Tuesday - February 20, 2024
Kris Baker
SCRIPTURE
Job 5: 8
But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
I would lay my cause before the divine.
God performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.
WORDS OF HOPE
We often hear the phrase that someone has “the patience of Job.” What does that mean?
Job was said to be a good and prosperous man. He believed fervently in and was faithful to God. And then one day, Job’s faith was put to the test. In a short time, all that he held dear was taken away from him—his wealth, his children, and his physical health. In the midst of all of this he also lost the love and support of his wife. Though Job did despair, he never lost his faith.
The above passage from Chapter 5 of the Book of Job is a sermon of sorts spoken by Job’s friend Eliphaz. Eliphaz is supposedly trying to comfort Job as he faces his darkest moments. In doing so, however, Eliphaz makes some incorrect assumptions and speaks partial truths that end up hurting rather than helping.
This passage opens with Eliphaz saying, “But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” On the surface, these words may sound supportive and encouraging, but the assumption made by Eliphaz when he says, “if I were you” is that Job is overcome by a sinful nature and that is why all of the terrible things came upon him. And, that Job cannot rise above his despair because he has lost his faith and refused to turn to God. Eliphaz is incorrect in his assumptions. Job’s friend continues by presenting a litany of all the good things that God can do, all of which are accurate.
Eliphaz then tells Job not to “despise the discipline of the Almighty,” implying again that what Job is experiencing in life is because of his sins and lack of faith. If Job would only succumb to this discipline, all would be well; he’d be a blessed man. Here too, Eliphaz missed the mark, by urging Job to accept his “punishment” and do the work to repent so that he may be seen favorably in God’s eyes.
In verse twenty-five, Eliphaz hits hard when he says that if Job repents, his children will be many, the implication being that Job is responsible for the death of his children. What kind of person says that to a friend?
Then, Eliphaz concludes his preaching to Job by saying. “We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself.” Who are the “we” of which he speaks? Himself and two other friends who apparently see themselves as the experts on all things God. This was another thing about which Eliphaz was way wrong.
The truth about Job is that his faith in God never wavered. He clung to his faith believing that God would see him through the darkness. He is well-deserving of the reference “the patience of Job.”
It is apparent that Eliphaz believed in a God of retribution and Job in a God of mercy. Eliphaz used the words and ways of God to spread hurt and condemnation rather than love. In the end (Job 42:7), God says to Eliphaz, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.”
How many of us have encountered an Eliphaz at some point, someone who thinks that as friend they can share “the word of God” with us to help us live a better life? They tell us that we are filled with sin because of our lifestyle, our gender, our race, our disability, our job…and the list goes on. If we would just change, God would show us favor and our lives would be so much happier and fullfilled. Such people are not sharing the love of God; they are being judgmental and hurtful, The exact opposite of what God asks of their followers.
The moral of the story here is don’t be an Eliphaz!
PRAYER
Loving God, as I make my way through this life, help me to have the heart, hope, and patience of Job. Amen
DEVOTION AUTHOR
Kris Baker
Order of Saint Francis and St. Clare
Need Some Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions
SCRIPTURE Colossians 1.9-14 Because of this, since the day we heard about you, we haven’t stopped praying for you and asking for you to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. We’re praying this so that you can live lives that are worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way: by producing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God; by being strengthened through his glorious might so that you endure everything and have patience; and by giving thanks with joy to the Father. He made it so you could take part in the inheritance, in light granted to God’s holy people. He rescued us from the control of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. He set us free through the Son and forgave our sins. WORDS OF HOPE In her book High Functioning, Dr. Judith Joseph defines high-functioning depression as a trauma response that can lead to a lack of joy and sacrificing our well-being for others. Have you ever approached work, relationships, or faith this way—being productive on the outside while suffering on the inside? If so, you’re not alone. On most days, I struggle with the sadness that comes from overworking and overcommitting. Today’s Scripture reminds us that God’s love has already rescued us from every darkness, and freedom can be available in any moment. Saint Patrick is a wonderful example. He was sold into slavery as a teenager and forced to work as a shepherd in isolated, often dangerous conditions. In the face of such great trauma, Saint Patrick committed to a life of faith. He went on to escape his enslavers and bring Christianity to all of Ireland. Imagine what could be possible for you if you allow yourself to be filled with all of God’s “ and spiritual understanding.” When I’ feeling sad, I try to take a deep breath and remember that I’ a dynamic expression of God’ love. Then, I focus on something small I can do to reclaim my joy, like making an omelette, taking a hot shower, or reaching out to my therapist. Just as Patrick found God in the quiet of a sheep pasture, we often find God in the simple act of choosing our own well-being over the world's expectations. PRAYER Dear God, thank you for providing all the love I need to break every chain. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Logan Alexander Johnson
SCRIPTURE Psalm 42:11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. WORDS OF HOPE Does your soul ever feel ‘flat’? Do you feel like going to worship is just going through the motions? Does it seem like prayers evaporate before they even reach the ceiling? Do you long for a time when you felt close to God, but now, not so much? Spiritual dryness can feel unsettling. And we naturally wonder: Have I done something wrong? Has God withdrawn? The psalmist knows this path. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” Thirst, by definition, means something is missing, but it doesn’t mean we’re spiritually dead. Like the psalmist, what we may have a deeper longing – a truer desire for God that is not emotional and excitable. Something that is more tangible and less about a feeling. In these times, faith needs to shift from feeling to trust. We read scripture (and listen to devotionals) not necessarily because it thrills us, but we believe God still speaks. We gather in worship not because we are filled with joy, but because we have an empty tank. We pray not because it feels powerful, but because we weakly believe that God is faithful. When Isaiah told us that God pours water on thirsty land, note that She didn’t scold the dryness. She met it with water. He didn’t curse the desert; he sent the rain. These times can deplete energy and cause doubt. They can dry up the soul and steal joy. When you find yourself spiritually dry, stay rooted in simple rhythms of brief, honest prayer. In fact, you don’t even have to use words at all… just sit in silence. Lean on the faith of the community, when your own faith feels evaporated. Find the awe and wonder of sunrises, hands that heal, pets that show up at just the right time. MEDITATION Dry seasons often deepen roots. When the rain finally comes, growth is stronger and more resilient. DEVOTION AUTHOR Thomas Riggs Persistent and loving Savior, when my soul feels dry and distant, remind me that you are still near. Give me patience in the drought and hope for the rain. Teach me to trust you not only in abundance but also in emptiness. Pour your living water into the cracked places of my heart. Amen.
SCRIPTURE Philippians 3:7-9 (The Message) “ The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.” WORDS OF HOPE Winners, Losers, and Jesus Followers If you were given the choice of being a winner or a loser, without any other defining explanation you would likely choose being a winner. Don’t most people want to win, be successful, accomplish something that others might cheer? What if you were given the choice of being positive or negative? Positive is where it’s at, right? Who wants to be a negative person? Now what if the context of those choices were framed differently. For example, if I am taking a blood test to determine if I have cancer, wouldn’t I desire a negative result? I positively would! What if my teenager’s cheerleading team wins a drawing to determine who will be the first to perform before judges at state competition? Typically, drawing the number one position is least favored, as the judges tend to more keenly remember the later performances when scoring so many teams. In this case, being first is the losing choice. Ultimately, life is less about winning or losing but rather about perspective. We can choose to be success-driven and judge our happiness by whether or not we are successful. But who measures success? Public opinion? Our own perception? Whoever is keeping score? The best standard, from my point of view, is to strive to follow Jesus. What are the qualities to strive for? Love and compassion, wisdom and grace, generosity and sharing, boundaries and self-care, sacrifice and commitment, devotion and abiding faith. These things along with hope and promise yield serenity and fulfillment. Such is the nature of a life that chooses not to dwell on winning, losing, or human approval but on delighting in what is truly transcendent. PRAYER Redeeming God, save me from myself, my petty priorities, and my need for other’s approval. May I instead delight in love, compassion and all things truly transcendent. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley Pastoral Psychotherapist DrGK.org
SCRIPTURE Numbers 6: 24-26* The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. WORDS OF HOPE A couple of weeks ago I woke up to find that my heating unit was suspiciously quiet. I was grateful that it hadn’t quit during the icy grip of winter earlier, but it was still chilly. Sage and I both bundled up for our walk, and when we got back, I kept her wrapped in her rainbow fleece—just to be sure she was warm enough. At 8:00 I texted Sam, my repairman who over the years has rescued me from emergencies in broiling heat and shivering cold. Faithful as ever, he came that afternoon. My unit is aged, and as soon as he started to examine it, I said, “Sam, you know I can’t afford to replace the system; we’re gonna have to find a work around.” His reply was that the same was true of so many of his clients. Sam is thoughtful and quiet, and after some sweet talk with Sage, he set about to trace down the mystery of why things had shut down. After a while, he’d located the problem, found the parts to repair it, and gotten things going again. As he walked out of the house and down the steps, he turned to say good bye, and I said, “Sam, I appreciate you so much.” A small thing, maybe—an appreciation not just for a job well done, but for who Sam is and for his faithful care all these years. Endings are more important to me these days—the quality of endings of all kinds: the end of a life, the end of a relationship, the end of a group meeting, an interaction at church, a visit with a friend, a casual talk with a neighbor, an exchange with a waiter in a restaurant…and more. The source of this feeling is in part an awareness of aging and the limited time I have left here. But it is also the experience of having cancer steal away my partner all too suddenly. As well, I have witnessed how many people are unable to have the kind of endings they wished because their loved one is in such pain that they must be under heavy sedation or are intubated or the like. Family divisions can also harden hearts and keep us from the bedside of someone. As much as I can, then, I want to be present and attentive to the quality of endings. A long-time life group member is leaving soon to live in Mexico. Though she hopes to be able to continue meeting on zoom with us, we’ll miss the face-to-face conversations and full body hugs at church. Earlier, when she retired, we gathered the group for a Texas-sized meal and shared remembrances (a get together that was followed by a pod of the group going for ax throwing!!). And we continue to keep with the progress of her transition and write notes of appreciation. BLESSING The Bible is filled with poignant farewells, but one of the most beautiful is the Aaronic blessing cited above in the scripture section. Moses delivers these words from God to Aaron, his brother and high priest of Israel. In ending, I offer them as a blessing for you, for our church and for our nation through John Rutter’s beautiful musical treatment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZN1mryHEnQ DEVOTION AUTHOR Dr. Pat Saxon *I have chosen to keep the original words of this ancient blessing. A more inclusive version follows : “May the Lord bless you and take care of you; may the Lord be kind and gracious to you; may the Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.
SCRIPTURE Isaiah 11. 1-4 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. WORDS OF HOPE Lord God, quiet my mind and help me to be more mindful of your presence and purpose in my life. In the days of the Lenten Season, we will be contemplating the Messiah. These will be times of reflection and the wonders of the perfect plans of the Eternal God in relationship with humankind. With Earth' s creation and the unfolding of the human experience, God saw great beauty and expanding potential for our loving relationship with the Holy One. The creative act endowed humanity with freedom of choice. Some individuals generally chose a lifestyle pattern which was compatible with divine hopes; while many more individuals ignored the opportunity to walk in the ways of God. Over many generations, disobedience and evil ways were chosen most often. From the descendants of the righteous man, Abraham, God chose to demonstrate the Divine's nature and purpose toward humanity. However, even those Israelites often failed to live according to God's desires. Even with the threat of increasing disregard for God’s will, the creation was not to be abandoned by God. Creation would be redeemed. And from the family of Jesse, King David's father, arose One who would restore humankind's relationship with God. Though often sung during Advent, listen to the words of this 16th-century German hymn: "Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming from tenderest stem hath sprung, of Jesse's lineage coming as saints of old have sung. It came a flower bright, amid the cold of winter, when half spent was the night. This flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere. True human but very God, from sin and death he saves and lightens our every load." PRAYER In the Lenten Season, as I walk the road toward sacrifice and resurrection, may I be more aware of your redeeming love. Prepare me to be more ready to share your love with others in my life. Be it ever so. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Donald (Luke) Day Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
READING “Today we can leave the governance of the universe to God.” - Martin Luther WORDS OF HOPE Have you ever noticed how many times you are asked a question that begins with “What are you doing….?” What are you doing this weekend? What are you doing tonight? What are you doing for spring break? What are you doing after church? What are you doing for dinner? What are you doing for Lent? What are you doing to make the world a better place? What are we doing? I don’t consider myself to have a Type A personality, but I do live each day with a somewhat lengthy To-Do list. The funny thing about my list is that I don’t write down the absolute “have-tos” for the day like feed the dogs, teach my classes, take my medication, I write down all the things that take up time but don’t really have to be done today. And then I judge my day and myself by how successful I was at accomplishing all the things on that list. The reality is that no ill will come to me or anyone else if I fall short of checking every single thing off that list today. And yet, I feel like not doing it all diminishes my “goodness”. I am certain that I am not alone in these feelings. When my youngest daughter was a toddler, bedtime consisted of me singing the song “Seek Ye First,” by Karen Lafferty, many many times. The text is based on various passages from the Gospel of Matthew. Seek ye first the kingdom of God And His righteousness, And all these things shall be added unto you. Allelu, Alleluia! Ask, and it shall be given unto you; Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and the door shall be opened unto you. Allelu, Alleluia! Man shall not live by bread alone, But by every word That proceeds from the mouth of God. Allelu, Alleluia! In those days of parenting a small child, singing these words with her were often just another thing to cross off my to-do list. Get the baby to sleep so I could get all of the other things done that were still left on my daily list. Looking back now, thirty-three years later, I realize that the times spent singing this song over and over with my daughter were God speaking to me through the voice of a little child, a small voice pleading with me to “seek-y” first the kingdom of God, a message that both she and God knew that I needed to hear. How different might our days be if we more carefully curated our to-do lists and made the top item to seek first the kingdom of God? How might our relationship with God be strengthened if when we are asked what we are doing, we respond by saying, “sitting quietly in the presence of God?” How different might we feel if we left governance of the universe to God? PRAYER “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) Be still and know that I am. Be still and know. Be still. Be. DEVOTION AUTHOR Kris Baker Order of St. Francis and St. Clare