The Word Made Flesh

Re:Verse passage – Job 1:1-12 (day six) 

Have you ever considered why God included poetry among the various genres of biblical literature? We can be so enamored with what is being said, parsing out all the details, that we can miss the how.

Poetry and prose capture the human experience in all its subtlety and nuance, bringing real life emotion to the surface in ways that no other genre can. Fear and joy, doubt and faith, anger and celebration all find their home in the poet’s verse.

Poetry is the Word becoming flesh-in a manner of speaking. (Not THE WORD of course.) It is God saying to us, “I am with you. I understand. It is okay.” Biblical poetry is God’s way of letting us know that it is okay to work out our salvation in the midst of a sinful broken world.

Oh, and by the way, it is also intended to read out loud.

Resume

Re:Verse passage – Job 1:1-12 (day five) When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.

Part of Job’s “Righteousness Resume” was his love and sense of spiritual accountability for his children. We are told that he frequently/regularly took the initiative (made arrangements) to consider and invest in their relationship with God.  As parents today, we are instructed by scripture to do the same thing. When children are younger, that means regularly/frequently taking the initiative of reading the scriptures and praying with them, as well as having spiritual conversations. When they are older (out on their own), same priority, same frequency of praying for them. I believe this also applies to grandparents as well.

As parents, scripture says we are the primary “disciplers” of our children. Maybe today and then regularly/frequently we could take initiative (like Job) to pray, read, and talk with them (younger) or for them (if older maybe send a text or email). It seems fitting that it ought to belong on our “Righteousness Resume”.

Whose Righteousness?

Re:Verse passage – Job 1:1-12 (day four)

Has anyone ever asked you which biblical character, other than Jesus, you would like to meet?  We might say Moses…or Joshua…or King David…or Elijah…or one of the disciples…or maybe Paul.  Very few would say, “I’d like to meet Job.”  Yet Job was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.  He was the greatest of all the men of the east.

We are intimidated by the suffering and pain that Job endured as a result of his righteousness.  Righteousness is supposed to bring blessing and reward.  The prospect of hardship does not appeal to us.  Maybe we can be just righteous enough to please God, but not so pure that we stand out in a heavenly conference.  We want to find a happy medium to just get by.  A reminder…we are sinners.  Only by the grace and righteousness of Jesus Christ can we stand before God forgiven.  Focus on Christ rather than ourselves!  His righteousness certainly stands out in any conference…say on Judgment Day!

Blurt

Re:Verse passage – Job 1:1-12 (day three)

“The sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.”

Nobody knows for sure what is meant by “the sons of God.” Fallen angels, mysterious divine beings, righteous individuals, and, in Genesis, the sons of Seth — all of these suggestions and more have been advanced as possible explanations of this puzzling phrase. Does this kind of meeting still happen? Are conversations like this going on right now? Do God and Satan keep in touch? Well, Jesus kept company with a shady crowd, and that’s an earthly example of what it seems was already happening in heaven. One thing is for sure. No evil will startle God. And apparently, the devil isn’t good at keeping his own plans hidden from the Lord. Don’t you worry.

Righteous Living

Re:Verse passage – Job 1:1-12 (day two) The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”

Let’s be clear; your faith walk is always preparing you for something. Perhaps you can relate when people talk about feeling very near to the Lord during trials or times of suffering. The other side of that coin can sometimes be convicting. When things are going well we tend to think of God less. This is to our spiritual detriment. Job was chosen because he was righteous even in his abundance. It was his pattern and privilege to submit to the Lord. Daniel did not become righteous when he was challenged, he simply adhered to the pattern of his life (Daniel 6:10). Jesus did not need 5000 to display his righteousness, his life was marked with a devotion to God the Father as a part of his very being (Luke 4:16)

What we are about to study throughout the book of Job is a testament to righteous living regardless of circumstance. Why don’t we begin right where we are, today?

Re:Verse Blog – 2/28/22

Re:Verse passage – Job 1:1-12 (day one)

Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty, and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Job 1:1-12 in our Spring Re:Verse Series: “JOB – Through the Storm.”

Eschatology

Re:Verse passage – Luke 19:11-27 (day seven)

… they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. vs 11

Not much has changed. Two thousand years later and many people are still waiting for the Kingdom of God to appear. There are some who think it is imminent. Especially in recent days because we are “hearing of wars and rumors of wars” (Matt 24:6). Yet, this is not all that different from 2001 or 1941 or any other time in history for that matter. From the dawn of time, peace has not been sustainable. Satan has thrived in conflict and chaos, and he continues to tempt mankind with greed and gluttony of power.

Is it possible that we are in the “great tribulation?” Yes, but the eschatological implications of todays events are irrelevant. Our theological obsessions with timelines often leaves us more like the slave who hid his mina in a handkerchief instead of investing his endowment. It is not spiritually profitable to worry ourselves over when the Kingdom is coming. The Kingdom is coming. Our job is to grow the Kingdom on Earth as much as possible, so that when Christ returns His new Kingdom will be full with those whom we invested in.

Eschatological implications aside, there is a spiritual war that is happening in the world that is surpassing the physical combat. We pray for leaders around the world to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We pray for peace. We pray for Ukraine.

No Joke

Re:Verse passage – Luke 19:11-27 (six)

27 “‘And as for these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king—bring them in and execute them right here in front of me.’” Luke 19:27

It is hard to imagine Jesus wrapping up this parable with words so violent and final. Isn’t he all grace and mercy? Did he not say, “I did not come into the world to judge the world, but to save it?” John 3:17

All true.

God’s kindness (withholding judgment for a season) is intended to lead everyone to repentance. Jesus’ ministry on earth is the epitome of God’s kindness; his grace and mercy on full display, like a billboard with an open invitation to freely follow him and escape everlasting judgement.

What Jesus says in John 3:17 refers to his first coming, but when he comes again he will come with sword and fire.

It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of a living God. Hebrews 10:31

This is precisely why we must be good stewards of what Christ has given us, his church. His future and final judgement is no joke.

Equality

Re:Verse passage – Luke 19:11-27 (day five)

“So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’”  If this parable is about the Kingdom of God (I believe it is), then what is Jesus teaching?  Timing (Kingdom of God is both now and in the future), Stewardship (we are accountable for stewarding what The Lord has entrusted to us). Maybe there’s another truth that we can discover. Equality in God’s generosity. I am also studying Ephesians. In chapter one, Paul makes a wonderful declaration, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”  Every believer has the same amount of blessing from God. There are not more given to others. Everyone is given an equal amount- every. Same in this parable, equal amounts given to the ten. Think about what we all have been given as believers: same Gospel, same Holy Spirit, same Scripture, etc. Entrusted to us.

“And we need never feel less blessed or more blessed than another believer.”- Richard Coekin

It’s time to “put these precious gifts to work” until Jesus returns.

Growth Required

Re:Verse passage – Luke 19:11-27 (day four)

Maybe this is where the saying…”to whom much is given, much will be required”… came from.  Or maybe it was Luke 12:41-48…or maybe Matthew 25.  Get the point?  This is a message that Jesus taught all through the Gospels.  God expects His children to be fruitful with all they have.  According to our abilities, God expects and requires us to produce fruit…profit, reward, gain.  For those who fail in this assignment, Jesus calls them a worthless, lazy slave.

God’s expectation is not just limited to money.  He has given His children talents, truths, and wisdom.  We are not to hoard His gifts and blessings to ourselves, but rather invest them into the lives of others.  Wealth and riches…whatever they look like in your life…are meant to grow.

How is your investment portfolio?  Not financial…your gifts, talents, truths, and wisdom invested into the lives of others.  Will you receive the commendation, “well done, thou good and faithful servant”?