“Then Job replied to the Lord: ‘I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, “Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?”
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
You said, “Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.” My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.’” (Job 42:1-6 NIV)
Job and his friends had just concluded a long discussion on the reasons for his suffering. Back and forth they went, each assured of their own wisdom. Then the Lord suddenly inserted Himself into the conversation with a force that silenced them all (Job 38) ““Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me,” He declared. And then He proceeds for two chapters to declare His supreme wisdom and power. Job’s response is one of total humility.
Over the past year, I have observed, heard, and read Christians debating among themselves about homosexuality, same-sex marriage, race, immigration, and the politics of the left and the right. All of it reminds me a lot of Job and his friends. Each had their argument and each thought he was right. What was lacking was humility. Job was by far the most righteous of the group, but all had an inflated view of themselves and of their own opinions. But when the Lord appeared on the scene, suddenly there was the silence in recognition that their opinions mattered little in the presence of the Almighty.
What I think so often lacks in much of our discussion on the issues of the day is any sense of humility. There is so often a sense of arrogance in the expression of our opinions. We’re so sure we are right and those disagreeing with us are wrong and perhaps, just plain stupid. And it is quite possible we are right, just as Job was correct about having done nothing to deserve the suffering he’d had to endure. But what the story of Job reminds us is that it really doesn’t matter how right we are. We have no excuse for arrogance, because as soon as the Almighty God comes on the scene, we are nothing. Job and his friends were all called out for their inflated views of themselves.
When the Lord shows up among the humans, the playing field is leveled. We are all sinners in need of His grace and mercy. And our wisdom is nothing when compared to His. This is a much-needed reminder as we enter into what looks to be a very volatile presidential election season, where it will be tempting to post our deeply held opinions.
Today, remember, as Job did, your standing before your Creator and Lord. You are nothing compared to Him. So when you are tempted to opine on something, then you can express yourself with humility rather than arrogance. A dose of humility will do us all a lot of good in the months ahead.
© Jim Musser 2016
“Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:14-19 NIV)
A colleague dropped by my office last week. Both of us rely on others to provide the financial support for our ministries and the conversation drifted in that direction. A church planter, he said members of his new church had not grown up in church and were very new to the faith. Thus, he said he could not yet depend on much support from their weekly offerings. Why? Because financial generosity typically comes as people spiritually mature.
This is evident as Paul expresses his appreciation to the Philippian believers. Note that he says they were the only ones in the region that had been willing to financially support his work. The reason for this I think was this church was the first one Paul planted in the area and thus the oldest. They had had some time to mature in their faith and had begun to embrace the belief that God does indeed supply all of our needs.
Unbelievers and those who are young in the faith often cling to the idea that what they have is what they have. Nothing else is magically going to appear. If they give away hard earned money, how will bills be paid or financial goals be met? And the self-centered way of life is still entrenched—one’s own needs and wants are first and foremost. Generosity is a sign of spiritual maturity.
It is only as we grow closer to the Lord that we begin to realize we can trust Him to provide for us and thus become more like Him in our generosity. He loves when that happens! (II Corinthians 9:7) He loves when we grasp the idea that it is better to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35) He loves when we give of our resources and have faith that He will still supply all that we need. Doing so demonstrates our dependence on Him.
Today, examine your attitude toward giving to the work of God’s Kingdom. Are you a cheerful giver or a reluctant one? The answer will reveal a lot about your maturity in the Lord.
© Jim Musser 2016
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” (Philippians 3:7-9 NIV)
He had everything the Jewish world had to offer—fame, prestige, and power. Paul (at that time, Saul) was riding high as he made his way to Damascus to further curtail the rising and troublesome sect known then as “the Way.” (Acts 9) But then he met the Lord and everything changed. Instead of continuing to persecute the followers of Jesus, he joined them. Rather than being the persecutor, he joined the ranks of the persecuted. He gave up everything to follow Jesus.
One of the biggest struggles for people deciding to follow Jesus is what they will have to give up. While grace and forgiveness are free, the cost of following Jesus is high. Our earthly goals and aspirations—they must be surrendered. Our lifestyles—brought into line with His will. As Paul writes in another letter, our lives are no longer our own, but were bought at a price. (I Corinthians 6:19-20) And for many, it seems too high a price to pay.
But Paul put the price in perspective. Compared to what he gained, it was nothing. All the fame, prestige and power he had to relinquish in order to follow Jesus were like garbage (the Greek word could also be accurately translated as excrement). What he gained was far superior to what he had given up.
Were there temptations to return to his previous life? In the midst of beatings and other trials, I am sure there were. But I think each time he came to the same conclusion the disciples came to when most of the people had deserted Jesus—“to whom shall we go?” (John 6:68) Nothing was better than following Jesus.
Today, recognize all the things you have in this life, when compared to knowing Jesus, are really nothing. Like Paul, put them into perspective and don’t cling to them. Give them up for something far superior—Jesus Himself. You will definitely get the better deal.
© Jim Musser 2016
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (I Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV)
In just a few hours, I will be reunited with my wife who has been visiting family and friends in South Africa for nearly a month. It really hasn’t been that long, and I have coped, I think, rather well, but I am really looking forward to being together again! Life just hasn’t been the same without her.
Thankfully, Marianna has only temporarily been absent, but all of us likely have experienced a separation that seems more permanent in nature. My grandmother died when I was in high school. My dad passed when I was 19 and my mom five years later. And as I have continued on the path of this life, others I have known and cherished have moved on to Eternity. This is the reality of life in a fallen world. None of us escape having to deal with death and separation from the ones we love, and the grief that comes with it.
But those of us who know the Lord do not have to grieve as the world does, as ones without hope of ever seeing our loved ones again. Just like I will be reunited with my wife today, I will one day be re-united with my grandmother, my dad, my mom, and all those with whom I had a special relationship in this life because they all knew the Lord. And the Lord, because He rose from the dead, provides the way to escape the throes of Death through eternal life. Thus, one day there will be a big reunion for all who know and worship Him!
Today, if you have ever lost someone close to you to death or are facing the prospect of someone passing from your life, be encouraged by the hope that is found in Jesus. If they followed Jesus in this life, or even expressed their allegiance to Him just moments before they died, then you will indeed see them once again. Your separation is only temporary. A joyous reunion is planned! What a day that will be!
© Jim Musser 2016
(Author's Note: I wrote this a year ago, but with the Blizzard of 2016 upon us and classes cancelled today, it seems especially appropriate to re-publish it. Jim)
“Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” (Revelation 21:1-4 NIV)
All kids (and college students!) love snow days. The expectation of going to school with all the burdens of completing assignments and taking tests gone with the announcement, “Schools will be closed.” Burdens are immediately lifted and the anticipation of fun begins! Sledding, skiing, hot chocolate, and movies await! No one thinks of the work being missed. The joy is in the moment.
In a world filled with the burdens of work, the anguish of war and terrorism, the sadness of so much suffering, the grief of losing those we love, and the general hopelessness that exists in the world, I think of Heaven as a life of snow days. All the burdens and pain of this world gone with the announcement that the world has closed, and only days of unimaginable peace and joy are to follow. No more death or suffering. No more heartache or tears. No more stress or depression. No more hatred or violence.
Like a kid hoping school will be cancelled, I long for the Lord’s announcement that He has come to close down this world and create a new one. Having the burdens of life in this world lifted from others and me will be even more welcome than a snow day!
Now I know you may not find this as exciting as I do. I understand wanting to cling to the familiar, even if it is far from perfect and often causes us pain—the proverbial “better than the alternative.” But think about the world as a whole, all the individuals who struggle, suffer, and die in this fallen world. Would we prefer this world for them just so we can have some comfort of our own?
The promise of Jesus’ return is the hope of endless snow days, not only for you, but also for all of us who know and love Him, near and far, stranger and friend. So let's join with our brothers and sisters today and throughout the history of the Church in proclaiming, “Come, Lord Jesus.” For wouldn’t it be great for all of us to have a perpetual snow day?
© Jim Musser 2016
“Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.” (II Corinthians 7:8-11 NIV)
I don’t know about you, but I often hear a whisper in my ear reminding me of various past sins. The intent of the one behind the voice is to keep me enslaved to regret and despair. It took me awhile, but like Paul, I am aware of his schemes.
The sin whisperer is the devil and his hold on us is dependent, in part, on his ability to get us to regret our sins. You might find this curious and ask, shouldn’t we regret our sins? Based on what Paul tells the Corinthian believers, the answer is no. If we spend our time regretting our past actions, he says we are stuck in “worldly sorrow.” On the other hand, if we repent (truly turn away from our sin), then we have no reason to regret because repentance sets us free to focus on the future rather than the past. John says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) In other words, the sin is gone and never to be held against us. So if it no longer carries any penalty, then there is no reason for regret. We can move on from it into freedom.
But the devil prefers us to remain in bondage to our past, so just as we are moving on, he whispers into our ear, reminding us of our ugly choices and that we do not deserve grace and forgiveness. Rather, if we took sin seriously, then we should continue to regret what we did. And thus remain captive to our sin and under his control.
This sin whisperer is a clever one. He speaks to our sense of fairness and rationality. I did wrong and therefore deserve punishment. It sounds right and true. But it is a lie, for the truth is no one who knows Jesus as his Savior and Lord is condemned (Romans 8:1) Grace has declared us innocent of the charges and has set us free from the punishment of sin; thus, there is no need for regret, which only leads us back into bondage.
Today, what sins in your life are you regretting? What lies is the devil whispering in your ear? Know that his scheme is to keep you in bondage so he remains in control. But here is the truth: If you have confessed and repented of the sins he keeps bringing up, you are forgiven and have no need to regret those choices. Under God’s grace you are innocent and have no need of regret. You are free to move on and leave the past in the past.
© Jim Musser 2016
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6 NIV)
I was a sophomore in high school and, to that point, had not really excelled in anything. I struggled in math, had been cut after my first tryout with the basketball team, and was finding it difficult to find my place in the social hierarchy of high school. I felt like the proverbial fish out of water. At that point, I wasn’t sure my life was going to amount to much.
Then one day during my Creative Writing class, the teacher, having read our latest story submissions, asked me to read mine. She said it was the best in the class. All I remember about the story was it was a sappy tale about two teenagers in love. But I do remember vividly how I felt being singled out for praise and to hear the teacher say she believed I could be a good writer, something I had aspired to be. It was exhilarating to receive that praise and to have someone believe in me.
I can imagine the Philippian believers felt similarly when they heard these words from Paul. It was not an easy time for them. They faced persecution on all sides—from the government, from the Jews, and from their fellow citizens who rejected Christianity as a strange cult. I think confidence in their newfound faith was very low. But when they heard Paul’s words of encouragement, I can imagine their confidence soared. He believed God had done something significant in their lives but had only just begun. He was going to finish what He started!
Sometimes it’s easy to get discouraged in our journey of following Jesus. We no longer see the dramatic growth we saw when we first began, and our excitement has diminished. We wonder, perhaps, if this whole “Christian thing” was over-hyped. Is God still at work in us? Paul’s answer to the Philippians is our answer as well. Yes, the Lord is at work in us and He will continue working until He has finished what He started!
Today, know that the God who started a good work in you is not finished yet. Regardless of how you may feel now, He is still at work in you and is going to complete what He started. So be encouraged. You will one day be the person He originally created you to be.
© Jim Musser 2016
