August 23
Job 8:1-11:20 | PS 38:1-22 | Prov 21:28-29 | 1 Cor 15:1-28
One thing we should all take notice of is in both David as he speaks in the psalms and in Job as he defends himself before his "friends" is that both are in a real, authentic relationship with God. David has been called "a man after God's own heart". These men truly trust God, truly rely on God, truly exalt God. Even though they at times say things incorrectly, might not see things clearly is this not the same as our own children who are in a true relationship with us, their parents. We don't correct our children every time they get something wrong, we love that our relationship is real. Likewise, God doesn't send a bolt of lightning down if we quote Scripture incorrectly, perhaps misinterpret something, or even when we sin against Him. He loves us more than we parents love our own children. As you read Psalm 38 in today's reading see David pour out his heart to his Father in heaven. As you read Job's words in Job 9-10, see how he exalts God as creator, as just, as God over all. As we walk with God, may we seek the same thing. May we seek to be in a real relationship with God. Notice the interesting point raised by Job, when he speaks out in frustration, in his agony, in Job 9:33, "If only there was a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together." We read of this beautiful truth fulfilled in 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,".
Our hope rests in our Mediator, in the atonement for our sins and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For this reason, the proof of His resurrection is often the focus of attack. The historical truths behind Jesus walking on the Earth cannot be refuted, as He has been verified by extra-Biblical sources, secular sources, even hostile sources. The events surrounding His death are clearly described: He was severely beaten, almost to death, then crucified, and stabbed in the heart to prove His death, before being placed in a tomb, by Himself for three days, before rising from the dead. Some skeptics have stated that He survived the account and got away. Medical experts have clearly shown the impossibility of such an event, as crucifixion was 100% successful. Also realize, that if the Roman soldiers failed to effectively kill the "criminal", they would be required to suffer the same fate. Others have stated that the disciples stole the body. But why would they do this? Their faith in Jesus cost them their jobs, their families, their social standing, often their very lives. Why would they risk everything for a dead Savior, when they received no earthly benefits? Adding further veracity to the account, is in each description, women played a central role in first witnessing the resurrection. Women were held in very low esteem in those days, their witness not even deemed worthwhile in a court of law. Yet, the Gospel accounts spoke forth the truth. They hid nothing, just spoke forth the events as they actually occurred. The eyewitnesses and the effects on them cannot be refuted. Paul, being one of the best examples, as he encountered the risen Lord on the road to Damascus in Acts 9, turned from Christian hunter, to one of the hunted practically overnight.
The importance of this is stressed as Paul states in the earliest recorded creed of the church in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time." Bildad the Shuhite in his comments to Job stated in Job 8:6, "and if you are pure and live with integrity, he will surely rise up and restore your happy home." Bildad was wrong, as Jesus died yet was the epitome of integrity. Most of the prophets faced brutal and untimely deaths for their integrity, as did most of the apostles who followed Jesus. Despite Job's unfathomable loss of all ten of his children, he had to withstand the cold and callous comments uttered by Bildad in 8:4, "Your children must have sinned against him, so their punishment was well deserved." This I know: God is real and loving. Christ is real and is my Savior. Though my words and actions will often not measure up, it is my God which is the firm foundation that I will stand upon, not the shifting sand of my rights, my stances, my thoughts. May we all seek the Lord in a real way, every day.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: