Bible Pathways 06/21/2002
June 21
Read Job 25 -- 29
In Today's Reading:
Bildad's answer; Job's reproof of Bildad; Job's praise to God; Job's truthfulness; source of wisdom; recalling past wealth.
Verses for Today:
Where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. . . . Whence then cometh Wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living (28:12-13,20-21; see also Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; 15:33).
Job possessed marvelous insight when he declared that God was the Author and Revealer of true wisdom. When Job said that wisdom cannot be gotten for gold (Job 28:15), he spoke of the attainments of human intellect, such as science and our educational system. In contrast, Job revealed that the fear of the Lord, that is Wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding (28:28). There is no substitute for reading all His Word to understand His perfect plan for our lives. This means that it is important to read through every book of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, with a sincere desire to apply its instruction to our own lives.We can be sure that Satan will attempt to distract us from the true source of Wisdom, the Word of God, and tempt us to make decisions based on circumstances.
The worldly-minded find fault with God, just as the Israelites did as they journeyed through the wilderness. They complained about their circumstances instead of acknowledging that God is in control and submitting to Him. We too make many decisions that grow out of either a spirit of faith or an attitude of complaining. To illustrate, we may say to someone: "You make me angry." But the fact is, we choose to be angry. Or we may say: "I am depressed today." However, the truth is that we decided to be depressed. We can be sure that God is far more concerned with our best interests than we are. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator (1 Peter 4:19). We always have the opportunity to rise above and beyond anger and disappointments by permitting the indwelling Christ to rule our lives.
Apart from the Word of God, we have no final answers for life's purpose and we know nothing concerning eternity. Strange as it may seem to a skeptical world, true wisdom can only be obtained after we confess and repent of our sins and receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives. The world needs to know that all who reject Christ miss the greatest discovery of life. For then, we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).
As members of the Body of Christ, which is His Church, let us respond to His authority, for we know that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death. Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life Romans 6:3-4).
Christ Revealed:
Through Job's compassion for others (Job 29:15-17). Jesus . . . saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them (Matthew 14:14; 15:30-39).
Word Studies:
27:22 fain flee = desires to flee; 28:1 a vein = a mine; fine = refine; 29:14 diadem = turban or headdress
Prayer Needs:
Government Officials: Rep. Dan Burton (IN), Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (CA) · Pray for the President · Country: Kazakhstan (17 million) central Asia · Major languages: Kazakh and Russian · Religious tolerance · 40% Muslim; 25% Russian Orthodox/Armenian Apostolic; 1% Protestant; .6% Catholic · Prayer Suggestion: Pray and fast in secret so that only the Lord knows (Matthew 6:16-18).
Optional Reading: Ephesians 4
Memory Verse for the Week: 2 Timothy 3:17
