DAY THREE |
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GOD IS SOVEREIGN
“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”
Job 42:2
Additional Reading: Genesis 50:19–20; Daniel 4:34–35; Romans 8:28
If you’re a parent, you’ve probably had to tell your child to stay away from the stove or fire. If you have a curious child, they probably asked you why. You try to explain, but they don’t understand your reasoning. Eventually, you resort to, “Because I said so.” The book of Job follows the story of a righteous man’s attempts to grapple with his intense and seemingly senseless suffering. Finally, in chapter 38, God shows up and speaks to Job. But He doesn’t offer words of comfort or answers to his questions like we might imagine. Instead, Job gets the equivalent of a parent’s “because I said so” when God says, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” Job humbles himself and acknowledges God’s sovereignty, proclaiming that He can do all things and that His purposes can’t be hindered. He understands that the Lord is the sovereign King of creation. Job then says in Job 42:2–3: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” In God’s sovereignty, Job’s trials were meant to purify his faith and produce endurance in his character. God remained compassionate, merciful, and in control through the suffering. After seeking comfort and answers for forty-two chapters, Job finds the real source of comfort—not in having his questions answered, but in repenting for his doubts and trusting the Lord. Trusting in the Lord’s sovereignty is much easier said than done, especially when we are experiencing our own trials and pain. How can we trust that God has our best interest in mind in the middle of difficult circumstances? We can look to Jesus, the innocent sufferer, who suffered and died to save us. In the middle of overwhelming pain and sorrow, when God’s ways don’t make sense to us, we can look to the cross and be comforted that our sovereign God saw fit to send His Son to die that we might be saved. Write down your thoughts on today’s devotional. Pray that God will continue to speak as you reflect. What trial are you currently facing? How can trusting in God’s sovereignty bring you comfort? How does looking to the cross assure you that God always has your best interest in mind?
BECAUSE GOD IS SOVEREIGN,
THERE IS COMFORT FOR TIMES OF TROUBLE.
NOTES
REFLECT
PRAY
“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”
Job 42:2
Father, You are sovereign over everything in the universe. Your kingdom knows no end and no limitation. No enemy can ruin what You have planned. In Your sovereignty, You sent Your Son to die on the cross that I may be comforted and know Your greatness. God, teach me how to humble myself before You. I release control over my own life and ask that You would grant me Your peace. In Jesus' name, amen.
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“Alam ko pong magagawa n'yo ang lahat ng bagay, at walang sinumang makapipigil sa inyo.”
Job 42:2 ASND
Basahin Din: Genesis 50:19–20; Daniel 4:34–35; Mga Taga-Roma 8:28
Kung ikaw ay isang magulang, malamang ay nasabihan mo na ang iyong anak na umiwas sa kalan o sa apoy. Kung ang iyong anak ay mausisa, malamang ay itinanong niya kung bakit. Sinubukan mong ipaliwanag, subalit hindi niya maintindihan ang iyong mga paliwanag. Sa huli, sinabi mo na lamang na “Basta! Dahil sinabi ko.” Sinundan sa aklat ni Job ang kuwento ng isang matuwid na lalaki na nagtangkang unawain ang mga matindi at tila walang saysay niyang mga pagdurusa. Sa wakas, sa ika-38 kabanata, nagpakita ang Diyos at nangusap kay Job. Subalit wala Siyang sinabi na maaaring magbigay ng ginhawa o kaya ay kasagutan sa mga katanungan ni Job na gaya ng inaasahan natin. Nang sabihin ng Diyos na, “Nasaan ka noong nilikha ko ang pundasyon ng daigdig?” alam ni Job na ang kanyang natanggap ay katumbas ng “Basta! Dahil sinabi ko,” ng isang magulang. Nagpakumbaba si Job at kinilala niya ang kapangyarihan ng Diyos. Ipinahayag niya na kaya ng Diyos na gawin ang lahat ng bagay at walang makapipigil sa pagtupad Niya ng Kanyang mga layunin. Naintindihan niya na ang Panginoon ang makapangyarihang Hari ng lahat ng nilikha. Sinabi niya sa Job 42:2–3: “Alam ko pong magagawa nʼyo ang lahat ng bagay, at walang sinumang makapipigil sa inyo. Ako poʼy tinanong nʼyo kung bakit ako nag-aalinlangan sa inyong karunungan, gayong wala naman akong nalalaman. Totoo pong nagsalita ako ng mga bagay na hindi ko naiintindihan at mga bagay na hindi ko lubos na maunawaan.” Sa kapangyarihan ng Diyos, ang mga pagsubok na hinarap ni Job ay naglalayong salain ang kanyang pananampalataya at makapagtatag ng katiyagaan sa kanyang pag-uugali. Ang Diyos ay nanatiling maawain, mahabagin, at namamahala sa lahat ng nangyayari sa kabuuan ng paghihirap ni Job. Matapos ang patuloy na paghingi ng ginhawa at kasagutan sa loob ng apatnapu’t dalawang kabanata, nahanap ni Job ang tunay na pinagmumulan ng ginhawa—hindi ang pagkakaroon ng kasagutan sa kanyang mga katanungan, kundi ang pagsisisi sa kanyang pag-aalinlangan at ang pananalig sa Panginoon. Ang pagtitiwala sa kapangyarihan ng Diyos ay mas madaling sabihin kaysa gawin, lalo na kung tayo ay nakararanas ng mga pagsubok at pasakit. Paano natin magagawang magtiwala na ang plano ng Diyos ay para sa ating kabutihan sa gitna ng mahihirap na sitwasyon? Magagawa nating umasa kay Jesus, ang walang sala na nagdusa, na pinahirapan at namatay upang tayong lahat ay mailigtas. Sa gitna ng labis-labis na pasakit at kalungkutan, kahit pa tila walang saysay ang mga ginagawa ng Diyos, maaari tayong tumingin sa krus at magkaroon ng kaginhawahan dahil itinakda ng ating makapangyarihang Diyos na ipadala ang Kanyang anak upang mamatay para sa ating kaligtasan.
Isulat ang mga naisip mo tungkol sa debosyonal ngayong araw. Ipanalangin na patuloy na mangusap sa iyo ang Diyos habang lalo mong pinag-iisipan ang mga ito. Anong pagsubok ang kasalukuyan mong kinakaharap? Paano makatutulong ang pagtitiwala sa Diyos upang magkaroon ka ng kaginhawahan? Paano nakapagbibigay ang krus ng katiyakan na ang laging ninanais ng Diyos para sa iyo ay ang iyong kabutihan?
DAHIL SA ANG DIYOS AY MAKAPANGYARIHAN,
MAY GINHAWA SA ORAS NG KAGULUHAN.
MGA NATUTUNAN
PAG-ISIPAN
MANALANGIN
“Alam ko pong magagawa n'yo ang lahat ng bagay, at walang sinumang makapipigil sa inyo.”
Job 42:2 ASNDAma, Ikaw ang pinakamakapangyarihan sa lahat ng bagay sa buong kalawakan. Ang Iyong kaharian ay walang hangganan at walang limitasyon. Walang kaaway na makakasira ng Iyong mga plano. Sa Iyong kapangyarihan, ipinadala mo ang Iyong Anak para mamatay sa krus upang magkaroon ako ng kaginhawahan at makilala ko ang Iyong kadakilaan. Aking Diyos, turuan Mo po akong magpakumbaba sa Iyong harapan. Isinasantabi ko ang kagustuhang masunod sa aking buhay at hinihiling ko na bigyan Mo po ako ng Iyong kapayapaan. Sa pangalan ni Jesus, amen.
GOD IS IN CONTROL
“I know that you can do anything.
No one can keep you from doing what you plan to do.”
Job 42:2 NIRV
Back in the day, when the first-ever cars were being made, there was a man who bought a car. As he was driving, his car broke down. He opened the hood and tinkered with it for a couple of hours, trying to fix it. Finally, another man passed by and saw that he was having a problem. This other man approached him and asked if he could take a look. Frustrated and tired from trying to fix his car, the owner gladly accepted the offer. To his astonishment, the car was working perfectly within a few minutes! The owner asked the stranger, “How were you able to fix it so fast?” The stranger replied, “I invented this car.” That man was Henry Ford of Ford Motors.
God made the earth and everything in it. Everything that happens on earth is under His control. Sometimes, especially when things don’t go our way, we tend to feel like God is not in control. In fact, He always is. If we go back to the automobile story, we would see that when the vehicle was in the hands of the one who invented it, everything went well. And so, if everything on earth is created by God, that means if we put matters into His hands, it will be all good.
The Scripture we read is from the book of Job. Job was a good man, but all kinds of bad things happened to him. However, at the end of the book, Job humbled himself and acknowledged that God is totally in control and that whatever God plans will happen.
Look at Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God. He knew from the very start that at a certain point in time, He would become human and would be hurt and killed, even if He was also God and had done nothing wrong. Jesus prayed that God’s will would be done, even if it would be hard for Him. See, the sacrifice and hardship that Jesus had to undertake was for the sake of humanity—so that we could be restored to a right relationship with God. He surrendered to God’s plans, no matter how hard they were, because He knew for sure that God was in control and that God’s plans have an ultimate purpose.
BECAUSE GOD IS IN CONTROL, I CAN HAVE PEACE.
REFLECT
Write down some things you are afraid of. Beside these fears, write down what the Bible says about them. Pray that you will overcome those fears because you know God is in control of everything.
PRAY
Dear God, I know that You are in control. You have the power and authority over everything. The problem is that there are still some things I’m afraid of or I’m afraid will happen. Teach me to have faith in you no matter what. Teach me to be humble and accept that You are in control and I’m not. Grant me peace as I trust in Your ways. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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