Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Saturday June 20, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of Job. Please read chapters 17-20 in your Bible or Click Here to read them online. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2017-20&version=9

Today's Message: Redeemed
As Christians we are constantly being misjudged, even by family and friends, however Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer, has faith in us and will always help us endure all the pain and suffering we face.

After countless accusations from his friends, Job lost all hope of any recovery, he was ready to join God in heaven saying, “My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me. Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?............... Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow. …........ But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you. My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.” - Job 17:1-3,7,10,11. Job just wanted all the pain to be over with, including the endless slandering by his friends. There are times in all of our lives when it seems everyone is against us, even God. However, God is in fact with us and all we need to do to get His attention is call on Him. That is where many people fail, it's easy to have a relationship with God while everything is going well, but it becomes harder as things start falling apart. You see, what actually happens is that we get so confident while things are going well that we actually stop seeking God's help. We slowly lose that mentality that we no longer need God (usually without realizing it) and that's when things start to fall. Now, this is not punishment, it is merely God's way of showing us that we need Him every day.

Bildad spoke a second time, and this time his words were more severe, making the assumption that his suffering was due to him being a sinful hypocrite, trying to exempt himself. “He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place? Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him..............His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street. He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world. He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted. Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.” - Job 18:4-6,17-21. Here is a man, who is supposed to be a friend, literally telling Job that he was dying because of his wickedness and that not even his family will remember him. I imagine by now Job was anxiously waiting for God to just take him out of his misery, but these accusations must have left him heartbroken and thinking that he was going to die being misjudged as a sinful hypocrite. He knew that his heart was right with God, but his friends refused to believe that. There is no worse feeling then being accused of things that you know you did not do, especially when your family and friends will not believe you. We can overcome, even the worst of criticism, simply by putting our faith and trust in God.

With every lash of condemnation from his friends, came a greater depth to Job's confidence in his life beyond the grave. The only way he was able to bear the unjust reproach of his friends was by living in the expectation of the glorious appearance of his coming King. “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me? Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.” - Job 19:25-29. This revelation of life after death is one of the greatest told in the Old Testament. God leads us to see, through Job, that we have no valid excuse for complaining about our suffering, material loss, or being misunderstood by others because Our Redeemer will come to take us away from all pain and suffering.

According to the Law, a redeemer was the next of kin who was responsible for redeeming (buying back) an enslaved kinsman or his lost inheritance (Leviticus 25:25). Today, Our Redeemer is the Lord, Jesus Christ. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” - Romans 3:23-25.


Today, I am going to close with the chorus of an old church hymn, Redeemed.

Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.

Today's Prayer:
Dear Jesus,
I want to fix my eyes, my thoughts, and my affections on You, my blessed Redeemer. Though You faced enormous opposition that would provide understandable excuse for altering Your redemption plan, You endured Calvary’s cross for us. When I consider the depth of Your commitment I am determined to be faithful even when no one else approves of my Christian walk. Jesus, help me to endure by keeping my eyes, not on that which is seen, but on the future rewards that You promise to those who are faithful. In Your Name, Jesus..........Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
God Bless,
Christina

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