Monday, August 23, 2021

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

9 thoughts on “Monday, August 23, 2021

  1. Upon seeing our Saviour face to face in heaven, on our arrival day planned for each of us, surely I believe, we shall instantly know and understand the thunder of God’s power. We are meant to grasp only but a whisper now yet such mysteries are so wonderful because of our love for Jesus. Amen fellow saints in the Lord? His blessings be upon you. Amen.

    But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV

    You Are Amazing God, Chris Tomlin, with lyrics
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fgen24eKiM

    • Amen.
      Thank you.
      The storm that thundered last night and the fires that continue to burn are only like a whisper of the Power of an Amazing God.
      Prayers continue for God’s Spirit to prevail in the ‘Voices of the Martyrs,’ Afghanistan, and throughout this fallen world. May His Will be done and His Kingdom come.
      In Your Mercy Lord, hear our prayers.

  2. Powerful living everyday relying on Jesus. Not by my works surrender to Lord Jesus. Thank you for this daily morning words of encouragement. So good for walking daily and meditating say and night on the word of God. The Lor d bless 100 Huntley and the Lord bless Israel. Salvation for all His people in Jesus name amen.

  3. Amen,Dale.We greatly appreciate Crossroads in all its entities and we should always pray for Israel.Great thoughts,Beverlee.Our minds will be greatly expanded and ‘speeded’ (sped) up in His kingdom and we will understand much more that we could as mortals.Indeed,weakness is a close cousin to humility.Pray for those in Afghanistan and all trapped behind the Devil’s Curtain.May God bless
    The Mountains Of The Lord

    His mountains shall be above all mountains,
    His house above Zion’s hills shall rest,
    For this is the pool of the golden fountain,
    His people,the chosen few and best.

    The rivers will flow to the shores of Zion,
    For the world will soon know this King,
    The proven Master we could rely on,
    The Shepherd worthy above everything.

    His exalted name will be widely praised,
    When He returns to vanquish the beast,
    And everywhere voices will be raised
    In celebration with His banquet feast.

    Let fair warning go throughout the land
    He will return with shield and sword
    And as Satan shall take his last stand,
    My Friend shall show that He is Lord.
    G W (Bill)Marshall /Nov 9,2012

  4. Amen to the comments above thank you Beverly k for the song and thank you William for the poem blessings to all this day amen 🙏

  5. We will have glorified bodies in Heaven. We could not stand in His Presence in our earthly bodies. His brightness be too much. Praise God. Blessings all on this extremely warm day in S Ontario.

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