Evil Weeds

Day 15 - Job 2:11-4:21

Job 4:8 “As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.”

Doesn't this seem like common sense?  It also sounds like karma a little.  "What goes around, comes around."  "Reap what you sow."  Using a farm reference makes sense for the Bible.  Back then people lived off the land and understood the plow and sow concept.  The before mentioned sayings are used today, but I wonder what reference the verse would have if it had been written today, hmm....  It would have to have something to do with texting and Facebook no doubt!  Seriously though, was there ever a time in your life where there was evil, even the slightest bit, in your heart?  How well did that work out for you?  I remember a time in my life where just a seed of evil had been planted in my life.  For me this evil was like the weeds people hate to have in their yards because it doesn't take much to keep it alive and it spreads like wild fire taking over everything.  This evil took over my life.  I didn't know how to control it.  I became a hateful person, a judgmental person, selfish, and because of it an unhappy person.  In this situation, God had to be my weed killer first to remove the evil and then the Miracle Grow to make me a better and stronger person because I know longer had the evil keeping me down.  If we are not careful, even the smallest seed of evil will grow into a big weed that will suffocate all the beautiful and strong things we are as Christians.  I challenge myself daily to ensure I keep the weeds out of my life and out of my heart.  It is not always the easiest thing to do, but I know it is the best.

What do you think the saying for the texting and Facebook generation should be?

Good, Never Challenge

Day 14 - Job 1:16-2:10

Job 2:10 “He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not
trouble?’ In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.”

Sometimes we believe that the only way God provides to us is through good.  Isn't there a saying "God won't give us more than we can handle"?  Why would that saying even be around if we only got good from God.  Job is really sick because God is testing his dedication to Him to prove to Satan Job's belief in Him and more importantly Job's unwillingness to curse God.  God tests people all the time, but back then people knew it as such and would handle it as a test from God.  However today we hit a rough patch and instead of asking for God's guidance and help through it, the majority of us blame Him and curse His name and so on.  I wonder why our attitudes towards His tests for us have changed over the years.  I wonder who the first person was to curse God because of a test.  Is it just because it is easy to blame and curse Him?  Is it because we believe He won't "get all in our face" like someone might if we blamed and cursed them out?  I am challenging myself to recognize challenges in my life as tests from God and pray for His guidance during these times rather than look to blame someone.  More than likely, the challenge will be there because of something I had done.