God’s Compassion Never Fails

Scripture: Lamentations 3: 1, 20-24

I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.(1) My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.(20-24)

Scripture Commentary: God is full of compassion, grace, truth and mercy*

In Jeremiah’s darkest hours, his hope was strengthened with this assurance: God had been faithful and would continue to be so. Because of God’s great love, you are not consumed. His compassion never fails.

Have you given up on the Lord, or do you think the Lord has given up on you?

Our Lord Jesus Christ will never give up on you so do not give up on Him. When you don’t live in a godly way and are disobedient to God’s will, He may chastise you out of love.

Jeremiah knew from personal experience about God’s promise that punishment would follow disobedience, and it did. But God also promised future restoration and blessing, and Jeremiah knew that God would keep his promise.

When you ask God for help and promise Him you will do better, do you keep that promise? You must not complain about being disciplined by God; you must learn and trust in Him.

We must allow God’s correction to bring about the kind of behavior in our lives that pleases Him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Lamentations Chapter 3

*Additional reading:
Psalms Chapter 86

How Should God Reward You?

Scripture: Job 34: 32-37

“Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’ Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know. “Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me, ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’ Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a wicked man! To his sin he adds rebellion; scornfully he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”

Scripture Commentary: What should we do and how should we be before God?

There are many things we should do, say, be. Ask God to show you what you aren’t able to see. Learn what you are doing wrong and make correction.

We can:

Turn to God for understanding, endurance, and deliverance
Ask important questions we might not take time to think about in our normal routine
Prepare to identify with and comfort others who suffer
Open ourselves to helping others
Obey God’s Word
Be ready to learn from a trustworthy God
Realize we can identify with what Christ suffered on the cross for us and be sensitized to the amount of suffering in the world

That, OR we can:

Become hardened and reject God
Refuse to ask any questions and miss any lessons that might be good for us
Allow ourselves to be self-centered and selfish
Withdraw from the help that others can give
Reject the fact that God can bring good out of calamity
Accuse God of being unjust and perhaps lead others to reject Him
Close ourselves to any changes in our lives

God is still concerned even though He does not intervene all the time. God will always execute justice. He loves us.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Job 34

Lead and Teach Me Your Ways, O Lord

Scripture: Psalms 25: 1, 4-7

Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.(1) Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.(4) Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.(5) Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.(6) Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.(7)

Scripture Commentary: Teach me how I should be; lead my life according to your ways, Lord

David asked God to keep his enemies from overcoming him. He asked God to lead, teach, and show him mercy.

Your enemies not only oppose you. They also oppose God and how He wants you to live.

You are opposite to God’s laws when you place money, success, prestige, and lust in your life. When you let these things overcome you, then you are living as Satan wants. If you begin to live this way, then you’re lost. And your family and friends may think that living for God is futile.

You must keep the Lord Jesus Christ in your life at all times so that your enemies will not succeed

Pray for guidance. Place yourself in His hands. Let God guide you in the path of righteousness.

Your first step is to want to be guided and to realize that God’s primary guidance is in His word. Read Psalms 119. It tells of the endless knowledge found in God’s Word.

Do not be tempted to demand answers to all of your questions. You should be prepared for direction and guidance.

Seek and you will find the path that God has prepared for you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 25

Additional Reading:
Psalms Chapter 119

Lord, Cleanse Me for I Have Sinned

Scripture: Psalms 51: 1-4

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Scripture Commentary: We have all sinned against God

Although David sinned with Bathsheba, David said that he had sinned against God. When someone slanders, steals, or murders, it is against someone. There is a victim.

Like David, our sinful actions can and do hurt many people, but most of all, our actions hurt our Lord. Sin offends God because sin in any form is a rebellion against how God wants us to live. David repented for his sins, and God mercifully forgave him.

No sin is too great to be forgiven!

God can and will forgive you of any sin. While God forgives us, He does not always erase the natural consequences of our sin. David’s life and family were never the same as a result of what he had done.

When Satan tempts you to do wrong, remember that you will be sinning against God. Ask God to strengthen, protect and guide you. God is here to protect you from harm with His love.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 51

The Gain From Sin Lasts But A Moment

Scripture: Job 20: 1-8

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed.I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, and my understanding inspires me to reply.“Surely you know how it has been from of old, ever since mankind was placed on the earth,that the mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. Though the pride of the godless person reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds,he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found, banished like a vision of the night.

Scripture Commentary: The joy from doing wrong lasts but a moment but the long term effect destroys your eternity

Although Zophar was wrong to direct his tirade against Job, he was correct in talking about the final end of evil people. At first sin seems enjoyable and attractive. But “the mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.”

Lying, stealing and oppressing others often brings temporary gain to the perpetrator. Some live a long time with ill-gotten gain. But in the end, God’s justice prevails.

What Zophar missed is that judgement for these sins may not come during the sinner’s lifetime. Punishment may be deferred until the last judgement when sinners will be eternally cut off from God.

Some people think that that they are Christians because they go to church, pray, and act pious. By earthly standards they are successful but they are living a sinful life.

We shouldn’t be impressed with the success and power of evil people. No one will escape God’s judgement. You can lie to yourself but not to God.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Job 20

Be Honest With God and Trust Him in Your Anguish

Scripture: Job 7: 1, 11

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?(1) Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.(11)

Scripture Commentary: Do not act out in your anguish

Job felt deep anguish and bitterness, and he spoke honestly to God about his feelings to let out his frustration.

How is your relationship with God? Can you talk to Him and be honest?

If you express your feelings to God, you can deal with them without exploding in harsh words and actions. Job referred to his own integrity, not because he was sinless but because he had a right relationship with God.

No one except Jesus Christ has been sinless, free from all wrong thoughts and actions.

Take your troubles to God in prayer

All of us, like Job, need to make some changes in our attitude toward God. We must obey God to the best of our ability at all times and in all aspects of our life.

The next time strong emotions threaten to overwhelm you, express them openly – take them to God in prayer. God will help you gain an eternal perspective on the situation and give you greater ability to deal with it constructively.

Do not forget that Satan will always work to get you to forsake God. Your suffering may not be the result of your sin, but you must be careful not to sin as a result of your suffering.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Job Chapter 7

Lord, Keep My Soul and Deliver Me

Scripture: Psalms 25: 10-11, 18-21

All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.(10,11) Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.(18-21)

Scripture Commentary: God, deliver me from evil

We can’t lose when we stay on the path God has set for us. But we know we’re weak, and we fall in times of weakness. This is when we need the Lord to deliver us from ourselves and help us stay on the right road.

We are bombarded with relentless appeals to go in various directions but when you read The Bible, you will find God and help is on the way.

Recognize God for Who He Is

To fear God is to love Him. Recognize God for who He is: Holy, Almighty, Righteous, Pure, All Knowing, All Powerful, and Wise.

When we regard God correctly, we gain a clearer picture of ourselves: sinful, weak, frail, and needy.

We need two powerful forces to preserve us: integrity and uprightness

Uprightness makes us learn God’s requirements. Integrity keeps us from claiming to be upright while living as if we don’t know God.

Vow to consistently walk in the Shepherd’s way.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 25

“Have you considered my servant, Job?”

Scripture: Job 1: 8-11

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

Scripture Commentary: Have you been a fair weather believer or do you have the faith of Job?

Satan came to God after roaming the earth looking for those whom he could possibly turn away from God. And God asked Satan, “Have you considered my servant, Job?”

Satan attacked Job’s motives for being faithful to God, saying that Job was blameless and upright only because he had no reason to turn against God. Everything in Job’s life had gone well. Satan wanted to prove that Job worshiped God not out of love, but because God had given him so much.

Satan accurately analyzed why many people trust God. They are fair weather believers, following God only when everything is going well or for what they can get.

God expects you to express your faith even when you’re struggling

Adversity destroys this superficial faith. Adversity, however, strengthens real faith by causing the believer to dig their roots deeper into God to withstand life’s storms.

Although God loves us, believing and obeying Him does not shelter us from life’s calamities. Setbacks, tragedies, and sorrows strike Christians and non-Christians alike. But for the Christian, God expects us to express our faith to the world during our trials.

How do you respond to the trials in your life? Do you ask God, “Why me?” or do you say, “Use me!”?

God is never caught by surprise by our troubles

The conversation between God and Satan teaches us an important fact about God: He is fully aware of every attempt by Satan to bring suffering and difficulty upon us.

While God may allow us to suffer for a reason beyond our understanding, He is never caught by surprise by our troubles and He is always compassionate. God’s love for us is truly immeasurable.

Think of how God has lifted you, your family and loved ones out of harm’s way, even when you were in darkness. God’s love is true and unchanging.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Job Chapter 1

Good and Evil Are Part of Life

Scripture: Job 2: 4-5, 9-10

And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.(4-5) Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.(9-10)

Scripture Commentary: Shall we only receive good at the hand of God?

Satan held the opinion that Job was faithful only because of God’s blessings. When calamity strikes, there are many people who question God’s goodness and justice. Satan is working hard to get you to curse God. Good and evil are part of life, and you will receive both.

Don’t give up on God because He doesn’t give up on you. Faith in God isn’t a guarantee that you’ll only receive good, and lack of faith does not guarantee that you will be beset by troubles. If this were so, people would believe in God simply when times are good, and to get rich.

God is capable of rescuing you from suffering; however, He may allow suffering to come for reasons you can’t understand. Satan’s strategy is to get you to doubt God. He may inflict physical and mental suffering to get you to denounce God.

Place your faith in God; don’t be fooled by Satan. Everything won’t always be good. You will be tested in life to see and feel the power of Our Lord Jesus Christ at work in you and for you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Job Chapter 2

God Is A Very Present Help in Trouble

Scripture: Psalms 46: 1-3

(To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Scripture Commentary: Don’t be afraid because God is always present

The fear of mountains or cities suddenly crumbling into the sea as the result of a nuclear blast haunts many people today. But the psalmist says that even if our present day world ends, we need not fear.

In the face of utter destruction we can have a quiet confidence in God’s ability to save us if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our savior. It seems impossible to consider the end of the world without becoming consumed by fear, but the Bible is clear.

God is our refuge even in the face of total destruction. He is not merely a temporary retreat; He is our eternal refuge and can provide strength in any circumstance.

Take time each day to be still and exalt God

War and destruction are inevitable, but so is God’s final victory. At that time all will stand quietly before the Lord Almighty. How proper it is then for us to be still now, reverently honoring Him and His power and majesty.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 46