Wed.’s Devo - Solomon's Ecclesiastes

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:1-3:22; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Psalm 46:1-11; Proverbs 22:15

Ecclesiastes means “one who addresses an assembly” or “teacher.” It was believed to have been written in the last years of Solomon’s life, since he describes all he has accomplished. It is his summation of life after observing it and living it to the fullest. His quest has been to find out the meaning of life and to find wisdom. He begins by saying that life is all vanity and ends his last chapter with repeating that statement. 

Solomon begins with all he has observed in his years of living. He concludes that there is nothing new under the sun and what is in the past is not remembered by the next generation.  Wisdom was what God gave Solomon at the beginning of his reign and it has caused him sorrow as he has observed life around him though the lens of wisdom. 

Solomon tested his wisdom by filling his life with pleasure. He found that it was useless. He tried drinking to cheer himself up and it didn’t work either. Then he tried building things and filling his surroundings with beauty, music and women. He became the richest man on earth and when he looked at all his striving he saw he had gained nothing eternal. 

He blamed his depression on the fact that he was so wise. He did conclude that being wise was better than being foolish and there was more to gain in light than in darkness. 

Solomon saw that all meet the same fate whether wise or foolish. They will all die and won’t know what will happen to all they accomplished. What will the next generation do with what he has done. 

He concluded that instead of being depressed it was better to find joy in life. There is a time for everything God created on this earth and in a lifetime. All will experience the same trials and emotions. 

Yet, God has put in eternity in every man’s heart. Everyone knows there is a hereafter, whether they admit it or not. So, everyone should take pleasure in their work and enjoy their life. All will one day stand before God and be judged for the way they lived the life God gave them. It is vanity to worry about what happens when one dies. 

In Corinthians, Paul talks about vanity also. He says it is vain to not receive the grace of God that he is offering. This grace is salvation. Paul’s life was not full of all the luxuries that Solomon’s was. Paul’s life was full of afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonment, riots, labor, sleepless nights, and hunger. But what kept him though all that was the kindness of the Holy Spirit and the life and power of God. His weapon was righteousness. He was greatly punished in his life but rejoiced because he had everything money can’t buy. 

Lord, as we consider our lives may we see them through your lens. May we build so the next generation can thrive. May we live our lives with eternity in mind. 

Tues.’s Devo - The Happy Ending

Read: Job 40:1-42:17; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; Psalm 45:1-17; Proverbs 22:14

God stopped his oracle to ask Job if he still wished to set him right after hearing about his majesty and wisdom. Job found that it was one thing to contend with man about God and another to contend with God face to face. He was overwhelmed with shame and could not speak.

Since Job had not only spoken against God, but accused Him of injustice, God challenges him to try and govern the world, as God by His power does, and punish the proud and wicked.

God asks Job if he can tame behemoth or leviathan the most feared animals on the earth. If he can’t bring them under controls, then how could he govern the world.

In Chapter 42, Job humbly admits he is weak compared to God and his omnipotence. He admits that God is supremely just as the governor of the world and he confesses his wrong in speaking what he didn’t understand. Now that he sees who God really is, he repents with great sorrow and shame.

Next, God speaks to Eliphaz and tells him he is angry with him and his two friends because they did not speak rightly as Job has. God tells them what they can do to make things right with him and with Job. They are to take an offering to Job and let him pray for them. They obey and do this and Job prays for them. 

Then everything that Job lost was restored to him doubly. God even gave him more children and many more years of joyful living. 

In Corinthians, Paul tells us that God knows us and he hopes that we understand this. All that matters is what God sees in our hearts. We no longer live for ourselves worrying about what others think of us, but we died to that old self and now live for Christ. He lives through us and controls our affairs. 

We now see believers, not what they used to be, but as a new creature in Christ. We have been given that gift to be able to see others as changed and new. We have been made new and so have others. We are witnesses and carriers of God’s righteousness.

Lord, may we rise and shine in your glory and righteousness. May we not fall to the temptations of the devil and walk in condemnation but may we walk in the freedom Christ gave us. May we be controlled by your Spirit in wisdom and power. 

Mon.’s Devo - God Speaks

Read: Job 37:1-39:30; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10; Psalm 44; 9-26; Proverbs 22:13

Elihu finishes his thoughts speaking of the weather, the thunder and lighting, the snow and ice, and the clouds and points out how God directs all of them. Animals know how to find a place of refuge when a storm is coming how much more should man find their shelter in God who will keep them safe in the time of final judgment.

God finally speaks and with question after question to Job and Job is finally humbled. God explains the creation of the world as he made it. It is a very awesome and majestic feat. God orchestrated and still orchestrates nature and did it all through wisdom. He questions if Job had anything to do with creation. Of course, the answer is, “No.”

In Corinthians, Paul explains the wonder and beauty of God’s grace which is being extended to more and more people so that more and more are thankful to God and his glory is expanded greater on the earth. 

Our natural body is wasting away, but our inner self is being renewed greater and greater every day. Our afflictions prepare us to be able to carry the weight of God’s glory. Everything we see right now will pass away, but what we can’t see is what is going to remain. 

God has made us a home which is eternal. Our temporary bodies will be clothed with God’s glory and we will be swallowed up by life. God’s Spirit is our guarantee this will happen. 

God wants us to have courage and walk by faith, not by sight. While we are waiting this to happen, we make it our aim to please the Lord, knowing we will all stand before him in judgement. We will all be rewarded for what we have done on earth.

Lord, may we be able to stand before you unashamed on the day of judgment. May our works be your works and may we have walked this life by faith and hope. Prepare us to carry the full weight of your glory and may we submit to your pruning and discipline now that we might be rewarded for our obedience later.

Sun.’s Devo - Elihu Continues

Read: Job 34:1-36:33; 2 Corinthians 4:1-12; Psalm 44:1-8; Proverbs 22:10-12

Elihu calls them to consider what Job said. Job said that he has been good in vain, which not only offends God’s children, but gives gratification to God’s enemies. Elihu told Job that God didn’t afflict him to harm him, but to cause him to grow spiritually. God does not nor can he do wickedness. 

Job had wanted to present his case before God, and Elihu asks “Why?” because God only does what is good and right. Who are we to question?

Job’s other friends wanted to prove that Job did wrongly, but Elihu wants to say that Job spoke wrongly. He advises Job to ask the Lord what his sin is and ask God’s forgiveness and sin no more. 

In Chapter 35, Elihu reproves Job for justifying himself more than God, and called his attention to the heavens. God is very far away and out of reach of helping man. He should be grateful that he has much more than he deserves. 

Elihu points out that Job complained that God didn’t regard the cries of the oppressed. His answer to this is that men don’t see the mercy they are given by God and are not thankful for all he has done for them, so why would God help them. God gives man the ability to endure suffering and even rejoice in it. When man isn’t thankful for what God does for him and only complains about what he doesn’t do, he hinders God from being able to help him. He says we need humble ourselves before God. 

Elihus says it is wrong to only trust God when things are going good. There is coming a day of judgement when all things will be sorted out and things will be made right. In the meantime, we need to be grateful, do right and trust God.

In Chapter 36, Elihu says that because Job hasn’t humbled himself, his trial has continued. All of Job’s calamities are for his good. Job is to learn that God is righteous in all his ways. All of this is for Job’s cleansing so he can stand righteous before God in the end. He warns Job not to continue his quarrel with God and never to favor sin, or participate in it. Instead of pridefully standing up to God, he should humble himself and accept his punishment. It is crazy for him to think he can teach God anything. 

Elihu points out that the righteous man sees all God has made and should rejoice and gives him glory, but the sinner ought to see his creation and tremble. Man is blessed when he can see God’s presence even in hard times. His loving kindness is always there, even when we don’t see it.

In Corinthians, Paul says that in all he has been through, he has not lost heart. He has not used underhanded schemes, or tampered with God’s word, but has spoken the truth. Even though the veil has clouded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the truth, they have seen God’s glory and his light has shined in the darkest places. 

We have been given this light from God because we have given our live to Christ. Through our death, Jesus is raised in our hearts to life. He now lives through us.

Lord, may we allow you to live through us today to bring light and life to the world.  

Sat.’s Devo - Elihu Speaks

Read: Job 31:1-33:33; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18; Psalm 43:1-5; Proverbs 22:8-9

Job finishes his last statements and it is like he is going through a mental check list of sins he has refrained from. He has not lusted after a woman, walked in deceit, enticed another woman, or given his wife to other men. He has cared for the needs of his servants and listened to their complaints. He has given to the poor and helped the widow and the fatherless. He has not trusted in gold or his wealth. He has not rejoiced with his enemy fell into hard times. He has no secret sins but has lived in fear of the law. He has not taken anything he didn’t pay for. 

Job wants to know what crime he is accused of that all this has come upon him. Then he is finished talking.

A much younger man named Elihu had been present to hear all the words of Job and his three friends. When he realized they were through talking and none of them had come up with a solution that made Job take any responsibility for his plight, he sat there getting madder and madder. He finally spoke up. 

Elihu explained that he may be much younger than them, but it is God that causes a person to have understanding - not the amount of years they have lived. Since none of Job’s friends were able to get to Job, God will. Elihu was bursting to tell his mind because he believes he has the mind of God. 

Elihu repeats what Job has spoken and tells him that he feels God has counted Job as an enemy but he says this is wrong. God is not like man - he is greater. God doesn’t speak like man speaks. God speaks through our dreams and warns us of our sin. Angels and heavenly mediators deliver man from hell. God can renew man to his youth and restore his righteousness to him. God does this over and over for man. 

Elihu says he desires to justify Job and teach him wisdom. We will read the rest tomorrow. In the end, God doesn’t rebuke Elihu like he does the other three friends. 

In Corinthians, Paul says that they are his letter of recommendation because they are the fruit of his labor. That is what God calls us. We are his witnesses to the world. They should be able to watch our life and see God through us. God has given us his Spirit which is life. The word of God written on stone tablets was the law.  Moses came from the presence of God with his glory on him. It was so strong he had to veil his face. But, the glory of God that comes through Jesus is much more brighter and we carry that glory. 

When unbelievers read the law, the veil is still there, but the Spirit takes away the veil through believing in Christ. We can see and experience the glory of God in his Word. 

Lord, may your light shine through us today. May we be your glory on the earth that the veil may be lifted from many eyes and hearts. Let your kingdom come!

Fri.’s Devo - The Aroma of Christ

Read: Job 28:1-30:31; 2 Corinthians 2:12-17; Psalm 42:1-11; Proverbs 22:7

Job talks about all the precious gold, iron, copper, precious stones and bread that man has found and brought forth from the earth and yet he asks where he might find wisdom or understanding. None of those precious metals or stones can be compared to wisdom and understanding. Only God knows where they can be found. Everything he made was made with wisdom and understanding.  Job concludes that the fear of the  Lord - that is wisdom and to turn away from evil is understanding. 

Job reminisces to the time when he was esteemed by man and thought to have wisdom by his piers. People longed to hear his what he had to say and gave him preference when he came to town. Important men asked for his advice and listened to his wisdom. He was a blessing to others and the blessing of the Lord was on everything he did and had.

But not now. Now, they make fun of his tragedy and are repelled by his sickness. They have totally rejected him and they have no respect for him. He has lost everything. He cries to the Lord, but even he has rejected him. 

In Corinthians, Paul talks about trying to find Titus. He looked in Troas but when he didn’t find him there, he went to Macedonia. 

Paul thanks the Lord that he is able to spread the aroma of Christ everywhere he goes. The aroma of Christ is the knowledge of who he was and is and is to come. Paul says that we are all that aroma of Christ to those who are being saved and also to those who reject him. To the one who accepts Jesus, we are the aroma of life. To those who reject him we are the aroma of death. We take this aroma everywhere we go. 

Lord may we be your aroma and may we be people of integrity. May we bring life to those we meet today. Thank you that you have given us your light, your wisdom and your understanding.

Thurs.’s Devo - A Good Conscience

Read: Job 23:1-27:23; 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11; Psalm 41;1-13; Proverbs 22:5-6

Eliphaz had spoken last and accused Job of all sorts of wrong doing. He had told him that if he repented of his sins God  would forgive him. 

Job responds to him saying that if he could meet with God and present his case he would be found innocent. Job searches for the Lord everywhere but can not find him. He laments all the things the wicked do that rebel against God. They do all their deeds in the night thinking God doesn’t see them. They rule for a while on earth safely, but then they die. 

Bildad argues the case that man can never be right before God. Man is no more than a worm.

Job confronts Bildad and asks him who he has helped that needed help. God is over the heavens, Sheol and the earth. No one and nothing is as powerful as him. But, Job contends that God has taken away his right. He stands on the fact that he is innocent and has done nothing to deserve his fate. 

The wicked heap up silver and fancy clothes, but the righteous will inherit it. 

In Corinthians, Paul also boasts of his righteousness. His testimony is that he has behaved with godly sincerity. He doesn’t live by man’s wisdom, but relies on the grace of God to lead him.

Paul explains that he planned to come and visit the church at Corinth on his way to Macedonia but God is the one who seals his plans. He decided not to come to them since the last visit caused them so much pain. His intent is to give them love, not pain. 

He is referring to the man who was having sex with his mother-in-law. Paul had told them to kick him out of the church until he repented. Paul is now hoping that they did this and the man has repented and stopped his sin and been restored back into the church. 

Lord, may we have the conscience of Job and Paul who lived their lives with no regrets. May our walk be blameless because we walk in your grace and love. May we forgive those who sin and repent and be comfort to those who suffer. May we remember all you have done for us and humbly help restore others. 

Wed.’s Devo - Comfort One Another

Read: Job 20:1-22:30; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11; Psalm 40:11-17; Proverbs 22:2-4

Zophar speaks up for the first time. After listening to everyone else’s comments he has some of his own. He starts out explaining that since the beginning of the world there have been wicked people on the earth but time has shown that their reign is short. They are here today and gone tomorrow. In the end they lose everything and die poor because they crushed the poor in their days of prosperity. 

Job speaks and says that his argument is not against man. He disagrees with Zophar and says that many times he has seen the  wicked live to be old and still be powerful and rich. They leave their inheritance to their children and die in peace. They rejected God and still got everything on earth. So what is the benefit of worshiping God when the rich and the poor, good and evil will all die one day? The benefit of fearing the Lord is that they will all be judged. Some of them are judged on earth and some are not judged until they die. 

Eliphaz answers Job and asked if a man can profit God. Does it make God happy when a man does right? Is not Job’s evil abundant? Then he accused Job of crushing the poor and the fatherless. He says that Job thinks God doesn’t see what he does in secret. 

He offers Job the solution. He must turn to God and remove the injustice from his ways, then God will forgive him and bless him. He says that Job’s pride will keep him from God, but if he is humble, God will delver him. 

They obviously did not believe that a person is innocent until proven guilty.

In the second letter Paul wrote to the church in Corinth he begins by blessing them with grace and peace. Job’s friends could stand to listen to Paul. Paul says that we are to comfort those going through trials with the same comfort we received from God when we went through our trials. Comfort was not offered to Job. 

They were all suffering for believing in Christ so their stories helped to comfort others. His hope is that their trials would not shake them from their stand for Christ, but cause them to grow stronger. 

Paul reminds them of his near-death experience in Asia which made him rely on the Lord and not on himself. God delivered him and will deliver us also when we are in our trials. Paul thanked them for their prayers because prayer is effective.

Lord, may we use the trials we go through to comfort others. Thank you for all the people who have prayed for us in our hard times. We pray that you would strengthen the whole body for the days ahead. May we find comfort in your presence.

Tues.’s Devo - Our Redeemer Lives!

Read: Job 16:1-19:29; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24; Psalm 40:1-10; Proverbs 22:1

Job called his friends miserable comforters and asks them why they have to keep on talking. He told them that if he was in their place he could have said the same thing to them and shamed them. But, all who could have witnessed on his behalf have deserted him. God has broken him down to total disgrace. It is obvious by his appearance that he is not strong and sickly. All his friends and acquaintances have abandoned him. 

In spite of all this, Job says that his witnesses are in heaven. They know he is innocent. One day he will die and not return.

In Job’s mind, his only adversary is God. He doesn’t seem to realize his real enemy and the cause of all this is not God, but Satan.  God has set Job up as his representative of a godly man before the heavenly host. Job couldn’t see that it was really an honor to be thought of so highly by God to be chosen as his champion on the earth. 

In Chapter 17, Job has his worse pity party yet. Then in Chapter 18 Bildad decides to add insult to injury and compare Job’s life to the wicked man. We get a good description of the consequences of the wicked but this is not who Job is.

Job answers and asks how much longer are they going to accuse him wrongly. He claims that God has put him in this trial and he is not coming to his rescue. He describes in detail how God has taken his life from him and given him bitterness in its place. 

But, in the end of his ranting he says that he knows that his Redeemer lives and will one day stand on the earth. When Job dies he knows he will see God.  One day everyone will face God’s judgment. 

In Corinthians, Paul directs them put something aside every week as an offering, just like he told the churches in Galatia to do. When he comes, Paul will collect their gifts and send it to the church in Jerusalem who were experiencing the worse of the famine and the persecution. They were invited to go with him to Jerusalem to present their gift. 

Paul plans to stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, then come visit them in Corinth. 

Paul is sending Timothy and asks them to welcome him and honor him even though he is young. Apollos will come when he can. 

Paul encourages them to be watchful, stand firm in the faith and be strong. He tells them to let everything they do be done in love.  He recognizes the faithfulness of Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus who refreshed them. 

Paul sent them greetings from Aquila and Prisca and all the brothers there. He prays that God’s grace and love would be with them.

Lord, we pray for your grace and love to be with us and in us so that others may come to know you. You are our Redeemer who has come to bring your salvation to all the earth. May your kingdom come!  

Mon.’s Devo - Job Argues On…

Read: Job 12:1-15:35; 1Corinthians 15:29-58; Psalm 39:1-13; Proverbs 21:30-31

Job speaks and sarcastically says, “…No doubt wisdom will die with you.” He argues that he has understanding as well as them and is not inferior to them. He stands by the fact that he is just and blameless.

The aged understand wisdom and with God is all wisdom, might counsel and understanding. He rules the earth and all nature. Job has observed nature and seen God’s wisdom displayed through the things he made. He calls his friends worthless physicians who are trying to diagnose him. He appeals to heaven to argue his case before God. (Little does he know that that is exactly what he is doing with his words.)

Job asks his friends if they could stand before God blameless. Could they withstand the argument they are giving him? They are not God and have no right to judge him. Job has prepared his case before God and feels confident he will win his case.

Eliphaz accuses Job of not fearing or worshiping God. He says Job testifies against himself and is condemned by his own words. He argues that Job doesn’t know more than them. He says that Job has turned against God and wonders how Job as a man thinks he can stand against God and win. 

Then, Eliphaz gives a description of a wicked man who dares to fight against God and what will become of him. the wicked man is deceived and concludes that his end will be destruction. He is comparing Job to the wicked man.

In Corinthians, Paul is still giving an argument of the fact that people are resurrected when they die. He brings up the fact that in their custom they baptize people on behalf of someone who has died. Why would they do that if they didn’t think there was life after death. He had had this same argument with the people of Ephesus. He told them to wake up from their drunken revelry and face the fact that they are living for eternity and what they do on earth affects how they spend eternity. 

Paul compares our body to seeds that when placed in the earth when we die, will produce a different kind of spiritual body. If we know Christ, our bodies will be raised in glory and power. Adam was a type of our earthly bodies and Jesus was a type of our spiritual resurrected bodies. Adam was formed from the dust of the earth, but Jesus came from heaven. We were born in the image of Adam, but will be raised in the image of Christ.

Paul quotes Isaiah 25:8 which says, “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces…”  But, God gives us victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Lord, may we always be steadfast, immoveable in our faith and always growing in the work of the Lord. We know that our work is not in vain in the Lord. 

Sun.’s Devo - Our Hope is in the Lord!

Read: Job 8:1-11:20; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28; Psalm 38:1-22; Proverbs 21:28-29

Bilhad gives his opinion of why all this has happened to Job. He makes his case that God does not judge wrongly, so Job’s children must have gotten what they deserved. And, if Job is pure, as he claims, then God will restore him to his rightful place and his latter days will be greater than his first. God did restore Job’s latter days to be greater than his first.

Bilhad pleads with Job to research the past and learn that life is so short and fleeting. God will not reject a blameless man or become friends with the wicked. 

Job answers this by saying he understands that man can never be right before God. No one can stand up to God and win. God controls the whole universe and his ways are way beyond man’s understanding. He wonders how he can prove to God that he is blameless. He knows that whatever he says will be wrong. He concludes that God destroys the blameless and the wicked alike. There is no way he can get clean enough to stand before God and be accepted. There is no intercessor between man and God. 

Job concludes that he hates his life and his soul is bitter. The God who created him, now is destroying him. He is caught in a cycle with no hope. He wonders why he was born. 

Zophar adds his thoughts on the subject. He accuses Job of mocking the Lord. He claims that Job is not getting near what he deserves. Who is Job to contend with God? He claims that God knows a worthless man when he sees one. 

Zophar tells Job to search his heart and find the iniquity in there and repent. Then he can lift his face to heaven without fear. Then he will experience peace and hope.

Job’s friends look like sorry friends, but it makes me think about how we judge others when they go through bad times. We might not say it to their faces but we think some of the same things Job’s friends think. The only difference is that we have an intercessor between God and man and we can pray for our friends which is the best thing we can do for them. 

In Corinthians, Paul reminds the church in Corinth to remember the gospel that he preached to them of salvation in Christ. Jesus died, was buried and resurrected. He appeared to the apostles and then to him. It is by God’s grace that he was saved to preach to others this great Salvation. 

There must have been a discussion about the resurrection of the dead, because Paul addresses this. He explains that their whole salvation hinges on the resurrection of Christ which was a forerunner of their own resurrection. 

In Adam all died because he brought sin into the world. But in the second Adam, Jesus, all sin is defeated and all who believe in him live. Through the death and resurrection of Christ, he destroyed every evil ruler, authority and power. He will reign until all things are put under his feet. Then he will turn it all over to God. 

Lord, we are watching everything being put under your feet. We see the war against evil and the dismantling of evil structures and beliefs. May your kingdom come! 

Sat.’s Devo - Job’s First Debate

Read: Job 4:1-7:21; 1 Corinthians 14:18-40; Psalm 37:30-40; Proverbs 21:27

Job is a reminder of how we try to help people solve their problems with only man’s knowledge. None of the characters, including  Job, knew the context of Job’s misfortune. They looked for the reason and how to solve it instead of seeking to know God and his ways. 

It is a great reminder to us when we are counseling others or going through the struggles of our own lives. We need to seek God his wisdom and ask for discernment because there are no pat answers.

Eliphaz is Job’s first “friend” to speak. He begins saying that Job has counseled so many other people and now that he needs help…  will he listen or be impatient? He asks him if he has ever heard that it was the innocent who perished and were cut off. Instead, he has witnessed that people reap what they sow. They get what they deserve. 

Eliphaz even strengthens his argument with a vision he had seen one night where a spirit came to him and asked him if mortal man could be right before God. He argues, it is not God who trusts man, and he can’t even trust his angels who sinned and rebelled. 

Eliphaz suggests that Job pray and commit his life to him. God is the only one who can help him. He only reproves those who he loves, so Job should not despise his discipline. The sign of Gods blessing is that he delivers man from famine, war, slander, destruction, the beasts of the earth and from dying off without an heir. Job might need to consider why he is not walking in this blessing.

Job replies that his calamity is more than he can take. He has lost hope and wants to die. He has nothing to offer anyone. He describes Eliphaz’s words as wind. He wants vindication because he has done nothing wrong to deserve this. He sees what has happened to him as his lot in life. He has lost all hope of anything good coming to him. He feels he has a right to complain. Then Job cries out to the Lord to leaven him alone. He asks God what he has done to deserve this. Why has God not pardoned his sin and taken his iniquity away. 

In Corinthians, after Paul has downplayed speaking in tongues in the church, he tells them in his private life he speaks much in tongues. He tells them to be mature in the thinking, but innocent of evil. God would use those who speak in tongues to speak to his people who are hard-hearted. Tongues is a sign to the unbelievers, but prophecy is a sign to the believers. If an unbeliever comes into their service and people are prophesying,  he will be convicted by their words. The secrets of his heart will be disclosed and he will repent and worship God. 

When they meet, each person should come with something to give: a song, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All things should be done to lift one another up and encourage them to continue growing in the Lord. In the church, there should be order and peace. 

To maintain order, the women were not allowed to speak, but were to talk to their husbands about anything they had questions about when they got home. 

Paul sums his sermon up with we should desire to prophesy and speak in tongues. They are both helpful if done orderly. 

Lord, give us discernment about our troubles and those of others. May we desire to prophecy and speak in tongues. May we not be afraid of your ways and your gifts, but seek you above all.

Fri.’s Devo - Job -

Read: Job 1:1-3:26; 1 Corinthians 14:1-17; Psalm 37:12-29; Proverbs 21:25-26

The book of Job is set in the land of Uz which is north of the Arabian desert towards the Euphrates. Job was first of all blameless and upright, a man who feared the Lord and turned away from evil. Next, he was very prosperous and greatest of all the people of the east. 

He and his wife had seven sons and three daughters who took turns hosting parties. When their feasting was over, Job would always consecrate them just in case one of them cursed the Lord in their heart.

God called a meeting of his heavenly host and Satan was present. The Lord asked Satan where he had been and he told him he had been walking up and down on the heart and going up and down from the heavenly realm to the earthly realm. 

God asked Satan if he had noticed Job who was a god-fearing man. Satan had seen Job and said he was upright because God had put a hedge of protection around him, but if he took that away, he would curse God to his face. This was a challenge and God put his confidence in Job. 

God gave Satan permission to attack him Job not his own body. So Satan attacked everything he had. He took away his oxen and donkeys, sheep and servants, camels and then his own children. But, in all this, Job did not curse God. He said that he came into this world with nothing and it looked like he would leave with nothing. Job blessed the Lord.

At the next heavenly meeting God questioned Satan again about Job. God commented that Job had kept his integrity even when Satan incited him against him for no reason. Satan was not ready to concede. He said that it was because he didn’t let him harm his body. So God trusted Job’s faith to let Satan attack his body. 

Satan struck Job with sores all over his body that itched and oozed. His own wife told him to curse God and die. He asked her , “shall we receive good from God, and not receive evil?” He refused to sin with his words.

Job had three friends: Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar who heard of Job’s disasters and came to comfort him. Job was so changed in appearance that they tore their clothes and sat with him seven days and nights before they could say anything.

Job finally broke the silence and cursed the day he was born. He saw no point to his life and thinks it would have been better if he had not been born.

In Corinthians, Paul tells us to pursue love and spiritual gifts, especially to prophesy. Then he goes through the spiritual gifts starting with the last one which is speaking in tongues. Paul explains that tongues is for the individual to use to speak to God. It builds him up, but it does nothing for anyone else. But one who prophesies, builds up all who hear his words. Paul wants us to speak in tongues, but he is more interested in the church and what builds up the church.

Then he goes on to talk about the other gifts like a word of knowledge or prophecy or teaching. They prepare the people to battle. The other manifestations of the spirit like healing and miracles all build up the church.

If someone does speak in tongues, let there be someone who interprets so all can benefit in what God is saying. 

Lord, may we pursue love and spiritual gifts. May we use our gifts not only to build ourselves up, but to build up the church. May all we do be through your love.