To Listen and Learn

For Monday, August 22

To Listen and Learn

Job 4-7:21; 1 Corinthians 14:18-40; Psalm 37:30-40; Proverbs 21:27 (click to read)

(Job 5) 17 Consider yourself fortunate if God All-Powerful chooses to correct you. 18 He may cause injury and pain, but he will bandage and heal your cuts and bruises.

The story of Job is a tough one for me in many ways. In the first two chapters, I see many hints for me understanding both God and suffering and pain. One clue is how much joy God says God has with devoted people. And Satan says people are only devoted because it gets them something. But that's yesterday's reading... For today, one of my troubles with Job is that most of what his three friends tell him is correct -- or at least I think it is. But, in the end, God condemns them for mus-representing God. (That's September 1's reading). So for today, I stay in that in-between state of "yes, this is true, but why did it not score with God?" One solution is I do not yet have the correct perspective on the whole story and concept. So that's were I will dwell as I read the rest of Job through this month.

Lord - In this most important question (for us humans) of pain, suffering, growth and Your Will for us, I feel there is more for me to learn. I want very much to not represent You wrong, nor to think improperly about You myself. With Your Spirit, lead me to added insights and more wisdom from You as I reflect on Your Word to me in this book of Job. I will listen and learn.

(You can download the Pathway 2011 Bible reading list here.)