- If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open. If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. Job 12:14-15 – God has complete control. If a path is one we shouldn’t be on, He can put an end to it. If this place needs nurtured, He can do it. As one commentary even put it, if He chooses to shut the door of the grave, there is no escape. What we must not do though with this knowledge is fear God and be worried about how He is going to hurt us. Yes He’s in complete control, but He’s also deeply in love with us. That power is then used for our good and safety, not our harm. This is why as faithful followers of Jesus we can take steps of faith into the unknown because we have a God who is in control of the unknown and who loves us. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1464
- I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock. In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip. The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand. Job 12:4-6 – While receiving much advice and wisdom from his friends, Job reminds them that he is wise too. He knows the truths of God. He’s walked with God and knows the desire of God’s heart is for man to walk blameless in His sight. Yet right now Job feels like a fool, for all his beliefs are seemingly upside down. The righteous seem to be going unheard and punished, while the sinful seem to exist in peace and taste blessing. This too can be a heavy paradox we see and feel in our own story. Where our faithful lives seem to still be full of difficulty, but those not following Jesus seem to be doing just fine. We struggle with finances, yet they are making millions. The world sure seems to be having fun with the things we are told to stay away from. In this place, we need to find ourselves dwelling on the truth of Scripture. That God knows what is best, far beyond our understand can go. Also that God deeply loves us and His desire is our good. So when life seems to be favoring the sinful world rather than the faithful follower, remember who truly has God’s favor promised to them in the pages of scripture. Don’t allow the happenings of this world or the struggles you face dictate for you who God is, allow God in His world to do that for you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2637
Daily DEVO 