Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Job 22
NT: John 6
W&W: Psalm 68.28-35
Today’s Reflection:
Throughout life, I have often found myself in periods of waiting. I expect that I will go through similar periods in the future. (I am hoping that this current period of waiting is almost over as God is opening doors of opportunity for Lana and me…) It is not unusual for me – and I suspect for you – to experience restlessness as I wait for God to work his will out. But, if we should do anything while we wait, we should rest – rest in God, in his goodness, in his plan. When we learn to rest, we will find the wait shorter.
Joseph Bentz counsels us – in chapter 9 of his book When God Takes Too Long – Know your enemies – their names are Restlessness, Complaining, and Disobedience.
It was Israel’s pattern to go through periods of…
· Restlessness – which led to
· Complaining – which led to
· Disobedience – which led to
· A longer journey before God worked out his purpose for them.
When they violated the terms of the covenant, God was under no further obligation to them. He not only could abandon Israel without further ado, but really should do so. But, God does not abandon them. He gives them another chance. And another. And another.
Be thankful for God’s patience and his mercy. But, for your own sake, in times of waiting recognize restlessness in your spirit so that you can prevent complaining and disobedience, which will inevitably result in a longer wait!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Work on putting all of Isaiah 53 together:
1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
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