07-27-2020, 09:11 AM
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
THE LIVING WATER {July ~ Dec., 2020}
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday, July 27, 2020
TOPIC: WHEN YOU FEEL ABANDONED (2)
Read Job 2:1-13
MEMORISE: So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head (Job 2:7)
EXPOSITION
Job was a real person with real challenges; he served a real God and was tried by a real devil! It was like a betting contest took place at the heavenly council over Job's ulterior motives for serving God.
For Satan to be proved wrong, he was given permission to strike Job with calamities upon calamities.
These included the destruction of his family and business empire! As if those were not enough, Satan believed that Job remained unwavering because he was smart enough: "Skin for skin!" Probably, a proverbial statement equivalent to "quid pro quo," meaning "this for that." So, the final blow came; he was struck with a terrible disease.
Though, the nature of his sickness is uncertain, but its symptoms were painful festering sores over the whole body (7:5), nightmares (7:14), scabs that peeled and became black (30:28,30), disfigurement and revolting appearance (2:12; 19:19), bad breath (19:17), excessive thinness (17:7; 19:20), fever (30:30), and pain day and night (30:17).
His wife had abandoned him, even his friends who came to ...mourn with him, and to comfort him (Job 2:11) added to his miseries as they wrongly accused him of suffering for his own sins! Hence, he cried out, Miserable comforters are you all! (Job 16:2). So terrible was the situation, that Job felt that God had abandoned him!
It is common for people to assign blessings to God's favour and sufferings to His displeasure (cf. Jn. 9:1ff). However, from Job's experience, we learn that suffering is not always an evidence of God's abandonment.
At times, believers may actually suffer more than unbelievers because those who follow God sometimes become Satan's special targets.
Therefore, child of God, you may have to endure hardship, persecution, or testing as Job did. Consistent faith is the way to defeat Satan. Nothing should separate us from the love of Christ. We may be down but cannot be destroyed, as long as God is for, and with us (Rom. 8:35-39; 2 Cor. 4:7-12).
PRAYER POINTS
1. Pray for strength not to falter in trying times.
2. Ask for faith that unwaveringly moves with God in spite of negative situations all around.
3. Pray for everyone you know that is going through tough times at the moment. Pray that they will stay strong and find their strength in the Lord.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Job 14 - 16; 1 Peter 1
Author: C.A.C WORLDWIDE
Remain blessed!
THE LIVING WATER {July ~ Dec., 2020}
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday, July 27, 2020
TOPIC: WHEN YOU FEEL ABANDONED (2)
Read Job 2:1-13
MEMORISE: So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head (Job 2:7)
EXPOSITION
Job was a real person with real challenges; he served a real God and was tried by a real devil! It was like a betting contest took place at the heavenly council over Job's ulterior motives for serving God.
For Satan to be proved wrong, he was given permission to strike Job with calamities upon calamities.
These included the destruction of his family and business empire! As if those were not enough, Satan believed that Job remained unwavering because he was smart enough: "Skin for skin!" Probably, a proverbial statement equivalent to "quid pro quo," meaning "this for that." So, the final blow came; he was struck with a terrible disease.
Though, the nature of his sickness is uncertain, but its symptoms were painful festering sores over the whole body (7:5), nightmares (7:14), scabs that peeled and became black (30:28,30), disfigurement and revolting appearance (2:12; 19:19), bad breath (19:17), excessive thinness (17:7; 19:20), fever (30:30), and pain day and night (30:17).
His wife had abandoned him, even his friends who came to ...mourn with him, and to comfort him (Job 2:11) added to his miseries as they wrongly accused him of suffering for his own sins! Hence, he cried out, Miserable comforters are you all! (Job 16:2). So terrible was the situation, that Job felt that God had abandoned him!
It is common for people to assign blessings to God's favour and sufferings to His displeasure (cf. Jn. 9:1ff). However, from Job's experience, we learn that suffering is not always an evidence of God's abandonment.
At times, believers may actually suffer more than unbelievers because those who follow God sometimes become Satan's special targets.
Therefore, child of God, you may have to endure hardship, persecution, or testing as Job did. Consistent faith is the way to defeat Satan. Nothing should separate us from the love of Christ. We may be down but cannot be destroyed, as long as God is for, and with us (Rom. 8:35-39; 2 Cor. 4:7-12).
PRAYER POINTS
1. Pray for strength not to falter in trying times.
2. Ask for faith that unwaveringly moves with God in spite of negative situations all around.
3. Pray for everyone you know that is going through tough times at the moment. Pray that they will stay strong and find their strength in the Lord.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Job 14 - 16; 1 Peter 1
Author: C.A.C WORLDWIDE
Remain blessed!