Thought for Today: “Grow Up”
“Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
Job 40:7 NIV
In His response to Job, which was more like a rebuke, the Lord calls for Job to grow up and stop making excuses that are more like accusations against God’s goodness.
“Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it … Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me: would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?” (Job 40: 2, 7-8)
Basically, God said, “Man up. You thought you could correct Me so that you can justify your own righteousness?”
Most don’t know they’re accusing God, but when we say, “Why doesn’t God answer me,” or “Why is God allowing this in my life,” these and other statements are for the most part accusations that God doesn’t care or isn’t good.
If this is the case, then we need to make a course correction like Job who said, “I am nothing — how could I ever find the answers? I will put my hand over my mouth in silence. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.” (Job 40:4-5)
It’s time we grow up and prepare ourselves as the adults God has called us to be.
Dennis Lee is Senior Pastor at Living Waters Fellowship, Mesquite, Nevada. He presently has two books, “From Here to There: A Journey to Spiritual Transformation,” and “Wells of Living Waters,” He also writes a religious column for a local newspaper entitled, “Rediscover the Bible for Life,” along with daily devotionals and thoughts that he posts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Living Waters Fellowship’s Website
Well stated Dennis, Progress is God’s law and we have every reason and advantages for growth. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord(Psalms 33;5). The rest is fear and ignorance.
I have realized that His first care is when he gave us priceless air to breathe. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.(Psalms 150;6)
In the parable of the prodigal son in the Bible, the father told his elder son, who was angered by the favoritism he felt his father showed toward his younger brother, “‘My son,’ ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. This story deepens my understanding and appreciation of the fact that whatever God has is also ours. We cannot miss or lack God’s provisions . The earth is full of His goodness.
Thank you Isaac for your comments, they are well thought out given the subject. I pray for God’s blessings upon you this weekend. And may His glory shine through you. Take care and God bless.
Whenever I am tempted to challenge God, I am reminded of Isaiah 40:13-14, “Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of justice?”, Romans 11:34, ““For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” and 1 Corinthians 2:16, “For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” And the key to the last part of that last scripture about having the mind of Christ is that we need to truly seek God in His word and in prayer and have our hearts open to His will, rather than challenging His will, in order to have the mind of Christ and not the mind of our flesh. Also Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Good insight. Thanks Debbie.