It’s Not About Me
First, let me explain my on-again, off-again, irregular blogging and commenting the last couple of weeks. It has been a very busy time and, much as I love to blog and, more than that, read your blogs and comment, by the time I could settle down and do some of it, I was so tired I couldn’t think straight. As most of you know, I’ve been job hunting, mostly online, and going through an application and training process for a stay-at-home typist job. My brain has been mush. The training process has been an “at your own pace” thing, and that’s good, because we’ve had two long cleaning days this week. Hopefully, I can get back on a regular routine soon.
Now to what I really wanted to share today. It’s been on my mind heavily! I often refer to my Power for Today devotionals when writing. Yesterday’s offering was especially powerful for me because it dealt with something I’ve often wondered and questioned as, I’m pretty sure, a lot of people have. Scripture reference was the first 11 verses of Job 41. This was, basically to put it in my words, God’s “who do you think you are?” conversation with Job.
Poor old Job. Why? Have you ever wondered why God called Satan’s attention to Job in the first place? “Have you considered my servant, Job?” And Satan sneered and said, “let me at him.” And God did. My, my, my. And Job lost it all. You know the story. True, he had more at the end than he did at the beginning of this saga and had his health back. Same wife. Different kids but more.
Another scripture reference used was Exodus 15:11 – “Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”
Sorry to be long about this, but I wanted to copy the small narrative. This brought me up really short, kind of like your seat belt acts if you get on your brakes pretty hard.
Have you ever “stepped out of line” only to be “put in your place,” “full of yourself” and then get “emptied;” or gotten too “big for your britches” and been “downsized?” The book of Job is full of those moments—breathtaking descriptions and unanswerable questions intended to elevate The Almighty while whittling down Job’s “all-mightiness.” On the “Big Screen” of God’s creation, this “leviathan” was unrivaled. A hook wouldn’t land it, a rope hold it, or a fence corral it. You’d need more than a fire department to put out the flames it breathed, mor than swords and arrows to bring it down, or a club to knock it out. In a quest for “truth,” Job discovers he “can’t handle the truth.” It’s too big—he’s too small. It’s too powerful—he’s too weak. It’s too wondrous—he’s to ordinary. Job had heaping helping of “humble pie” and walked away full of God—wonder and awe. Like Job, keep things in perspective, friend. And here’s the part that has been playing through my mind for two days: IT WASN’T ABOUT JOB THEN, AND IT ISN’T ABOUT YOU(ME) TODAY. IT’S ALL ABOUT GOD. IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE ME, ASK THE LEVIATHAN. (Ben Mereness, Georgetown, Texas)
I haven’t assembled all of this in my mind, yet. But I don’t think these are thoughts that will fade very quickly. I AM reminded that He is the one in control……….and I sure am glad. The little prayer that accompanied this devotional——–”Awesome Father, forgive us(me) when we(I) think more highly of ourselves(mysefl) than we(I) ought. May the truth of Your awesome nature overwhelm us and be more than enough for us today.”
SMILES:
- Sunrises.
- Rain.
- The trees outside my grocery store full of little birds chirping and tweeting. If you stand still and look real closely, you can see them.
- God’s providence.
- Tylenol!
Have a good weekend, my friends. And may God bless and keep you.
meowmix
October 30th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Great post! Thanks for sharing the wonderful reminders from scripture.
October 30th, 2009 at 11:22 am
He’s been dead for a while, but a preacher by the name of Dr. John Claypool wrote a very insightful book: “Tracks of a Fellow Struggler” about the dying and death of his 8-year-old daughter, Laura Lue, from cancer. The four chapters chronicle (1) diagnosis of leukemia; (2) the remission; (3) the relapse of the cancer; and (4) her death. It’s a gut wrenching book, but filled with hope. He writes a LOT about Job and concludes his book with something I’ve used often in funerals.
“When Job got all the way down to God–to the One with whom we ultimately have to deal–he was there given the grace to see both the past and the future differently. What were these values he had loved and lost? Gifts he had never deserved in the first place. And what about the future? (And here is the line I love so much from Dr. Claypool’s book) The One from whom had come “the good old days” could be trusted to provide “good new days.” If yesterday was so full of meaning, why not tomorrow? All the days come from the same Source! This is how Job moved through his grief — in fact, emerged twice the person he had been.
“And so can we! No matter what the form of grief, we can win through and become deeper and richer human beings. No one ever said this is easy to do, but believe me, it is possible. Job has shown us the way. So, come, people of sorrow, acquainted with grief, let us follow him and be blessed!”