Prayer: Father, order my steps and order my day. Thank You for the serendipities which You bring my way and bless me with. Every breath is a gift from You. Amen.
Reading: Job 13 key: vs. 20-21
20 “Only two things do not do to me;
then I will not hide from Your face:
21 withdraw Your hand far from me,
and do not assail me with Your terror.
Attention: Have you ever bargained with God? Most of us have at some time have offered God a deal. It usually goes something link this, “If You do this for me, then I will do this for You.” If You heal me of cancer, I will serve You the rest of my days. If You give me this job, I will tell everyone about You. If You help me pass this exam, I will live for You.
If you have not seen the movie “Unbroken,” I highly recommend it. It is riveting, compelling, and based on a true story. I will not give the story line away, other than to say, the lead character makes a deal with God and is then faced with keeping his part of the promise.
Did God perform a miracle for you? If so, did you keep your part of the bargain?
Job asked for two things from God, “do not…withdraw Your hand far from me; and do not assail me with Your terror.” Two things Job feared, God not being personally involved in his life and being terrorized by Adonai.
Job, although righteous, was concerned, like King David after his sinful acts surrounding his affair with Bathsheba. In Psalm 51: 11 David says, “Do not cast me away from Your presence—take not Your Ruach ha-Kodesh from me.” He too, was in despair of God withdrawing from him. The thought of the separation that sin causes between God and us, is haunting, terrorizing, when you consider it.
The consequence of our sin is separation from God. We have this false sense of safety when we say, God understands, and He will forgive me. Really? David had a “a broken and a contrite heart (Psalms 51:19).” He was repentant and deeply grieved. He did not just say, forgive me Lord and continue his way.
I concur with the writer of Hebrews (10:31), “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Job was gaining understanding of relationship with the Almighty.
Action: The fear of Adonai is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7a). I choose to respect Adonai.
Yield: Allowing God to order my steps.
Engage: Asking God to order my steps.
Relationship: Keeping close to God.
Prayer: Father, I pray for my friends today. I encourage them to repent of known sin, repetitive sin, sin that has enslaved them. I pray for forgiveness for unknown sin. Reveal to each of us the gravity of sin and how it separates us from You. Reconcile and restore us to relationship with You. Amen.
Memory Verse: Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in Adonai with all your heart,
lean not on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight.
Music Video: Gaither Vocal Band—Where Could I Go
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”