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Devotional
Weekly Bible Devotion By Books
May 1-8, 2023
Enter the Presence of the Lord
(All) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
(M) Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
(w) Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
(M) The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
(All) But, how about sufferings?
(M) The Spirit helps us in our weakness.
(W) The Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
(M) If God is for us, who can be against us?
(W) No one. Christ Jesus who died is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
(All) Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (selections and adaptions from Romans 8: 1-2, 5b, 6b, 31b, 34, 39b)
Confession
Our Lord Jesus Christ, our hope is in you. Our salvation is in you. You loved us so much and you keep loving us in whatever circumstances from your throne seat. You gave us the Holy Spirit so we never be alone. We confess we so often lose this vision. We are so easily shaken by the difficulties and sufferings on our way. Holy Spirit, come. Renew our vision and pick us up. Let your comfort, strength and love come and restore us. Thank you. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Job: 9:2b/20, 19:25, 23:3-5; 42:2; Romans: 5: 3-5
9:2b/20 how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God? Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.
19:25 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth
23:3-5 If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! 4 I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. 5 I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say to me.
42:2 2 “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Thoughts to share: The Wisdom in Suffering
Oftentimes when we read the book of Job, we tend to read it through a philosophical lens. We chat in our leisure time and around the table. We focus on the topic suffering. And more specifically, why do I or we get suffering(s) even I or we do nothing wrong? But, in reality, the book of Job has a clinical side as its background context. Also, suffering is an existential issue. We all have to explore it hardly at a certain point of our lives. We will need wisdom beyond what we already knew to handle it.
Job experienced a series of traumatized tragedies in a very short period. He lost his house, his wife, and his health. He was in a long and complexed grief process. Grieving is a hard journey. Yet modern sciences tell us that grief is a necessary and healthy process. In the divine guidance and supervision, Job’s grief experience was honestly preserved in the Bible. It was carefully structured and discussed through the conservations between humans and God in the form of drama.
A tragedy disturbs the balance of our bodies, souls, and spirits. It breaks our dreams. It alters our plans. It slows down our life paces. It changes our life courses. Moreover, it produces many complex and intense feelings that we normally do not experience. These feelings include: shock, extreme loneliness, confusion, helplessness, fear, anger, protest, agony, hopelessness, numbness, depression, questioning, searching and searching, want-to-die thought etc. It was in such a messy feeling ball that Job’s questions and talks took place.
With this understanding, when we re-read the book of Job, we could not read it only at philosophical level. If we do, we will be like Job’s three friends. More we debate, more we only aggravate our own anger and deepens the disappointments, pains and isolation. Job was pushed to the corner that he would only sought for comfort and answers from God whom he had believed and followed with all his heart, his mind, and his strength. He could no longer befriend with his best friends.
The suffering is a mystery. The book of Job did not intend to answer the questions of why and how. What we can learn from the book of Job are: 1) There is a hidden part we do not understand why; 2) There is a part that God sees all, controls all, and restores the lost fortunes; 3) There is a part of wisdom for those who are in suffering. This wisdom includes: grieve as hard and much as you need; vent all in you to friends and quest God as open as you want; and most importantly, continue to trust God, who can comfort and bless. He gives the future. He is good. He cares. He restores. He intercedes for us.
Prayer suggestions
Being in a tragic situation is never easy. Do you feel not finding empathy among your friends? Are you seeking wisdom regarding how to live with suffering moment? Look upward! God truly understands the whole picture. He surely wants to comfort and bless you again. Grieving, venting, questing. Most importantly, Come, put hope in him and trust him continuously!
God of sovereignty, all knowing, all power, it is extremely painful to be in a tragic situation. We come to you. Touch us in your tender love and mercy. Whisper the thought in your mind to us. Listen to our pains and weeping. Please, governing the world which we cannot see much, we do not understand much, and we have no power to control. Have your mercy on us. Lead us through the tunnel of grieving and see your guiding light ahead. Shower us with your new blessings. Make us joy and glad again in your goodness and generosity. In your Son’s name Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
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