Watching Daily At Wisdom's Gates

  Day 9 A Blessing  Biblically, we're not to 'kick a man when he's down'. Even if that man is hateful and evil, we aren't to curse him. Instead we're to do the opposite and to bless him.  Job's 'comforters' seemed to hate him, although they were trying (unsucessfully) to make sense of what he was going through. They assumed he was being cursed by God. By the end of the book though, God gives Job His seal of approval.  Despite all Job had to go through, God was pleased with him. We know that it was satan's accusations that made his life a misery, rather than God's disapproval. If we feel that God's not rewarding us for integrity, we need to have an eternal perspective.  If Christ has gifted us with eternal life, we can endure whatever this life throws at us. He has given us His Holy Spirit, so that we can endure. He even helps us to love our 'frenemies' who kick us when we're down.  'Loving Heavenly Father, may we love our ...

  Day 8 Worshipful  We might scoff at the thought of worshipping celestial bodies. But in Job's day it was a real temptation. Even in our worldly world, people say such things as 'we're all stardust' which might sound attractive, but really we're animated earthdust.  Not as many people might worship creation as in Job's day (proportionally), but many people do still idolise 'mother earth'. We don't have to deny manmade climate change to question the deification of creation, to the expense of the One True God, and even of ourselves and our place in creation. We need to see things from God's perspective, not from our faulty viewpoints.  Nowadays, we often assume that it doesn't matter what we believe. As long as we don't harm anyone, who cares if we bow down to the sun? Job however cared about truth, and hated false religion.  Job knew that if he had wrong views about the meaning of life, he would deserve to be punished. The Bible teaches t...

  Day 7 Faithful  As Jesus put it, 'What does it profit someone if they gain the whole world but lose their soul?' The richest man in the world is poorer than the poorest believer in Christ. When we have faith in God, we gain eternal life.  Job knew that riches are fickle. Yes, he might have had a lot of them at different points in his life. But his faith in God wasn't dependent upon God lavishing wealth upon him.  The prosperity 'gospel' was not Job's gospel. Following Jesus doesn't guarantee temporal riches. Jesus Himself pronounced blessings upon the poor and woe to the rich.  We need the spiritual riches and blessings that only Christ can provide. Only He can satisfy. Everything else that we might be tempted to trust will only disappoint.  'Dear Lord, may we treasure You above all that this world affords, for You alone are worthy of our worship, in the glorious name of Jesus we pray, amen' 

  Day 6 Generosity  Job knew the value of generosity. As his income increased, he didn't increase his standard of living, he increased his standard of giving. I'm sure he didn't do so to try and earn God's favour, but in view of God's generosity to him.  God has given everything for us. Christ gave His life on the cross to restore us to Himself. So it's not too much for God to ask us to be generous.  There is a Biblical imperative that we are to be generous with those who are less well off than us. They might be orphans, widows, children in care, single mums, refugees or migrants. But if we see someone in need and fail to lift a finger, we will have to answer for our hard heartedness.  With great wealth comes great responsibility to be a good steward of all that God had entrusted us with. God will call us to account. So we had better be about His business instead of living selfishly.  'Loving Heavenly Father, how we praise You for Your generosity towards us...

  Day 5 Justice  Job wasn't simply some individualistic person with little care for others. As an employer, he knew he bore responsibility for his employees. He was a responsible boss to his servants.  If we are, or want to become, employers, what are our standards going to be? To make as much money as possible? Or to be as ethical and equitable as possible?  Job might have been a successful businessman, but he didn't let that blind him to his employees' need for justice. He didn't have a superiority complex. He knew that all are equal before the God who created us and to whom we must give account.  It's good to have that perspective of not just where we are right now. It's good to remember where we all come from- naked in our mother's wombs. It's also good to remember where we're all heading: the grave. Birth and death are great equalisers.  'Lord, please help those of us who are employers to manage our employees well. And may we who work for ot...

  Day 4 Purity  Job had a keen sense of justice. He knew that if he chased other women, he deserved his wife to be unfaithful to him. I'm sure he knew that two wrongs wouldn't have made a right, but once again, we reap what we sow. If we sow bad thoughts, there's going to be bad outcomes.  'As a man thinks, so he is'. Thoughts lead to actions, actions lead to habits, habits form character, and our characters reap our destinies, for better or worse. In case we're starting to panic, we can be encouraged that God can miraculously turn our lives, and destinies around.  We who were destined for hell can be destined by God for eternal life. Job's judgemental and unhelpful friends were interceded for by him, and a sacrifice was made. Ultimately, Jesus is the intercessor who sacrificed himself for us.  Job knew that adultery is a deadly sin. What the world winks at, God hates, and hell is full of adulterers. Thankfully, heaven is full of repentant adulterers.  '...

  Day 3 Integrity  Job moves from his eyes to his feet, heart and hands. What our heart desires, our feet and hands move towards. If we want to do good, we will. If we want to do bad, we will.  Job knew the Biblical principle that you reap what you sow. He knew that if he sowed iniquity, he would reap the consequences of it. Instead of shying away from such a prospect, he embraced the justice of such a concept.  Job's comforters, who have become synonymous with uncomfortable, unhelpful friends, suggested he suffered because of his sins. Job however appealed to God to vindicate him. He knew his integrity, and trusted that God would prove him to be in the right against his accusers.  That principle of reaping what we sow is an eternal principle. It doesn't always ring true in the temporal realm, as Job could testify. Seeking to be obedient to God doesn't necessarily mean we'll be healthy, wealthy and happy all the time.  Job sought to be faithful to God becau...

  Day 2 Covenant Eyes  The first verse of Job 31 is one of the most famous in the book, and has even inspired Covenant Eyes, some accountability software. Of course, Job lived in a pre-technological age. But there will have been immodest, and beautiful women around who he refused to be enticed by.  Job was a successful man. He will have been attractive to women other than his wife. But he refused to consider any of them.  If we fear God, we won't consider displeasing Him. Job wasn't just concerned about how he looked to others, he wanted to have a good heart. He promised himself not to lust after women other than his wife.  God is judge. Jesus says it's better to gouge our eyes out than to lust. Of course, Jesus wasn't advocating self-mutilation. After all, we still have our imaginations to contend with.  'God, have mercy upon us for lustful eyes. May You heal our broken thoughts and make us pure so that we can look forward to seeing You in Your holiness. I...

  Day 1: Introduction  Before we dive right into Job 31, we need to do some contextualisation. This chapter is the summary of Job's defence in what reads like a courtroom drama. His friends, who are meant to be comforting him in his sufferings, turn his accusers.  Before we judge Job's 'comforters', what of us? Do we assume that if people suffer, they must somehow deserve it? I must confess that knowing we all deserve God's condemnation, I find myself sympathising somewhat with Job's friends as they wag their fingers at him.  The thing is though, Job is a man of real integrity: what you see is what you get with him. He was trusting in his Redeemer who was yet to come, the Lord Jesus Christ. Do we trust in Jesus, and if we claim to do so, do we live lives that honour Him?  Job disproved the idea that if you follow God you will 'live your best life now'. As one Christian rapper says, 'if you're living your best life now, you're heading for hell...

  nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." Luke 17:21 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/luk.17.21.ESV The Kingdom of God isn't some geopolitical entity. It's not located in Israel, Britain or America. God's Kingdom is more subversive than that. When interrogated by Roman governor Pilate, Jesus explained that His Kingdom is not of this world. By implication, it's a heavenly Kingdom. Yet it is tangible too. Religious people can't see the wood for the trees. Jesus is King within the hearts of all who trust Him. That's where He reigns, in the lives of His people. Is Jesus Lord of our hearts? Or do we seek to reserve some dark corner to indulge our evil desires? May He rule and reign in every part of our lives!   'Sovereign God, may we submit to Your Lordship in every area of our lives. For the honour of Your glorious name, amen'