08 July 2007

Today's Reading July 08

Job, chapters 38 and 39
Now we hear from God.
That packs a whole lot into a few words, doesn't it? Ever been in a terrible, terrible situation and what you needed, more than anything else, was the Presence of God? I have. Big time. I never heard Him speaking to me out of a whirlwind, but I can frankly say that in a couple times of great need, He has made his presence known. And he does so here. He doesn't really answer any of Job's questions, but He does let it me known that He has been there all along. That, my friends, is worth a great deal - we sometimes feel as if we have been abandoned, that God doesn't know. But He does.

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
His ways are not our ways. Easy to say, not so easy to live with.

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this evening's portion, Acts, chapter 15, verses 1 through 21
More of the development of the Church. I'll be teaching a lesson loosely based on this, in just a few hours. We have quite a heritage, actually.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
Amos 9:11
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
Amos 9:12

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