August 24th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Job 12:1-15:35 ~ 1 Corinthians 15:29-58
Psalm 39:1-13 ~ Proverbs 21:30-31

Old Testament - Wow.  There are some great words of wisdom from Job in today's readings.  I love the poetry of his words today.  A lot of it reminds me of the book of Ecclesiastes, which we'll read later this year.  Below is an illustration of Job and his three friends from the Book of Hours of Etienne Chevalier by the 15th century French painter, Jean Fouquet -

New Testament - Today in First Corinthians chapter 15 verses 42 through 44 and 49 we read – “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. . . And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.” Have you thought much about heaven? Have you considered life after death? Do you believe that there will be a resurrection of the dead? Do you believe that your body will be raised imperishable? That your body will raised in glory? In power? Do you believe that there is a spiritual body, just like we now know our earthly body? Are you looking forward to bearing the likeness of Jesus in heaven?

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in First Corinthians 15 titled "A Refresher Course on the Resurrection of the Dead" is at this link.

Psalms - Today in Psalm 39 verse 5 we read – “My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath." This is a powerful verse for each of us to meditate upon. How does this verse speak to you? Do you feel like life moves fast sometimes? If so, how are you spending your time? Are you being intentional about how you invest your time? Are you being intentional about your work? Your friends? Your finances? Volunteering? Serving others? Loving others? Watching TV – or better yet, not watching TV? :) If life really is “but a breath” – are you spending your breath wisely? With your breath are you constantly loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself?

Proverbs -  Today in Proverbs 21 verse 31 we read – “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.” How does this Proverb speak to you? For me it is a reminder that anything we do in our life is dependent on the Lord. If we want to be successful in life – in our jobs, ministries, marriages, friendships, anything – we will only be successful if the Lord is with us. So, how do we know if the Lord is with us? My first suggestion is prayer. I believe we should commit every thing we do to prayer. I will admit that lately my prayer life has not been very good. And I’ve noticed the effects of it. I want victory is so many areas of my life – but it seems like I am too often “saddling up” the horse without seeking the Lord’s guidance and wisdom and blessing. How is your prayer life these days? Are you committing everything you do to prayer? Are you earnestly seeking through prayer the Lord’s guidance, wisdom and blessing, knowing that victory rests only with the Lord?

What verses or insights jumped out for you in today's readings?  Please post up in the Comments section below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[Sammy]

I think that it is quite interesting that both the writers of Psalm 39 and Job 14 have the brevity of life on their minds and that both readings should occur on the same day in our annual journey. I especially like Job's description of life: "How frail is humanity! How short is life, and how full of trouble! Like a flower, we blossom for a moment and then wither. Like the shadow of a passing cloud, we quickly disappear."

Maybe the Lord is speaking to us today to rethink our lives and priorities to make sure they are in line with Him. Just a thought!

[Ramona]

Job 12-15:35
I have always been fascinated with the eleventh verse of chapter 12. Well, not always but ever sense this verse spoke to me about five years ago, I let it roll around in my mind. The Amplified Bible reads as follows,

Is it not the task of the ear to discriminate between [wise and unwise] words, just as the mouth distinguishes [between desirable and undesirable] food? (Job 12:11 AMP). Taken by itself this verse would just be Job making a comment on what he has observed in life. But Jesus stated in the Book of John in answer to Pilate asking Him if He was King,

… You say it! [You speak correctly!] For I am a King. [Certainly I am a King!] This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth [who is a friend of the Truth, who belongs to the Truth] hears and listens to My voice. (John 18:37 AMP)

Paul spoke in his letter to the Romans,

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their [own] hearts to sexual impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves [abandoning them to the degrading power of sin], Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever! Amen (so be it). [Jer. 2:11.] (Romans 1:24-25 AMP)

There are at least three witnesses in scripture that imply or say outright we know Truth when we hear it. We reject Truth because we have made a chose to reject it. Our ears have the capacity to discern Truth. If we make a choice to be a companion of Truth, we will hear Jesus’ voice, not only hear his voice but listen. If we are not dealing in Truth that means we have exchanged it for a lie. To exchange something one must have it in one’s possession. You cannot exchange what you don’t have.

Believers and unbelievers alike misquote and mangle this verse,

And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. (John 8:32 AMP)

This verse is dependent on the verse before it, 31, and cannot be separated from its subordinate clause,

So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples.
(John 8:31 AMP). I believe that one cannot know the Truth unless you are continuing in Jesus’ Word, thus becoming a disciple. When you are a disciple then Truth will be known to you. This has to happen this way because Jesus is the Truth.
(John 14:6) Jesus replied,13 "I am the way, and the truth, and the life.14 No one comes to the Father except through me.

I know people who have searched every religion trying to find truth, looked under every rock and climbed all manner of trees looking for truth. Thinking they had found that truth, they hung out with the false truth for a while, but restless and desirous of something they didn’t have, they continued on their journey until they heard the voice of Jesus. Because they were looking for Truth, they heard His voice.

Regarding Truth, Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible states,

The truth - The source of truth, or he who originates and communicates truth for the salvation of men. Truth is a representation of things as they are. The life, the purity, and the teaching of Jesus Christ was the most complete and perfect representation of the things of the eternal world that has been or can be presented to man. The ceremonies of the Jews were shadows; the life of Jesus was the truth. The opinions of men are fancy, but the doctrines of Jesus were nothing more than a representation of facts as they exist in the government of God. It is implied in this, also, that Jesus was the fountain of all truth; that by his inspiration the prophets spoke, and that by him all truth is communicated to men. See the notes at Joh 1:17.

There is much to think on.

Grace and Peace,
Ramona