In addition to my Phoenix week one newsletter, I had written about resources I had recently used to read God's word and be prepared for the mission field. The content is as follows:
Above, I linked a 14-day Bible reading plan about Job (as said on the button lol) by Spoken Gospel available free on YouVersion (which many of you may know is a free resource online and as a mobile app). The description listed on their website is as follows:
“Job is all about Jesus! This 14-day plan will walk you through the book of Job by reading just a few chapters a day. Each day is accompanied by a short devotional and video that explains what’s happening and shows you how each part of the story points to Jesus and his Gospel.” ~YouVersion
My extra description of the Job plan:
“This plan is so short, yet so in-depth. I can’t say that I have ever fully understood Job (or that I even do now haha), but the devotionals that I listened to as a video – and also are typed out if you would rather read it or missed something – are insightful. It provides a summary of what happens in the passage, asks the hard questions about suffering, and answers them! Then, it goes into explaining how the passage is relevant to the Gospel and what Jesus has done for us on the cross!” ~Me haha
How I got here: For the past few months, I have been doing reading plans on the YouVersion app with a close friend at MC! I normally do these by myself, but it’s been really nice to know someone is reading alongside you, and it makes you accountable! We had read through the Gospels twice, and, at some point, we added in a reading plan that walks you through a Psalm a day and a relevant prayer points (which I will also link below; however, I have not finished it, so I cannot be absolutely certain to recommend it. It isn’t like some breath-taking devotional, but it has been keeping me accountable to thinking more intentionally about Psalms)! After we finished the Gospels, we had a couple weeks to do another plan before I go to Arizona and landed on this Job study plan.
Also, while I am giving a shoutout to resources I have been using, I’ll also link this Spotify podcast, which is literally recorded lectures from this guy’s class Comparative Religions. I’ve literally only listened to the first episode… which is more than I normally do oops. However, based off the first episode, it looks like a great resource, especially if you have not gotten the pleasure of taking a class on religions. Being able to understand other people and their religious background can only aid you in being able to relate the Gospel to them. For me, I cannot tell you how many times I wish I knew more about Hinduism or Catholicism while in Toronto and even in Mississippi! I am especially feeling the urgency of learning more as I go into another diverse city and work with internationals – btw prayers for that!
If you still aren’t convinced of taking 15 minutes a day for only 14 days of your life yet, here is what I leave you with:
I recall from either reading from somewhere or listening to it in a sermon (or both) regarding apologetics that the question of “Why does God allow suffering” is either the most difficult concept to comprehend and strongest case nonbelievers can make against Christianity OR it is the strongest argument for a wise and loving God. The book of Job is all about theodicy (the justice of God in light of human suffering), as my study bible introduction says in the “Theme and Message” section… so what better way to be able to “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15) than to study Job?
As mentioned, a lot of people emphasize suffering (or rather the concept of karma or good must outweigh bad) in their daily lives. For some, it is infused heavily in their religion (like Buddhism). Therefore, it’s important that we have a better grasp on suffering in light of God’s sovereignty. Personally, I feel more equipped to talking to people who believe suffering is a punishment.
Even as Christians, we all go through some type of suffering, some seasons a lot heavier than others. The Bible never promises no pain after we repent from sins and commit our lives to God’s kingdom! What is a better way to prepare to fight against temptations of questioning God’s character?
Personally, I have been struggling with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)… I mean I always am struggling with POTS, but I have had to focus on it a lot more recently. A question that does pop into my head occasionally is “why would God allow me to have POTS when it takes up so much of my energy and when I already have decided to devote my life to Him?” Lately, the question has been altered to “why would God allow my physical health to be relatively worse than it has in a season where I need to prepare to go on a mission trip” or, more dramatically, “right before I am literally giving up my summer, fun/rest/time with family and friends/internship/etc., to be obedient to what He has called me to do.” To be honest, I have been frustrated with my limitations, and no matter how often I remind myself of God’s superior wisdom and plan, I still have to remind myself once again… and the book of Job has been a big reminder!
God is so neat. The themes of this study (along with that of Psalms, Gentle and Lowly, Nehemiah (a weekly prayer/study my Arizona team is going through), and even church services + conversations) have all been overlapping. I’ve just been blessed.
[spoiler alert! Some of the points the devotional video made that I made note of are as follows]
To think wisely about God in suffering: God is not transactional – think about what Jesus did on the cross, we did not receive what we were owed.
The belief that suffering is a consequence of our actions is not Christian. That’s karma. Jesus innocently suffered.
What Job desired – a chance to defend his innocence through an arbitrator in a heavenly court case – is what we get through Jesus.
The goal is not to suffer well but to think rightly about God when we suffer.
God is the advocator, not the accuser.
God is truly gracious. He never expected perfection. He doesn’t desire perfection from us. He gave it to us instead through Jesus. He desires our devotion and obedience.
Like Job, Jesus would refuse to repent from false accusations or curse God in innocent suffering. Jesus disarmed every accusation by raising from the grave and refusing to recant in His suffering.
On the earth, wisdom is perpetually elusive. God is not limited to the wisdom of the world. Therefore, the only way for us to get heavenly wisdom is to know God. We must obey and trust God to find out our answers.
Through Jesus, we find the answer for Job’s suffering. The cause is not in God’s justice, but it is found in His wisdom. Jesus connects reward, innocence, and suffering.
God does not give Job a full explanation to his suffering. Like Job, we are given enough to not trust in the answers but to trust in God.
Our circumstances are not the measure of God’s love for us, Jesus is.
God loves obedience, but it is not the prerequisite to His love
This is the good news – God does not govern the world according to our understanding, but according to His wisdom and love!
Commenti