THE MEDIATOR
Suggested Reading: Job 9-10
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Wedding Church in Cana of Galilee is where Jesus began His public ministry, turning water into wine. This was the home Church of my son-in-law, Nizar Shaheen. He served as an altar boy here. Ellen and Nizar were married in a basketball court right in front of the nearby Baptist Church on May 21, 1983. None of the churches would hold the crowd of about 2,500 people. In today's reading Job mentions snow water. I prayed on live TV from here that God would warm the hearts which were like cold water by the warmth of the wine of His presence.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Job 9:32-33
For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him, and that we should go to court together. Nor is there any mediator between us, who may lay his hand on us both.
Oh, the great advantage we have compared to Job and his friends. With one hand on God and the other on humanity, Jesus became our Mediator. The word “mediator” occurs seven times in Bible…once in Job and six times in Galatians, Hebrews, and 1st Timothy 2:5, “There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”
A New Testament reading for today could be John 9:1-7. Bildad and Zophar believed that Job’s suffering was because of Job’s sin. Not so! Jesus said that the man who was born blind was not the result of sin, but “that the works of God should be revealed in him.” This sounds very much like the reason for Job’s suffering.
When we are hurting, run quickly through Jesus into the arms of our Father. He will heal your sorrowing heart. The wine of His presence will warm you and comfort you.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, thank You for Jesus, the only One that at the same moment touches both You and me. Please grant me the understanding I need so that I will not allow time to pass without acknowledging Your healing and comforting presence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Yesterday afternoon my 3-year-old great-granddaughter, Autumn Neilson, rushed to me the moment I arrived at the front door. She pointed to her second toe on her right foot and told me that she had an owie. I bent over, kissed her toe, and prayed that her precious toe would be all better. Immediately she broke into a smile. Then she took me to the place where she stubbed her toe. Of course, I was most sympathetic. This special treatment I’ve been receiving from Autumn has been going on for almost a week now (see photo below). She’s been jumping up beside me at every opportunity and giving me cuddles. The reason is that our newest great-grandchild arrived from Oklahoma City, and Autumn, who was the object of a great deal of attention, was receiving none. I noticed the look on Autumn’s face and picked her up and concentrated only on her for at least 15 minutes. It’s a beautiful thing to know that our Heavenly Father can give 100% attention to all His children at the same time. That comes with the fact that He is God and “God is love” (1 John 4:8b).
Tomorrow I want to write here about Egypt and the crisis there. My father spent 21 years in total in Egypt, with my mother for eight of those years. My heart is broken for the Egyptian people.
Yours for learning to run into the Father’s loving arms without delay,
David
With my great-granddaughter Autumn (click on photo to enlarge).
In the background, on the altar of the Wedding Church in Cana, you can see six water pots that remind us of the first miracle of Jesus at the start of His ministry. In front on the communion table, the cross reminds us of Jesus' completion of His ministry.
I have felt to look at the book of job lately, happened across your blog and encouraged by your sensitivity to the Holy Spirits leading, I have been going through what seems to me a prolonged trial of faith, wondering when it will end, because of jobs patience he finally received the promise. we take comfort from the scriptures, I am now living in Halifax but come from Campbells Bay Quebec where I believe your dad once pastored, blessings in Christ, Bill Walsh
Speaking of death Job states in 10:21 “It is a land as dark as midnight, a land of gloom and confusion, where even the light is as dark as midnight.” To those who do not know Christ, this is their hope, there can be no other. Eternal separation from God is a dreaded thing, yet most of our society is blinded to this truth. Yes we hear of other “religious” options such as Nirvana, Samsara, Reincarnation, but none of these options (as nice they may sound) are true, nor are they able to forgive and cleanse one’s soul. Only Jesus has the power of mediator to speak on our behalf, only He has the ability to forgive us of our sins (past, present and future), to cleanse us and to renew us. Heaven isn’t a concept, it’s a reality … it can also be ours right now by just humbly coming in prayer to our Lord, asking for forgiveness of our sins (wrong doing in our lives), and by asking Him to fill us with His love and to make renew us in Him. I guarantee you, if you pray this prayer sincerely in your heart, it will forever change your life … it will be a great day of rejoicing and you will have a new positive spring in your step and an eternally secure knowledge that Jesus will always be with you that he will never leave you nor forsake you. As well, you will be written into the journals of Heaven! Jesus is now closer than a friend. Heaven will be something to look forward to, a time of rejoicing at our time of death and not the foreboding place of confusion and darkness that Job and much of our world perceives. We HAVE an eternal hope friends, this is something to rejoice about today! Amen!
That is the ticket, exactly, Scott–through Jesus, we have forgiveness! No other religion offers that–not Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, the Qi, or new age beliefs such as reincarnation!
Amen Scott.
I pray many will ‘hear’ this message & begin changed lives. There is no other way. Only Jesus.
I pray for family members, for my children who are no longer ‘hearing.’
AMEN & AMEN!!! Jesus is the Only Way!!!! He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.
Praying for you today, Heilke. May Jesus minister to you according to your need and His Will. So thankful that we have THE mediator that Job was longing for. I picked up a most amazing book from a church sale – a complete collection of sermons and articles of Smith Wigglesworth (a man of great faith, used mightily by God} 850 pages, hard copy and filled with great stories of faith (from 1914 – 1947) for $1.00 new condition! I was surprised when in today’s reading Job said that he felt that God laughed when the innocent died! I understand his frustration but? Was this not sin? I was surprised at his comment. (I know he did not have THE MEDIATOR, or the scriptures that we have).
I so love the picture of you and your great grandaughter Autum , what a nice place t be snuggled up beside her knowing she is loved and safe and protected and warm how presious is Gods love to us every moment when we cuddle close to Him I his loving arms no matter what struggles we ho through or have gone through , oh how we love the presence of God all the time , it is so wonderful to see the pots where Jesus made the water in to wine I hope to see it in person someday .
Good morning everyone…..may the presence of our loving Father fill your hearts and souls, as you face this new day.
We are so blessed to be able to come to The Father , through His beloved son Jesus, and bring our supplications before HIM and to know He hears all of us at the same time. We are blessed to be able to open our bibles and pray without fear, as some do in different parts of the world. Let us pray for the peace that Jesus left us to enter the hearts and souls of all today.
Thank you Pastor David for sharing your family with us. I love cuddling up with my 8 precious grandchildren and sharing Jesus with them. Summer seems to be going fast and school will resume, so every moment is precious.
Blessings to all today. Jesus paid it ALL, all to HIM I owe!
As Job acknowledges the awesome power and glory of God in all natural creation, he struggles with why he was created and for what purpose. You point out David how “that the works of God shall be revealed in him” as a reason for his suffering. By permitting Satan to take away all Job had only revealed Jobs strength as he struggled communicated and pray with God. I am encouraged how we can be so open with our Lord about matters in our life and always be directed back to His love and guidance. How, by being openly honest about our thoughts and feelings in prayer, we gain clarity by His wisdom and His Word. I am looking forward to your take tomorrow on the turmoil happening in Egypt right now. It is important we pay attention to these matters, as they do certainly impact us here in Canada. Gods blessings to all bloggers!
Well said David and fellow bloggers. Thank God for our mediator, the man Christ Jesus. He and the Word takes away all the confusion. Thanks for sharing your family with us, David. I also got a couple hugs from my two grandnieces yesterday and we need to pray for them as Satan is out to destroy them at the youngest age possible through immoral TV, other media etc. Beautiful day in the Maritimes.
Thankyou one and all God is so wonderful!!!!
Thank you so much Doreen!!!!!
Hi David, What a precious photograph of you with little Autumn! Wow, Job sure could have used the message we hear today through our present day Evangelists. l was looking through a little book of quotes yesterday and thought this one was great. ” Evangelists stand outside the gates of Hell and redirect the traffic, away from danger and into the safety” of “Christ”. Love to Everyone!
Loved your quote Christine! With God’s help, we can do that too!
I also loved that picture of you and your little sweet heart David. That was so neat that you noticed when she needed you. The other thing I was thrilled to read was yesterday when you told us about your Dad making oatmeal for your breakfast before he called you. Then the fact that he had the bible on the table to read to you before you went to school, and prayed for you and your day. Blessings to all you bloggers and your prayers for Pastor David.
Amen
Lianne
Thank you David for your faithfulness in writing this blog. Also sharing your
Gr. grand daughter such a beautiful child..May God bless you. and heal you
Lets keep praying for peace in the middle East , and stop all this suffering…..R…
Such a sweet little child, your Great Granddaughter!! You’re a very lucky and blessed man!! To have such a great family!! I have two grandsons but they are far away near Buffalo NY and I am in Edmonton, Alberta!!
I am being married on Sept 21st for the 3rd time!! No children expected with this marriage as I am near 70!! Though if God wants I am open to it!! LOL!!
Nancy
Suficiant for the day is the evil there of. We must have hope for a better tomorrow. Amen!
Lord we thank you for your many blessings. Like in the book of Job we to are aflicted by satin’s influence . This is a depraved world help us to live above these present days circumstances . Lord rescue us, and comfort those of us in need with your love through your holy spirit. In Jesus name Amen!
M.
Hi David
How special to enjoy your great-grandaughter…we are blessed to know Jesus did it all that the Father be Glorified
blessings to you
Irene