STAND STILL
Today’s Reading: Job 36-37
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Here in the Judean Desert, beneath the historic mountain of Masada, you can see many large rock formations and crevasses created by flash floods washing down to the Dead Sea. This sky was the perfect backdrop for this dramatic rock. As our key verse says, “Consider the wondrous works of God!”
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Job 37:14
Listen to this, O Job; Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.
The theology of this young man Elihu was right on. However, his judgment of Job was unfair and far from correct in God’s eyes. God had said of Job, “There is none like him in all the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8). We would do well to remember the words of Jesus, “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). We can be theologically correct and not understand our fellow human being. We should all be encouraged by the fact that Elihu was correct when he said that God “does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous” (Job 36:7). In God’s eyes, we who have believed in Jesus are seen to be righteous. Back on the blog from August 23rd, we considered the righteousness which is ours. We may want to read that posting once more (click here).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I ask for grace to “stand still!” May I stop all my busyness for a time and take the time to meditate on Your “wondrous works.” Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’m keenly anticipating the next four days of reading Job. God Himself begins to speak to Job! God’s description of nature and His creation is awe-inspiring to me.
I remember well heroes to me in Christian ministry. I heard Rev. Hope Smith say one day, “The way out of the rat race is to slow down and walk with God.” He and his ministry co-worker, Rev. Laurie Price, were an amazing team. They were Pastors of a Church called Evangel Temple, located (at that time) at the corner of Dundas and Bond Streets in Toronto, just a block west of what is known as the longest main street in the world, Yonge Street. They told the story of when Hope, who was injured and crippled in WW2, and Laurie, who had been injured in a car accident, were driving up Yonge Street in the late 1940s, when their old car stalled, backing up traffic for blocks. Horns were blowing and people were angry. From the waist up they looked like two able-bodied young men. No one could understand why they didn’t get out of the car and push it out of the way. In spite of all the fuss and rush of downtown traffic, they were totally at peace within themselves. It’s a humorous scene to imagine. Laurie was healed by God and gained great mobility later, and Hope continued with a serious limp throughout his life, but it never slowed him down. They impacted my life greatly when I was a teenager. They were filled with joy and incurable optimism. For some reason when I read the words in our key verse “stand still,” I thought of Laurie and Hope…by far the most unique ministry team I’ve ever met.
Yours for coming to a total stop once in a while in order to “consider the wondrous works of God,”
David
P.S. Remember that this month is the financial year end for the ministry of Crossroads. Here is Lorna’s message once again…
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.
So thankful that we can have His perfect peace in the midst of every kind of storm of life, personal, family, work, social, culture, weather, no matter the form they come in, we can know the peace of our God which surpasses all human understanding – praise His Name!
Completely agree with your personal story today about the unique team at Evangel Temple a few years back. I had the privilege of attending there a few times while going to Bible College and always loved it, the preaching, the choir and the prayer times before service. While we were praying Rev. Hope Smith would walk up and down praying with us. The presence of the Lord was so beautiful! Rev. Laurie Price was from northern NB I believe. Thank you Pastor David for sharing this. Our God is great and wonderful! We may not have a very good start in life or we may have had it all and lost it like Job but if we do not curse God or walk away as Job did not, our loving God will prove Himself faithful and true. Reminded of the song by the late Bobby Michaels, “Our Redeemer is Faithful and True” on You Tube. Blesssings!
it amazes me Ger on just how sensitive you are to people’s blogs! You seem to have a very caring compassionate heart! Thank you for that! You have wisdom and discernment! God bless you!
I have said this before but this blog has saved many lives simply because we can post our honest sincere emotions or problems or share some good news; on this blog we can be ourselves and this is a very important aspect of our lives! I commented to David Mainse and thanked him abundantly on his total honesty over the years! That is very powerful! This is an excellent way to send the devil running! To be honest under God’s watchful eye is so powerful!
I encourage others to become honest and feel the freedom from that action!
PLEASE PRAY FOR RAIN FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA. PRAY ALSO THAT THE PEOPLE WILL BE HELPED AND THAT MANY WILL TURN TO GOD FOR HIS DIVINE INTERVENTION!
amen
I find the picture for today utterly amazing!I ,in fact ,was at Masada and hiked up this mountain the very day u posted this picture!!!! What are the chances of that!It and Israel are stunning! God cares about every little aspect of our life and continues to amaze me with His brilliance every day!Thank you Lord that You love me and helped me climb this incredible mountain.It was a steady uphill climb for over an hour and I wanted to give up.I made it to the top and I give You all the praise and glory and love you so much.
Thank you Sah but I feel others are much more caring than me. Amazing Jennifer that you walked up the mountain. You must be young and strong. Envy you being in Israel for a month. God bless you both. Ger
Thanku Ger!I am almost 59 in a few weeks!I also have asthma ,but God helped me make it to the top and it was worth it!I am truly blessed and highly favoured,
What spectacular skyline…in that photo…thank you for posting it.
Praise the Lord, the only True God on whom we can lean…one who is faithful and true. Worthy of all Praise!!!
God Bless you Pastor David and Norma-Jean Mainse and all your loved ones!!!