RIGHTEOUSNESS
Today’s Reading: Job 24-26
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
On the way from Maresha National Park and Beit Guvrin to Jerusalem, the sky was spectacular over a farmer’s field and greenhouses.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Job 26:7
He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing.
The key verse is fact. Ancient beliefs were incredibly dumb. For example, the Babylonians believed that the Earth was a great giant and we were the vermin on its hide. The Greeks believed in Atlas, a giant man holding up the earth, etc. The Bible is not a textbook on science, but Job had knowledge which was accurate. God reveals Himself in His creation. Psalm 19 tells us, “The heavens declare the glory of God.” Job had no doubt that God is the great Creator and the Sustainer of all things. Job believed that the manifestation of God in nature was just a tiny revelation of Who God is. “Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways.” These people from more than 4,000 years ago were extremely intelligent.
Bildad, in the short chapter 25, asked the right questions. God has given us lots of answers in His Word. For example, Bildad asks, “How can a man be righteous before God?” The word “righteousness” is repeated over 300 times in the Bible. Several statements answer Bildad’s question. Philippians 3:9 informs us that our righteousness is not from our personal efforts but is from God by faith. A New Testament reading which refers to people God considered righteous, who lived even before the time of Job, is Hebrews 11:4-7.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I thank You that I don’t come before You in my own righteousness, because as Your Word teaches me, my own righteousness is as “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). I pray for grace to consistently trust You for Your righteousness, which is mine by faith. In the Name of the One who alone is 100% righteous, Jesus Christ, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
It was just a few days after my lifetime decision to serve Jesus with all my heart that I was asked to give a public witness at a Youth For Christ rally in the auditorium of my high school in Pembroke, Ontario. I asked my boss at the Chrysler dealership, Syd Healey (where I had a part-time job), for advice on what I should say. He turned in his Bible to the little book of Titus and read from chapter 3, verse 5, “Not by works of righteousness which I have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” I think I changed the word “us” to “me” and I quoted this verse to about 500 people that Saturday evening. I told of what had happened to me in the high school in Ottawa, where just a few days before I had gone forward at the invitation, openly declaring my intentions to serve Jesus and trust His Word where he said, “Whoever comes to Me, I will not cast out” (John 6:37). I told them that I simply believed that Jesus would not lie, and John would not write a lie in his Gospel. Therefore, I was assured of my salvation and my salvation does not rest on my goodness but on the goodness and righteousness of Jesus. Around that time, at 16 years old, I began to ask God to give me a call into full-time Christian ministry, if it was His will. The following summer at Youth Camp, God called me in such a clear way that I could never turn back from that call.
Yours for trusting in the “righteousness” of Jesus alone!
David
P.S. This blog is made possible by the ministry of Crossroads, and here is Crossroads CEO Lorna Dueck’s important message for this month of August…
This has been a remarkable year at 100 Huntley Street with a growing audience on TV and an exploding audience on the web through our website, social media platforms and on You Tube (where we now reach almost 1 million views every month). It’s also looking like a turnaround yearfinanciallybecause we’re SO CLOSE to finishing our fiscal year (August 31) with a balanced budget…the first time in six years! Lots of hard work, cost-cutting, financial restraint and generous donors who believe in this ministry have made this goal achievable. We have exciting, new plans in mind for our new media mission year that begins in September. I’m so committed that Crossroads be Canada’s “megaphone of the Gospel”…and we will not be silent about how Jesus can change lives… Jesus alone offers hope! Your donation today will make a difference in many lives. – Lorna
CLICK HERE TO MAKE A SPECIAL YEAR-END GIFT TO HELP US BALANCE THE BUDGET AND YOUR DONATION WILL BE MATCHED THROUGH A SPECIAL $10,000 CHALLENGE GRANT! YOU CAN ALSO CALL 1-800-265-3100 TO DONATE BY PHONE.
Amen, David! By His righteousness and mercy, we are saved. Here’s to never going back on our walk with faith in Jesus Christ. Love the photo, this morning, Reynold. Holding baby Judah up in prayer, this morning. Greatest blessings of love peace and forgiveness for all saints whose hearts ache in anyway, this morning. Oh how Jesus loves you!
But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Psalm 32:10b-11, NKJV
Zach Williams – Old Church Choir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOEviTLJOqo
Yes, amen Pastor David. We are saved only by His Grace and mercy. Reminded how the Lord called me out full time school teaching to go to Bible College by using car accidents. Also uphold little Judah in prayer this morning for a good recovery. God bless you all.
Yes, agreeing in prayer with you Beverlee and Ger, for God’s hand upon those attending to Judah this morning!
WOW!! What a spectacular photo!! Looks like a dove hovering over the sky!!!
Thank you Reynold for sharing it with us, thank you Pastor David for posting it.
Joined in prayer with you Pastor David: Always appreciate your explanation of the scripture, your being positive, even about the negative. Thank you for sharing your testimony!
Was good to see you on TV this morning, May the Lord continue to bless and strengthen you in all you do!
What a glorious Day! This is the Day that the Lord has made, let us choose to rejoice and be glad in it.
You see a dove– I see an outstretch hand– God blesses us wonderfully with the gift of imagination
yes Amen!
Amen!
Yesterday I went to my counsellor, I had something written out to say pointers
that I would not forget. Thank you for all your prayers Cheryl gave me some papers
on Mindfulness, to read and practise. We had a long talk a lot of things were kept inside , and had to relearn over again it’s not good keeping it inside. At first I thought
when God said to be thankful about everything how could I. Now though I understand God uses his children through prayer,wisdom and knowledge so thats a
way to be thankful even when the person does not no it . I did not make another appointment ,but will wait and see how I am doing .
Renold the photo is very beautiful David I prayed your prayer as well
Lianne Hogg
Amen, Lianne, dear sister-in-Christ!
Thank you very much for all the prayers for little Judah , I got word late afternoon that little Judah’s operation went well. However they weren’t able to take the whole tumour out, but got most of it. They won’t know if it is benign for about a week. Now we are asked to pray that his parents get some much needed rest and that Judah will progress well. He will have to get chemotherapy if the tumour is not benign.
Thank you Pastor David, I never get tired of hearing wonderful stories from your early days. Blessings Eleanor M.
Agreeing in prayer with you Eleanor M, for Judah’s parents and for Judah!
Also agreeing in prayer for Judah.. may God surround him and his parents with healing power and peace and strength!
Yes many thanks for all the words of wisdom and insights of the Holy word. Could you all pray for our Penticton Christian School for more children to sign up. The teachers are very dedicated Christian people and we need chiLoren to come and learn about our Lord.Thanks for all your prayers
Yes, Lord, we pray that Your open doors at the Penticton Christian School, welcome in hundreds of new children. Bring a sweep of angels wings upon this place, dear Lord, that it be overflowing to capacity for the teachers to lead these children to learn about Christ. In His Mighty Name, we pray. Amen.
Amen Beverlee.