Thurs.’s Devo -The Seed

Read: Job 12:1-15:35; 1 Corinthians 15:29-58; Psalm 39:1-13; Proverbs 21:30-31 You have to love Job’s sarcasm. He tells his friends, “You people really know everything don’t you? And when you die, wisdom will die with you.” Then he informs them that he knows a few things also. He believes that God will answer him. He believes that God will vindicate him and he is right. When God does something, there is nothing that can stop him or stand in his way. He is the one who uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness. *** Eliphaz had told him to bring his case before God’s court and Job says he would love to take his case before God. He has been working on what he would say to God and he knows he will be proved innocent. He asks that he wishes God would remove his heavy hand from him so he would be able to face him. He is afraid of being terrified when he stands before him because of his awesome presence. In spite of his fear, he begs God to summon him to his court and let him testify in his own behalf. *** Job laments life and how fleeting it is. He wishes he could die and be awakened when his case is on the docket of heaven. *** Job ponders if there is life after death. He wants to know if there is a time when he would come back to earth and instead of God watching for his sins, they would be sealed in a pouch and his guilt taken away. *** Job is describing the rebirth that we now enjoy. Being dead to our sins and resurrected to live a guiltless life of grace. It also describes the rebirth of the world in the end when the whole earth will be reborn and Jesus will be king on the earth. We are nearing that resurrection. *** Eliphaz calls Job a windbag and accuses of him of being deceived. He calls his words evil and says that no man can be pure or just. God didn’t even trust the angels who sinned against him, why would he ever trust man. The evil throughout history had proven that they may be prosperous for a time but they can never escape God’s judgement. They can’t outrun death. They sow evil and reap it. Then they perpetuate it to the next generation. *** Paul gave a great explanation about resurrection. He likened it to a seed that had to die before it could produce a plant. The plant looked like what was in the seed but not one could see what was in the seed until it died. We are like that seed and if we put God’s Word in our hearts we will reap a life that looks like his Word - like Him. *** Paul warned them about the company they kept because bad company corrupts good morals. So, good company encourages good morals. We want to have good morals because we are making a seed that will bring forth our resurrected new man after this body is done with. We want our heavenly body to shine forth for Jesus then and now. *** Lord, may we watch over the things we put in our seed so that we can resurrect a new man that looks like Christ. May we be strong and immovable always working enthusiastically for the Lord. Nothing we do for You is useless.