Your name's sake, O Lord" (vs. 11). God's reputation for mercy, loving-kindness and forgiveness are at stake. He will honor His reputation.

If we follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, in the paths of righteousness, then our lives will be honorable, but more importantly, the fame, honor, and reputation of the Savior will be known. When we walk contrary to His way, then we dishonor our Lord, and His name is drug through the mud.

May my life bring honor and glory to Jesus.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- OUR INHERITANCE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A GOOD INHERITANCE

"O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance." (Psalm 16:5-6)

When I think about an inheritance, my mind goes back to Caleb. Remember that Joshua and Caleb were the only two of the 12 spies who gave a good report after their reconnaissance of the Promised Land. God made a special promise to Caleb: "But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him, and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it" (Numbers 14:24; Deuteronomy 1:36).

There is an inheritance reserved for those who wholly follow the Lord. The Lord God Himself is the portion of that inheritance, and He keeps in store the blessings of that inheritance. He is the trustee, or conservator, and He will keep that which we have committed to Him until that day when the inheritance is fully realized (II Timothy 1:12). Until that time, we have the Holy Spirit "who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:14). God Himself maintains, keeps, and protects my portion of the inheritance, so I know it is in good hands. As the Allstate insurance commercial can be paraphrased, "You're in good hands with God."

What a privilege to be a part of God's family and an heir to the inheritance.  We are heirs and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17; Galatians 4:6-7).

While I'm waiting for the executor to fulfill the terms of the trust of the Father's promises, He has allowed me to access a part of the inheritance in this life. My lines have fallen in pleasant place. What I have now is only a foretaste of what God has prepared for those who love Him. I say with the Psalmist: "Yes, I have a good inheritance."

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HOW LONG?

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – HOW LONG?

"How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?" (Psalm 14:1-3)

Time is so very relative. I'm sure you have noticed that when we are enjoying ourselves, time passes too quickly. But when we are in distress, time can go very slowly. We've all been there. We have company that is so refreshing and we so enjoy being in their presence that when we finally look at the clock, we are amazed at how quickly the time passed. "Where did the time go?" But when the company is boring and we wish they would leave, the hands on the clock seem to move at a snail's pace and we can hardly wait until they leave. Sometimes an hour can be as a thousand years, and at other times, a thousand hours are as a day! It can happen on Sunday morning during a sermon when we say, "How long, Lord?"

David was in one of those times when it seemed that he would never get through. Would this sorrow never end? How long, Lord, must I endure this?

I've been there. Hours stretched into days, and days into weeks. When weeks turn into months and years, then I really get discouraged and think that things will never change. How long, Lord, will I have to endure this?

Time will pass. It may not seem like it when we are going through the wilderness and when it seems we are all alone. We will get through this. Our hope is that tomorrow will bring the healing or answer to our problem and the joy we so desire. And when we stand on the back-side of the end of the sorrow, we will look back, and the time will seem as a dream. Eternity will show the value and the benefit of our experience. In the meantime, we can sing unto the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with us (vs. 6).

One day at a time, sweet Jesus, that's all I'm asking from you, no matter how long it takes.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- OUR SURE FOUNDATION

Dad's Ramblings – OUR SURE FOUNDATION

"If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3)

Have you ever felt like the bottom has been knocked out from under you? Everything you have believed lies in shambles at your feet. Your faith has been shattered.

David had experienced this. At times, he was overwhelmed. In those times, he prayed, "When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Psalm 61:2b).

This psalm begins in verse 1 with the bedrock foundation: "In the LORD I put my trust." David's faith was not based on his experience. It rested securely on the fact that "The LORD is in His holy temple. The LORD's throne is in heaven" (vs. 4). He is not limited or controlled by what is happening on earth. He is over all and that is a secure foundation of faith.

If I believe in God only when things are going well, there will surely come times when things do not go well. In those dark times, the foundation of my faith will crumble if it is this-world centered. Only faith based soley on God's immutable unchangeable sovereignty will get me through.

Jesus gave a parable that contrasted the difference. He said that people whose faith is built on the sand will be washed away when the storms come. The only secure foundation of faith is on the Solid Rock. That faith will endure the floods that dash against our foundation (Matthew 7:24-27).

The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ, the Lord. He is the Rock that will never change nor crumble. Our faith is secure in Him.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE CHOICE OF PRAISE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE CHOICE OF PRAISE

"I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High." (Psalm 9:1-2)

In this palm, David is in the middle of oppression by his foes. But he began with praise and thanksgiving. He may not have felt like it, but he chose to rejoice in the LORD.

The significant words are "I will." Praise is a matter of the will. It is a choice. It transcends how I feel or what I am experiencing. Our circumstances are transient, and they will pass. But God never changes. He is always worthy of my praise.

I can testify to His marvelous works which He has done in the past. The things that I am going through must not eclipse the bright spots in my life when God has revealed His grace and power.

But more than that, I can rejoice that God is God and always will be God. He is sovereign. He is good. He is gracious. He is God Most High. He is over all. As the great God of the universe, He deserves all praise to His name.

I will praise the LORD with my whole heart.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GLADNESS IN THE HEART

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – GLADNESS IN THE HEART

"You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:7-8)

Have you experienced sleepless nights because of the stress of problems you faced. Then you can identify with David, the writer of this Psalm. It is hard to lie down and sleep peacefully when a person's heart is in turmoil. It is easier to sleep when the heart is at happy and at rest. In the midst of distress, David had found a place of rest in the LORD.

David began this Psalm with a cry to God to hear his cry. We don't know what the problem was that he faced, but it was distressing to him. But then he remembered the times that God had giving him relief. With that in mind, he sought God to hear his prayer and have mercy.

When we look at the problems we face, we are often filled with anxiety and distress. I think this is what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

As the hymn puts it, "There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God." There is a place of rest in Jesus.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE FINAL EXAM

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE FINAL EXAM

God said to Job: "Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me." (Job 38:1-3)

Oral exams are difficult. The prof gives you questions to see if you really understand the lesson. I remember having to suffer through an oral exam when I graduated from university and also when I graduated from seminary. They are sweat times.

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God gave Job an oral exam with a series of questions intended to show Job that God was God and Job wasn't.

God's questions start at the beginning – "Where were you when I made the universe?" (vss. 4 ff) Where does light and darkness dwell? (vs. 19). Have you entered the treasury of the snow? (vs. 22) How is light diffused over the earth? (vs. 24). Where does water come from? (vs. 28). Who is in control of the constellations? (vs.. 31-33). Who is in control of the animal kingdom? (39:30). The correct answer is "God."

Then God pins Job to the wall. "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer" (40:2). In other words, what gives you the authority to tell God what to do? Job got the message. He said, "Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further" (40:4-5). Job said that once or twice he had tried to tell God the what-fors, but that he had learned his lesson and would not do it again.

When we think that we have all the answers and can instruct God and tell Him what to do, we need to remember how great God is. He is the God of the universe, all powerful, all wise, and all-good. He knows what He is doing and does not need my input. This does not mean we should not pray. But our prayers are always with the understanding of "not my will but thine be done."

He is God and will do what is best, even if it means that we must endure pain. This is the essence of Job's answer to God: "I know that You can do everything and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You...I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (42:2-6). Job truly got the picture. God gave him an A+ for the oral exam, and blessed him more than he had before. There are blessings in store for those who pass the test – who know that God is God.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- OUR AWESOME GOD

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – OUR AWESOME GOD

"With God is awesome majesty. As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice. He does not oppress Therefore men fear Him. He shows no partiality to any who are wide of heart." (Job 37:22b-24)

In these two chapters (36 and 37), Elihu gives elegant witness to the greatness and the majesty of God. Aside from one place where Elihu accused Job of being wicked and deserving God's judgment (36:16-21), Elihu is in contrast to the other three counselors whose primary focus was Job's sin. Elihu focuses on the glory and goodness of God.

Elihu has a clear understanding of God. God is mighty (vs. 5). He just, punishing the wicked and blessing the obedient (vss. 11-12). He is exalted by His power, and does not need anyone to teach Him (vss. 22-23). He blesses people with rain, sunshine, and abundance of food (vss. 27-31). He is God over nature (vss. 32-37:22).

Elihu ended his discourse with this wonderful praise: God is awesome and majestic. He is Almighty. He is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice (vss. 22b-23). This is a fitting introduction to the rest of the Book of Job where God speaks and reveals Himself to Job in a greater way than Job had known Him before.

Our understanding of the greatness and goodness of God can be clouded by the things we go through. But through it all, God is still God. He does not change. He is still in control when things look like they are spiraling downward into the whirlpool of destruction.

So, take heart. Keep believing that God is good and majestic and wise. What a wonderful God we serve.

Love, Dad

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DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE SOURCE OF WISDOM

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE SOURCE OF WISDOM

"So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job." (Job 32:1-3)

What is the source of wisdom? The three "friends," Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, thought they had all the answers to the reason for Job's plight: that he had sinned and that God was judging him for his sin. But their words did not bear any weight because Job was upright before God.

Then along comes Elihu. He was a young man in the company of the three older men, and he said, correctly, "Old men are not always wise, nor do the aged always understand justice" (vs. 9). Wisdom does not necessarily come with age. I can attest to this fact. I have known people younger than I am who had great wisdom. Nor do I think that I am wise just because of my age. Age is not a prerequisite for wisdom. But just because Elihu thinks he is wise does not make him wise. I see several things in Elihu that make me question his wisdom.

First, his counsel flows out of anger. He is angry at Job and he is angry at the other three men. Anger is not a good conduit of wisdom. Even if what a person says is true, if it is spoken in anger, it causes other people to reject it. Elihu's anger was pent up inside of him. He was like a volcano ready to explode. Listen to his admission: "Indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent; it is ready to burst like new wineskins I will speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer" (vss. 19-20). His purpose of sharing his opinion was not to help Job but to make himself feel better. The magma that spews out of the crater may release some internal pressure, but it also blasts other people.

Secondly, he speaks from his own opinion. He admits this in verses 10 and 17: "Listen to me and I will declare my opinion," and, "I also will answer my part, I too will declare my opinion." Everyone has their own opinions, but what makes one person's opinion more valid than another person's? When we are looking for answers, we don't necessarily need opinions. How many times when people face problems are they inundated with advice – "do this" or "do that"? Following other people's opinions leads to confusion. We need to hear what God says.

Thirdly, he (and also the other three) was very loquacious. He confessed, "For I am full of words; the spirit within me compels me" (vs. 18). Wisdom does not need a lot of words to convey truth. Often a terse and concise statement will speak truth more eloquently and powerfully than many words.

So how can we discern true wisdom? Number one, it has to be more than just a man's opinion. It needs to reflect God's thoughts.

Number two, beware of advice spoken in anger. It is probably coming from the flesh. Wisdom cannot just be an explosion of anger that makes the messenger feel good. The motivation has to be for the welfare and betterment of the person receiving the advice.

Number three, beware of long discourses. "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise" (Proverbs 10:19), or as the NIV translates it, "Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent [or wise] hold their tongues." The NLT is even more straightforward: "Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut."

Since advice is so ubiquitous, we must be discerning, both in giving and in receiving counsel. I want to hear what God says about my situation – not what other people think.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBINGS -- THE "IFs" OF LIFE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE "IFs" OF LIFE

"Does He (God) not see my ways, and count all my steps?" (Job 31:4)

Job knew that God saw His ways – that he lived in integrity. We have already discovered that Job's life was marked by integrity – that he was a righteous man. He lived by what he knew was right in God's eyes. Psalm 139 echoes Job's words. "O LORD, You have searched me and known me... You comprehend my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether." (Psalm 139:1, 3-4).

Yet Chapter 31 is filled with "ifs." According to my count, the word "if" is used 16 times in this chapter. "If" is a word of possibility. Job said --

If I have lied, God knows that I have lived with integrity (vs. 5-6).

If I have not completely walked in God's ways, then let my crops fail (vss. 7-8).

If I was unfaithful to my marriage vows, then let God judge me (vss. 9-12).

If I have treated my servants improperly, then God will judge me (vss. 13-15).

If I have mistreated the poor or the widow or the orphan, then let God judge me (vss. 16-23).

What do we do with these "ifs"?

I do not think that these "ifs" were confession of guilt. They were a part of his defense. He knew that he had lived honestly, had been faithful to his wife, had treated his servants, the poor, the widows and the orphans with mercy and grace. In effect, he was challenging his accusers to prove his sin. He was not sinless in the sense that he never did anything wrong. Only God is without sin. But he had lived his life before God to the best of his ability in accordance with God's will. He knew that He was clean before God, and he was willing to let God do the judging if there were any failures.

My heart is in sync with Job. I know that I have not always lived the perfect life. I know that God's word says that if I say I have no sin, I deceive myself and call God a liar (I John 1:8, 10).

But I also know that God's knows my heart. I do not live in the "ifs." I live in the confidence that my sins are covered by God's grace by the blood of Jesus (I John 1:7). There is no condemnation. God knows that I want to live pleasing to Him. I can live in the freedom that Job had – that God covers the "ifs".

Love, Dad

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DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GOD KNOWS US

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – GOD KNOWS US

" 'But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.' " (Job 23:10-12)

Job knew that he had walked before God and treasured His commandments. This was not just empty talk on Job's part. It was not bragging. It was based in reality. Job knew the integrity of his heart.

This was not just Job's assessment of his life. It was God's. Remember what God said about Job in the beginning of the Book? When He was talking to Satan about Job, God said, " 'Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?' " (Job 1:8). And again in chapter 2, God said to Satan, " 'Have you considered My servant Job, that there is not like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.' " (Job 2:3).

When other people question the validity of your faith and your desire to live blameless and upright, to fear God and shun evil, be assured that God knows your heart. None of us are sinless. Only the Lord Jesus was sinless. Satan can accuse us because of our shortcomings. But God knows our hearts. Job said, "Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go" (Job 5:5b-6a). Again he said, "Does (God) not see my ways, and count my steps...Let me be weighed on honest scales, that God may know my integrity" (Job 31:6). I can live upright before God with integrity.

"There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1). Satan will condemn us, and other people may question our integrity and call us hypocrites. But we can live in the confidence that God knows that we want to live according to His way, and that we are holding fast to our integrity, and to come forth as gold.

God knows our hearts. We can live in that freedom.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WHERE IS THE JUSTICE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – WHERE IS THE JUSTICE?

" 'Can anyone teach God knowledge, since He judges those on high?' " (Job 21:22).

Job acknowledged when he looked at things from a human perspective, the wicked succeed. " 'Why do the wicked become old, yes, become mighty in power? ' "(vs. 7).

Their herds produce prolifically (vs. 10). They seem to have a happy life (vss. 11-12). Yet, they do not have any desire for God. (vs. 14). One person dies strong after a life of ease, with pails full of milk, while another dies in bitterness (vss. 23-25).

Where is the justice? Job's answer is that God knows and He will judge accordingly, not on how things look here on earth. He knows the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly shall perish (Psalm 1:6).

This is Job's testimony – that God will judge rightly. In the face of the miserable friends who say that Job's troubles are because he has sinned, Job is willing to let the testimony of his righteous life stand before God. He is convinced that God knows, and will judge righteously.

We can be sure that God keeps good records. While it may seem that the ungodly prosper while the righteous suffer, we can know that God's ledger is accurate, and someday the books will be opened for all to see. We hear a lot about redacted evidence. When a government paper is released, they blot out everything they do not want anyone to see, perhaps because of privacy, or perhaps because of national security. On that day, when the books are opened, nothing will be redacted or expunged, except that which is covered by the blood of Christ.

God knows your works of faith. "For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister" (Hebrews 6:10). And He will reward accordingly.

Love, Dad