LifeLink Devotional

Friday, November 2, 2018

Job 16:5 But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.

Do you have a “Why” brain, a “How” brain, or a “Who” brain? I am naturally a “How” brain. Since I was a small boy I wanted to know how things worked. I loved taking things apart and putting them back together, trying to use all the pieces with no leftovers. When God called me into the ministry I was planning on being a doctor. Knowing how things worked and using all the pieces would have been very important. I still ask lots of questions whenever I’m at the hospital. My mind has a deep desire to know how things work.

Some of you are “Why” brains. Do not confuse yourselves with people who are “Why use the brain” people. You are people who need to know why things happen the way they do. You may not care so much about how something works, but you certainly want to know why it should work. You are the people that need to have a purpose for everything. While I may be satisfied to know that something could work, you want to know why we should even try to make it work. And when something bad happens, your brain goes into overtime trying to figure out why it happened.

When God tested the faith of Job by allowing Satan to destroy everything of value in his life, Job went through a time of serious contemplation of his life. Even though he made it clear that He trusted the character of God, he still had some serious questions about the activity of God. At a time when he needed encouragement, his four closest friends showed up to show him sympathy and bring him comfort. Their grief was so overwhelming that they sat in silence with Job for seven days before anyone spoke a word to him. Then, following words of despair from Job, the three friends speak. The first friend to speak is Eliphaz, and he has a “Why” brain. He is convinced that Job’s suffering is the result of his sin, because the innocent never perishes. He thinks the best way to comfort Job is to help him figure out why all these things have happened.

Bildad speaks next, and he has a “How” brain. The first word out of his mouth is “how”. He wants Job to know how to fix the problem. His diagnosis results in the prognosis of repentance. If Job would repent of his sin, his life would start working out right again.

The third friend to speak is Zophar, and he has a “Who” brain that has been warped by pride. He wants Job to focus on God’s nature and character, but he does it in a condescending and judgmental way. He tells Job that if he really understood the deeper things of God he would realize that his sin deserves more judgment than what he has actually received. Eliphaz, the “Why” brained one, jumps in at this point and agrees, telling Job another reason why this has all happened: “You don’t fear God enough.”

It is at this point that Job stops his friends from talking and tells them that they are miserable comforters. Job is frustrated that in his time of deep need his friends can do nothing but accuse him of wrong. If they were in a similar situation Job would be able to do the same thing, but he says he would never do that. Job understands that when we are hurting and hopeless we don’t need reasons and fixes, we need healing and hope. Job says he would make sure his words were encouraging and comforting so they would bring relief. Job admits to his friends that his hope is gone, and that his heart needs healing.

It is obvious that his friends didn’t hear what he said, because Bildad responds to Job by saying, “Look, here’s how it works. God punishes the wicked, so you must be wicked.” Both friends agree, and Job is left to defend himself as a righteous man who understands God, and he succumbs to pride and reviews all of the ways he is a good man. It is time for the youngest friend Elihu to speak.

Elihu rebukes the other three friends for being “How” and “Why” brained. He warns them not to presume they have God figured out. Then he rebukes Job for pridefully defending himself and not being humble before God. He then asserts God’s justice, extols God’s greatness, and proclaims God’s majesty. Elihu has a true “Who” brain. But before we praise him too highly, God speaks and puts even Elihu in his place by saying that no man can truly understand the mind of God. When God is done speaking, Job repents of his pride and his heart is healed and his hope is restored.

What is the point of all of this? If you want to be a true encourager of others, learn to comfort them with words that direct their attention to God.  Forget the how and the why, and focus on the WHO! The knowledge of God is our greatest comfort. Don’t try to figure out causes and solutions to their trials. Instead assure them that God is with them no matter what their circumstance, and He never fails.

Here’s what Job admits when all is said and done: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without  knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” (emphasis mine)

One purpose of God in our trials is so that we may see Him. When your friends need you, the best healing you can bring is the hope that comes from seeing God for Who He is. Help them see Him. Become a person with a “who” brain – and let the “who” be God!

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotional

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Judges 20:19 – 23 (NIV) ¹⁹The next morning the Israelites got up and pitched camp near Gibeah.  ²⁰The men of Israel went out to fight the Benjamites and took up battle positions against them at Gibeah.  ²¹The Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down twenty-two thousand Israelites on the battlefield that day.  ²²But the men of Israel encouraged one another and again took up their positions where they had stationed themselves the first day. (Emphasis mine)

I’m sure you have heard the old saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”  I heard it a lot when I was growing up. I think it’s what motivates me to get up in the early morning day after day and go out to the woods to hunt deer. This morning was one of those mornings when I wondered why I was even trying. Every day brings hope that this could be the day. It’s especially nice when my son or grandson want to go out with me. Without the encouragement of another person, I fear I would soon stop trying.

If you want to fully understand the impact of today’s Scripture verse you will have to read the entire 20^th chapter of Judges from your Old Testament. In it you will discover that the tribe of Benjamin has joined forces with the people of Gibeah to fight against the rest of the tribes of Israel. Israel wants to destroy Gibeah because of the rape of a woman in their land. The Israelites have an army of 400,000 swordsmen, while the tribe of Benjamin has 26,000. It doesn’t seem like a fair fight. But God is about to teach a couple of incredible lessons to everyone involved. Let’s highlight them and then I’ll let the Holy Spirit magnify them in your heart as you read the whole story.

1. Israel asked God which tribe should go up first to fight the Benjamites. In other words, the nation was so over-confident of an easy win that they determined only one tribe should fight for them at a time. God uses this opportunity to teach them a lesson in pride. The tribe of Judah goes up and 22,000 of them are killed and the Benjamites win the day. The lesson: whenever we go out to fight the enemy, go with all your strength and don’t take the enemy for granted.
2. The next day Israel asks God if they should go up and fight again, but this time there is no mention of dividing the duties between the tribes. They were willing to go fight again with all their strength, but they were still going in their own strength, depending on their numbers rather than their strategies. Notice that they took up the same positions that had led to defeat the day before. They may have had more strength, but they were not using God’s wisdom. This time 18,000 Israelites were killed and the Benjamites won the day again.
3. The third day the tribes of Israel spend time in worship to God before they ask for permission to go and fight. They did not assume victory, and they did not rely on their own strength to fight. They turned in worship to God and gave the battle to Him. God promises to fight for them and give them the victory. God gives them a plan, they submit to the plan and the plan works to perfection. 25,000 Benjamite soldiers are killed and the city of Gibeah is wiped out.

The battles we fight against our enemy Satan can only be won if they are fought in the strength of the Lord. Every situation in which we are involved is an opportunity to worship God and let Him give us a plan for victory. Every circumstance of our lives is designed by God to test our faith and our resolve to turn to Him rather than to our own strength and wisdom. The failures we experience are only true failures if we quit. They are stepping stones to success if we let God teach us to trust Him and listen to Him.

Tucked away in the middle of this story is a verse that challenges us with our role to encourage others who have just experienced failure. Following a huge loss that should have been a win, the men of Israel encouraged one another and again took up their positions where they had stationed themselves the first day.  Even those who had experienced the failure understood the importance of encouraging others. The very soldiers that had survived tragic defeat were the ones who did not give up. They knew their cause was just. They knew they represented the Lord. They were not going to let one or two losses keep them from trying again. They knew they had another chance to win, and they encouraged each other to go for it. They went right back to the point of defeat and took up their positions again.

That’s not how we would usually respond. We may be encouraged to try again, but only if we can start fresh in a new place. But God wants us to go back to the point of failure and start there.

When I go out to the woods to bow hunt, and I don’t see any deer that day, I am usually tempted to try a different location the next day. But I also can see the evidence that the deer are using the area I was in, and it’s just a matter of timing and not location. Failure tells me to move on. Wisdom encourages me to try again.

There may have been failures in your life that have made you run, seeking to start over in a new location. Don’t let it happen again. Go back to the point of failure, take up your position, and do it right this time. Be encouraged to do it because this time might be the time God gives the enemy over into your hands. And if it’s not this time, then try again until you learn everything God wants you to learn to be a complete soldier of Christ.

Be encouraged – God gives us the victory through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor John