Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

April 29
Wednesday 29


DRIFTING AWAY

READ:
Job 1:13-22
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Shall we indeed accept
good from God, and
shall we not accept
adversity? __Job 2:10
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Imagine relaxing on a rubber raft along the shore, eyes closed, soaking up the sun and listening to the gentle crash of waves. You don't have a care in the world--until you open your eyes! suddenly the shore is alarmingly distant.

We tend to drift like that spiritually. It's subtle yet shocking when we suddenly realize how far we've drifted from God. The point of departure begins when Satan steals our affection for our loving Creator by putting a deceitful twist on our experiences and causing us to suspect God instead of trust Him.

Consider Job and his wife. Both had plenty reasons to be mad at God. Their children were dead, their fortune lost, and Job's health destroyed. His wife told him, "Curse God and die!" But Job replied, "Shall we indeed accept good from God, and...not accept adversity?" (Job 2:9-10).

There are many attitudes that can set us adrift: believing that we need more than God to be happy; placing meaningful relationships above loyalty to God; thinking God should live up to our expectations; resisting His reproofs; turning a deaf ear when His Word is uncomfortable.

If you're beginning to drift, remember to stay close to the One who is the sole source of satisfaction. __Joe Stowell
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```````````````````Lord, help me to stay close to You``````````````
`````````````````````And trust You more each day,```````````````
```````````````````So when the storms of life appear``````````````
`````````````````````I will not drift away. __Sper````````````````
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To avoid drifting away from God,
stay anchored to the Rock.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Job 1:13-22**************

13 Now there was a day
when his sons and daughters
were eating and drinking
wine in their oldest brother's
house; 14 and a messenger
came to Job and said, "The
oxen were plowing and the
donkeys feeding beside them,

15 when the Sabeans raided
them and took them away--
indeed they have killed the
servants with the edge of the
sword...!"

16 While he was still
speaking, another also came
and said, "The fire of God
fell from heaven and burned
up the sheep and the
servants, and consumed
them....!"

17 While he was still
speaking, another also came
and said, "The Chaldeans
formed three bands, raided
the camels and took them
away, yes, and killed the
servants with the edge of the
sword....!"

18 While he was still
speaking, another also came
and said, "Your sons and
daughters were eating and
drinking wine in their oldest
brother's house, 19 and
suddenly a great wind came
...and struck the four
corners of the house, and it
fell on the young people, and
they are dead...!"

20 Then Job arose, tore his
robe, and shaved his head;
and he fell to the ground and
worshipped. 21 And he said:
"Naked I came from my
mother's womb, and naked
shall I return there. The LORD
gave, and the LORD has taken
away; blessed be the name of
the LORD." 22 In all this Job
did not sin nor charge God
with wrong.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

When did the story of Job take place? The patriarchal family setting,
wealth being measured in terms of livestock instead of gold and silver
(1:3; 42:12), and the nomadic Chaldeans (1:17)--all point to a time
similar to Abraham's, about 2000 BC. __Sim Kay Tee