Monday, September 26, 2011

Daily Encouragement (09/26/11) "Lessons From Job"

Daily Encouragement Net
A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
Having trouble reading this message?  Read mobile edition online
RSS feed               Podcast feed
Follow Daily Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter   Daily Encouragement on Facebook   Daily Encouragement on Twitter

 Daily Encouragement Net Header
The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.

<Previous Message  ·  Archives  ·  Archive edition

Monday, September 26, 2011

Amish watching parachutes from wagon 9/25/11
Yesterday afternoon following our service in a nursing home we came upon this interesting sight. It first looked like the Amish were out on a genuine team-drawn wagon ride. But they were parked at the edge of a field and all were looking intently in the same direction out over the distance. Since I knew some of them I stopped to greet them and inquired. Turns out they were watching parachute jumpers at the Maytown airport!  They were sure having a great time including some good-natured horsing around. (Click on photo for a larger version to see why the boy's hat is on the ground.)

ListenListen to this message on your audio player.

"Lessons From Job"

"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21). "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth" (Job 19:25).

Robert Rogers was traveling down the Kansas Turnpike in September 2003 with his wife and four children when suddenly they encountered a flash flood that furiously swept away his wife and all four children. Robert's tragic loss brings to mind the story of Job. In addition to losing his family, Job lost his health, income, prestige, and the respect he had earned among the leaders and townspeople of Uz.

Job lived during the patriarchal period some 4,000 years ago. He is famous for the great suffering he endured. The book about him is long and can be hard to read but I believe it can be briefly summarized in three points:

Job with boils1) A Candid Reality: "The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away." Job had experienced great blessing from God including wealth. He doesn't boast of his hard work or his wise investments, but he indicates that it is the Lord who gave him all that he enjoyed in life.  Like Job, we too thank God from whom all blessings flow.

A harder confession to make but equally true: "the Lord has taken away." The theology of suffering is hard and complex, but Job's experience teaches us that ultimately suffering is permitted by God. Satan had to seek God's permission to proceed with the affliction.

We tend to memorize promises that are positive in nature but there are also promises such as when Jesus said forthrightly, "In the world you will have tribulation" (John 16:33) or Paul's sermon in Acts 14:22 “We must go through many tribulations to enter the kingdom of God.”  The candid reality is that we will face trials, although few will experience the intensity and severity of Job's! 

"Blessed Be Your Name" is a song
written by Matt Redman that has blessed many.  It's a great exclamation of praise with a lively, contagious tune. But as a Bible student I especially appreciate the Scripturally-based words.  In fact the song is prompted by the daily verse:

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

There are certainly those periods in life when we all travel "on the road marked with suffering." Sometimes there are experiences that make international news due to the immensity and sheer evil of the impact such as 9/11.  Most times they are locally felt but with no less intensity for those left to deal with the ongoing pain of such loss.

Not one of us escapes the road marked with suffering, although the severity varies with each individual and through each phase of life. Job is an example of one who suffered intensely, yet states matter of factly, "The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away." This is a remarkable faith statement. We have no problem theologically with a God who gives but we cringe at the notion that He also takes away.

2) A Purposeful Resolve: "Blessed be the name of the LORD." Job gives praise in the very midst of suffering. At the time Job lived, none of the written words of Scripture were available. But we have the benefit of verses like Psalm 34:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, and Hebrews 13:15. Redman's song expresses the choice each of us must make to bless the Lord with a purposeful resolve, "My heart will choose to say Lord, blessed be Your name." Even when the body and mind are hesitant, may our redeemed hearts bless the One who gives and takes away.

My Redeemer Lives
3) A Living Redeemer: "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth."  Job endured suffering for an unspecified time. The book chronicles the "advice" offered by his frustrated wife and confused "comforters". Throughout the nineteenth chapter Job recounts his grave afflictions. Physically, socially, financially, and spiritually; he went through an incredibly tough period.  He lost his children, possessions and health. He was covered with painful boils and could get relief only by taking a shard of pottery and scraping his wounded skin.

But in the midst of his suffering, with no end in sight, he expresses one of the great faith declarations in 19:25: "I know that my Redeemer lives."

Job states with absolute confidence that in the end God will stand.  Indeed God has always prevailed, is presently prevailing and will always prevail.  At times His ways are a supreme mystery to us, but what tremendous peace we have as we also recognize this truth.  In the end He will be standing and since we have been redeemed, we belong to Him and thus we will stand with Him.

Today, my believing friend, let me encourage you to make Job's affirmation of faith your own. What tremendous peace comes when we look beyond our personal circumstances to declare, "I know that my redeemer lives!"


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Praying man
Daily prayer: Father, from the Biblical story of Job's unequaled sufferings emerges one of the most radiant and hopeful promises that I can apply to my life, "I know that my Redeemer lives!" Though my heart and my flesh may fail, You are my strength and my portion forever. The troubles that seem larger than life itself lose their magnitude in comparison to knowing that in the end I will see You myself with my own eyes. What glorious anticipation fills my heart as Your overcoming Spirit leads me through the trials of this day, the road marked by suffering!  It is not by my might, nor by my power but by Your Spirit that I find You to be the anchor in the storms that assail me. Amen.



Birthday verse: Yesterday I alluded to Romans 8:28 in my sermon. Jonathan, who is six years old, excitedly approached me after the message and told me I had mentioned his birthday (8/28). That got me thinking. All of us have a birthday verse and this quick study revealed some "birthday verse" options for my family:

Me: (10/14) "For by a single offering He (Christ) has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14).

Brooksyne: (10/21) "In that same hour He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, 'I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will'" (Luke 10:21).

Ester: (3/9) "So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith" (Galatians 3:9).

Perhaps you can consider finding your own "birthday verse"!



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"When Trials Come"  Video  Keith and Kristyn Getty  

"Blessed be Your Name"
 Video  Matt Redman

"I Know My Redeemer Lives"  Video  Crabb Family

"For I Know That My Redeemer Lives"  Video  Bob Bennett (classic version of Samuel Medley hymn)

Flood story

"Into the Deep"
  Robert Rogers maintained his faith through the tragedy and now ministers to others.

Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.
Our photo taken at the Old Mill Inn in Pigeon Forge TN (11/10)
"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update  (Revised 12/31/10)

DonateEach weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks!
See here for details.
2011 financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 9/25
/11: $9,631.00

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

Free email subscriptionWere you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net?  If you desire you can receive your own free! To receive these "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. This newsletter is never sent by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed or as an email subscription through feedburner.

Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If you no longer desire to receive these messages you can remove your address from the list by merely using the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.)


Weekly Version:
The weekly version is intended for those who may not check their email regularly or who may desire less frequent mailings. It is Friday's message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address.


Daily Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter:
Daily Encouragement on Facebook
The daily message and prayer on Facebook.
Daily Encouragement on Twitter
 The daily message and prayer on Twitter.

Reader Survey:  Please take a few minutes to assist us in improving our ministry effectiveness by filling out this online reader survey. To take the survey click here.

Please feel free to pass these messages on!

Our other blogs:
"A Daily Prayer" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. We keep this up each day since it's merely the prayer from the Daily Encouragement Net message!
"A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) Last updated with the story of Mildred Swanson, who joyfully discovers her "spiritual gift" is sending forwarded emails! (Note: This material is satire!)
"Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. (Actually this is my intent but I haven't done much with it!)
"Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. All of these songs are also available for download on the site.

Christianbook.comDaily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD!

Personal Mission Statement
"I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

Four Spiritual Laws

How to become a child of God



Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.

© Copyright 2011 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved

Daily Encouragement Net
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552
Contact us

Chaplaincy logo
Endorsed chaplain

"Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation"

www.dailyencouragement.net

Daily Encouragement is issued Monday-Friday.  To make sure you continue to receive these e-mails in your Inbox (so they're not sent to a junk folder), please add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your address book or safe sender list. You are receiving these recurring messages as a subscriber to Daily Encouragement Net because you signed up on our website or otherwise requested it unless someone forwarded the message to you. If you desire to unsubscribe use the link below.  However, please do not use this link unless your address is the subscribed address below as you will otherwise unsubscribe the person who forwarded it to you!

 

You are currently subscribed to dailyencouragement as: stephencweber.dailyencouragement@blogger.com
Add scweber@dailyencouragement.net to your email address book to ensure delivery
Forward to a Friend  |  Manage Subscription  |   Subscribe  |   Unsubscribe
Net Atlantic