Psalm 13

How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? Psalms 13:1

My youngest daughter has been having some trouble in dealing with her siblings, and has resorted to yelling at them sometimes. She did this again yesterday, and I sent her to her room and told her to wait for me to let her come out. She finally came out about 20 minutes later and asked her mom if she could leave her room. Honestly, I had forgotten that she was back there and I only intended for her to be there for about 10 minutes, so I felt like a bad dad.

Have you ever wondered how long? How long do you have to be here? How long do you have to do this? Does God remember what you're doing and what you're going through? He certainly does, and if you're going through it then He must have a reason for it. God forgets no one, even those who have forgotten Him. A person can live his entire life separated from God, but at the end if he truly calls upon God then God is there. Just because the Lord hasn't acted in the way you want, doesn't mean that He's absent from the situation. Today, ask God to remind you of His presence. Ask Him to work your current circumstances to you benefit, and ask Him to help you be a part of that work. God has not forgotten you. Have you forgotten Him?

Psalm 12

You, O LORD, will keep them; you will preserve him from this generation forever. Psalms 12:7

When I was growing up, I thought Doogie Howser was a great show. It was a kid who graduated from high school, college, and med school while still a teenager. At the end of every episode, he would write down his thoughts in a journal on his computer and talk about his day. I thought that sounded like a cool idea, so I started writing in a notebook to keep my journal. I quit after about three days. I realized I didn't really have anything to say, and no one would really care to read what I was writing, so I quit.

Words can be powerful things, but the speaker and the hearer must both have confidence in them to be effective. People have attempted to eliminate the words of God for thousands of years. Bibles have been burned, believers oppressed, and countless other steps to stop the spread of Christianity. A pastor once said that when Rome tried to stomp out Christianity in Paul's day, all they did was splash it all over the map. God's Word will not change, and you can change in one of two ways as a result. Either you change into the man or woman God wants you to be as a result of understanding and applying His words, or you change as you choose to disobey because you think that some parts of God's Word don't apply to you. I've seen people who confess to be believers choose both paths. Which are you? God has preserved His Word to give you the opportunity today to choose your response. Has God's Word been changing you, or are you attempting to change His Word to mean something different for your life? Listen to God over yourself.

Psalm 11

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Psalms 11:3

We enjoy Extreme Home Makeover in our family. The kids love it when they can stay up to watch the whole thing and see how the people were helped. One episode was of a farming family in California. The husband died, and the wife was left with a couple small children to run the farm. Their house was in bad shape and had been the original house built with the farm over 100 years prior. When the design team inspected the house, they noticed the foundation was completely rotted away. Normally an excavator is used to tear down these houses. This time they just cinched a hook to the back of four cars and into each of the four walls of the house. It was so weak, that the cars were able to pull the house apart and it collapsed on itself.

When you're missing a foundation, everything suffers. In America we have seen several foundations slowly fade overtime. I believe in freedom of religion, and I think that if I am allowed to express a Christian viewpoint, then a Muslim should be allowed his viewpoint too. However, I don't believe in revisionist history that attempts to conceal the Christian faith that was present in the life of Columbus, the Pilgrims, and many of the founding fathers of this country. What are you doing to preserve the foundations of our country? Are you able to have intelligent discussion with those on the opposite side, or do you just yell about how this was a Christian nation? What foundations have begun to rot in your own life? Things that you used to believe were wrong, but now you've compromised and provided excuses for why it's acceptable or ok for you. Jesus Christ is the foundation. The Word of God allows you to build on that foundation as you study it for the direction of your life. If the foundation is solid in your life, are you building anything on it?

Psalm 10

The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, "There is no God." Psalms 10:4

I recently watched "Expelled" by Ben Stein, the Clear Eyes guy (that's how most people know him). Interviewing Richard Dawkins, a notable atheist, Dawkins said that Christians that try to put creation and evolution together are making a huge mistake. I've often thought that evolutionists would support the idea of Christians who attempt to say that God used evolution (which is a lie), but Dawkins' problem is that there is no God and no intelligent design within Evolution. At every turn, Dawkins works all problems and discussions with one important constant, "There is no God."

How do you answer someone like Dawkins? If someone said there's no way to prove that God exists, how would you respond? Here is the point: it takes as much faith to believe there is no God, as it does to believe there is. Both are statements of the unseen. I cannot prove God beyond my faith. Creation is an evidence of His existence according to the Bible, but if someone doesn't believe in Creation then this isn't valid proof in their mind. Your relationship isn't about physical proof, but it's about faith. Ask God to prepare you for moments of discussion like this. Don't get angry, but remain in control of your emotions. Don't allow your passion to become anger towards someone who needs to trust in Jesus Christ.

Psalm 9

The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made; in the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught. Psalms 9:15 A general manager for a clothing store in Denver was arrested for setting up a camera in the women's dressing room to record unsuspecting women. He also unknowingly recorded himself meticulously setting up the camera in a discreet location in the room before any women used the room. The camera was all digital so it recorded onto a hard drive instead of a removable tape. The manager used the camera and then returned it to the store he bought it from, thinking the footage was erased. But, the retailer who took the camera back discovered the video and called the police. The trap this man set for unsuspecting women caught him as well. Often times when we fall into a pit, it's of our own doing. When we attempt to blame others, we only dig the pit deeper. Living a victorious Christian life can only occur when we confess the times we were less than conquerors. Jesus desires to work in my life from whatever starting point I provide. However, it's much easier starting your day above ground than below it. What pit of sin are you digging for yourself? Who are you blaming for digging it? Today, let's be honest before God and ask Him through repentance to fill up the pit and to give us the strength to leave it filled.

Psalm 8

Yet You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You crown him with glory and majesty! Psalm 8:5

When I was in the Army, ranks were sometimes confusing to me because of how we treated certain officers. After the rank of Captain there is Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, and then four different ranks of General. So during basic training we constantly had our Army manuals that were teaching us how to address officers in different situations. Despite the fact that a Lieutenant Colonel was below a Colonel, we noticed that the sergeants and even regular Colonels called a Lieutenant Colonel as simply "Colonel". It was pretty confusing. In the minds of these regular military men, the difference between the two ranks was only a matter of years in service, and not of military merit. Earning either rank of Colonel led many of the men to simply call the officer Colonel.

When I think of angels I think of beings that are certainly above me in many ways. Billy Graham called them "God's Secret Agents." They do many things behind the scenes that we'll never know. God used angels at several important turns in Scripture: they guarded the entrance to Eden to prevent Adam and Eve's return, angels announced the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and of course angels were a part of Satan's move to become God. The Bible says we are a little lower than the angels. Angels that have chosen to serve God, have been perfected from sin. We obviously have not, but as a result we have a special relationship with Jesus that angels can never have. They call Jesus Lord, but we have the privilege of also calling Him Savior. Sin is a disgusting thing, but the beauty is that Jesus has saved us from it and called us out of it. You may not have the power of an angel, but you still have the calling of a servant. How are you serving God? Give examples in your mind right now. What is something simple and perhaps even unseen that you could do so serve the Lord today?

Psalm 7

I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. Psalms 7:17

Dr. Adrian Rogers was great at giving you easy phrases to understand important truths and concepts. He once said, "There is no promise God cannot keep, no prayer God will not answer, and no problem too hard for Him to solve." The point is that God's character is one of righteousness. He always does the right thing. It may be difficult for us to see, but if we have turned it over to God we must be prepared for the results. Whatever He has brought about is the best thing for us, and we need to thank Him for that righteous result.

Why am I thankful to be a Christian? When I began to read the Bible, I completely understood that I was a sinner and needed to be saved. I'm thankful that Jesus was willing to extend salvation to me despite who I am. I'm also thankful to serve a good God. I don't serve God because I have to, but because I want to. He has brought many good things into my life. Sometimes they didn't look so great in the beginning, but when allowed to run their course they have changed me and molded me for the better. Have you thanked God lately for his righteousness? He always makes the right decision. He always is on the lookout for our lives. As David did, give God thanks this morning simply for who He is and how He works in your life.

Psalm 6

Return, O LORD, rescue my soul ; save me because of Your lovingkindness.         Psalm 6:4

I'm reading a new book on the Long Range Army Patrols (Lurps) of the Vietnam War. These were six-man teams made up of the most elite soldiers the Army had to offer at the time. One account is of the teams hearing that two helicopters went down on a mountainside not far from their base. None of the Lurps knew these chopper pilots personally, but the code of never leaving a man behind motivated then to go into an area entrenched with fog and enemy soldiers. They knew that the men were likely dead, but it was important that someone look to be sure and bring the bodies back for the families. It wasn't based on the worth of the men that were missing. It was based on a principle that every soldier is important enough to account for.

David's psalm is of his unworthiness, and his need for God's mercy. He knows that the only one that can save him is God. But David also understands that the only reason God would save him is because of who God is and not because of who David is. I think that as believers we understand at the beginning that we have been saved despite the fact that we don't deserve it. However, after a few years we start to think we're not really bad people after all. We believe that perhaps we were somehow deserving of being saved, based on how much we personally do for the kingdom. Why did God save you? Do you recognize it's because of His lovingkindness? You can never deserve your salvation or earn it, but you can live in light of it. Today as you live your life, remember that your life has meaning only because of Him. What do you think He would like for you to do today?

Psalm 5

For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; no evil dwells with You. Psalms 5:4

During a Wednesday night Bible study with some teenagers, Megan began talking about how God works in our lives for good. She mentioned several difficult circumstances that had led her to trust God more fully. Then she mentioned that she thought even sin brought us closer to God. Her thinking was that as she repents she grows closer to God. Certainly repentance brings us into a close relationship with God, but you can grow closer also by resisting the sin in the first place. I told her that I was confident that God does not lead us to commit any sin, and Psalm 5:4 backs that up.

This is more of a theological point this morning, but it does have application to our lives. One truth we know about God is that He is sovereign. God can do whatever He wants, whenever He wants. If He wanted to start moving your body around like a puppet He could do it. Why doesn't He? Because God has given us free will, meaning He gives us a choice. Even though He could force compliance, He doesn't. His desire is that we will choose to love and serve Him and not that we would do so by force. The Bible tells us that God has great plans for our lives, but does that plan include sin? No. The Word of God repeatedly warns us against the dangers of sin, and never invites us to take part in any God-ordained disobedience. Is there sin in your life? What are you doing about it? Recognize that sin that is allowed to remain in your life will cause grief and guilt. Turn from it now and choose to resist sin and embrace holiness.

Psalm 4

But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him. Psalms 4:3

I was listening to the radio one day and heard a comedian who writes funny songs as his stand up instead of telling jokes. One of those songs was about his answering machine. All these years later I still remember the main line, "I love my answering machine, I love my answering machine. It keeps the people I don't know away from me." Before the age of answering machines and caller id, I did what most people did when the phone rang: pick it up and hope it's not a telemarketer. Our technology today lets us know who is calling and we can choose if we want to have a conversation.

In our relationship to God, I'm glad He doesn't use caller id. God is ready to listen to anyone, but He has certain expectations upon what we say. If an unbeliever calls out to God, He is ready to listen if the person is ready to repent. If God answered the prayers of the lost, what would be their motivation to enter into a relationship with Him? They would feel they are already getting the benefits of God without the expectations. God reserves answering prayer for His people. He sets apart the godly man and listens to him when he calls to God. What does it mean to be godly? Simply put, is God the central priority of your life? Are your daily decisions and activities influenced by your relationship with His son, Jesus Christ? If not, then you are an ungodly person. If you are making requests of God, make sure that you're fulfilling His requests of you first. 

Psalm 3

I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustains me. Psalms 3:5

During basic training, I remember our first night out of the barracks. They were teaching us how to create security within our own tents. I knew that they were going around and stealing M-16's and throwing tear gas into tents. So I slept with my weapon in my sleeping bag with me, and kept my gas mask right next to my face. After our long march I was very tired, but I didn't sleep because it seemed that those who slept were being targeted for some unpleasant things.

Have you ever been so stressed that you were unable to sleep? Do you find yourself thinking about problems well into the night? Then your problem is that you have an inability to trust the Lord in the area that's keeping you awake. God is able and willing to sustain us in any situation, but your inability to sleep indicates that you're even afraid to sleep and give it up for 8 hours. If something is weighing heavily on your mind, ask God to relieve you of it. Sleeping poorly and thinking about an issue all night will not cause you to make wise decisions the next day. I've had to remember how to pray recently. I talk to him like a friend, not in the churchy prayer language that we often get caught up at church. Prayer has been enjoyable again, so I encourage you to simply pray and remember that as a Christian, you are a friend of God. We come boldly, we come with reverence, and we come knowing that God desires to hear from us. 

Psalm 2

Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Psalms 2:11

As a minister I found that one of my great frustrations is the same as many ministers in our churches. The lack of genuine worship in Sunday services is a cause for our greatest concern. We point to groups like the Catholic church where the people just go through the motions, but I don't see a major difference in that attitude amongst Baptist churches. How do you know if people are worshipping? Raised hands do not prove to be raised hearts. But, you can tell if people are serious about singing to their God. 

David says to worship the Lord withe reverence and trembling. The idea is that we remember, each and every day, that we stand before a holy God. We are no more worthy than we were the day that we accepted the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. However, it seems instead of reverence and trembling that people are more characterized by impatience and empathy. If the sermon starts going long, you can feel the tension in the room. Bible covers begin zipping up, people look at their watches more, and some even leave. How are you going to approach God today? In an unthinking manner like we so often do? Or will you remember that you are speaking to a holy God who owes you nothing, but gives out of the overflow of His love for us? Lets repent for our flippant attitudes of worship and make Him a true priority in our lives today.

Psalm 1

For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalms 1:6

When our family moved to Memphis from Missouri, all I had to go on for directions was mapquest. So as we were getting closer to our new home, I turned off on the exit that the website had given. I was in ghetto central. It was congested and difficult to get the u-haul through some of traffic that we were encountering. After finally arriving, my brother-in-law who was following, suggested that next time I just look at a map instead of blindly trusting a website.

Have you ever just taken someone's word on the right way to go? There is a contrast of those who are with God and those who aren't. God's people are held down tightly by their faith and by their relationships with other godly people who wisely guide them. Lost people are just swaying in the wind and often take their counsel from other people that are swaying in life just as much as they are. The verse says that God knows the way of the righteous and it literally means He "approves" it. God has set out what we should do and what we should not. His rules and ordinances are for our protection and ultimately our happiness. Are you firmly rooted today, or are you swaying? Where are you accepting your counsel from, and who really has your ear? Is it God, or someone else?

Job 42

The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold. Job 42:10

I loved watching the Cosby Show when I was growing up. One of my favorite lines comes from an episode when their daughter Vanessa gets caught wearing makeup without permission (the problems of the 90's were so much simpler). Vanessa's first response to her mother is, "I don't know what happened. All of sudden there was this stuff on my face. It was like temporary insanity!" Later on, her parents come in the room to give her punishment. Vanessa starts by saying, "I was wrong, I'm sorry, and I should be punished." Her father responds with, "We know, we accept, and you will be." Excuses aren't what proves that we have learned our lesson, but repentance is.

So Job finally repents before the Lord instead of offering up excuses. God accepts this from Job, and then tells Job's friends that they have sinned in their attempt to speak for God out of ignorance instead of by His leading. He tells them that they'll have to count on Job to offer up forgiveness for them. Job was acting as a mediator for these men. And when Job decides not to hold a grudge, but to pray for them, God restores everything that Job had lost and more. Job finally came to a point of saying God is God, and he is not. He was willing to admit he had been wrong in his actions towards God, and repented of them to declare he would never do it again. What do you need to leave behind? What actions keep popping back up in your life that you say you want rid of? Perhaps your problem is that you're sorry for your sin, but you're not repentant. Are you willing to do anything to rid your life of the sin that plagues you? Then ask God for a solution of repentance and follow through as the Holy Spirit leads you to action.

Job 41

Behold , your expectation is false; Will you be laid low even at the sight of him?    

Job 41:9

I spoke with a Major who led a tank battalion during the first Gulf War in Iraq during 1991. He said that as they came near to Baghdad, they knew there were Iraqi tanks that had been dug into the ground to provide cover and concealment. They knew where the tanks were thanks to satellite imagery that was given before they went out to engage the enemy. As his tanks approached, the Major stopped his men just out of range of the inferior Iraqi tanks. One of the U.S. tanks was decided on to fire the first shot and he put the round right on top of an Iraqi tank, completely destroying it. Soon, tank hatches were popping open all over the enemy area, with soldiers climbing out to surrender. It seems they had lost their will to fight after one shot.

God is demonstrating His power in His creation. This chapter helps establish that Job lived early on in history. The Leviathan that God describes is a whale-sized creature, but certainly not a whale. The description of armor, menacing teeth, and a host of other features seem to clearly identify this animal as some sort of ocean-dwelling dinosaur. Some bible scholars have called it a crocodile, but that seems like pretty big respect for an average sized creature. The big point is that if you were to take on the Leviathan, you would lose heart, and the battle, quickly. What is God's lesson in this? That He is in control. The Leviathan may be uncontrollable for everyone on earth, but not for Him. Many lose heart in the face of a challenge, but for God there is no challenge. Trust Him today like never before. Remember that He has plans and desires for you, and your responsibility is to trust Him. I've learned to trust Him, because He has proven Himself trustworthy for the 18 years that I've walked with Him.

Job 40

Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; even twice, and I will add nothing more. Job 40:5

Have you ever realized that you said too much? Ronald Reagan was preparing for a weekly radio address and was asked to give a mic check. Reagan said, "My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I have signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes." It did not go out over the air, but was somehow discovered and reported on by a Japanese newspaper. As a result, the Soviet Far East Army was placed on alert and stayed that way for 30 minutes until it was realized the statement was a joke. I'm sure Reagan would have been more careful if he had known that Russia would taken his words seriously.

Job has just listened to God tell Him about the role of the Almighty. Job says that he is insignificant and he puts his hand over his mouth. But then, for some reason he pulls his hand back to make the statement of verse 5. Job is saying that he tried to explain himself, but since God didn't accept it, he'll be quiet. That's not an answer of submission. Job was still trying to justify the mistakes of his previous words. Do you need to be quiet before God? Prayer is an important aspect of our relationship and growth with Jesus Christ. But, do you ever let Him get a word in edgewise? Today, commit that you will listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as He speaks to you. That you not only bring your requests before God, but you will accept His requests for your life.

Job 39

She treats her young cruelly, as if they were not hers; though her labor be in vain, she is unconcerned Job 39:16

We were at a playground during the fall and my wife and I were helping our kids on the playground equipment. One of the things my kids love is a zipline that they ride by holding onto a handle. I had to help my kids get up on it, and when I turned around there were two other kids waiting for me to help them. I finally figured out who their mothers were, and they were totally unconcerned with their kids. Here was a strange man helping their kids reach and play on this zipline, and I don't think they ever noticed.

As God proves the extent of his knowledge, He makes mention of the ostrich. This bird simply lays its eggs on the ground, and then forgets about them. There is no concern for the safety of her children or any desire to take responsibility for them beyond laying the eggs. God is demonstrating that He is not an ostrich. He does not carelessly leave us lying about and unattended to. Whether in ease or difficulty, God is there, watching over us and concerned with everything we are going through. He was concerned when His Son was on the cross, but He didn't stop that. God will allow what is necessary, even if it causes difficulties in your life. Do you feel abandoned? You're not. Just continue to seek out what God is trying to teach you through the trials. You're probably unwilling to abandon people in their hour of need. Remember how much more faithful God is than you and I. God notices you.

Job 38

Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct Me! Job 38:3

I was in fifth grade and the lesson was so boring. It had something to do with writing sentences, so I chose to start talking to a friend next to me. After a few minutes, our teacher called on me to come forward. She said, "Since you seem to know this subject so well, why don't you teach it." She gave me her enormous teachers book, and then sat at her desk. I was so embarrassed, I was on the verge of tears. I looked at the book a moment, contemplated trying to teach it, and then admitted to her that I didn't know how. She took the book back, and told me to go have a seat. I sure learned my lesson that day...I mean about listening to the teacher, not about writing sentences correctly.

So during all these chapters of discussion, God has remained silent. When He speaks, He does so directly towards Job. Job's friends weren't giving the greatest counsel, but Job was still responsible for his own response. God says to "gird up your loins like a man". That would be the equivalent of us saying, "Hold on tight!" Literally, Job is being encouraged to brace himself. God is speaking, and Job needs to listen. God goes through His job description, and asks Job if there is one aspect of being God that Job could handle. Without even answering, it's pretty clear that the answer is no. What are you trying to handlethat belongs to God? Are you trying to overcome sin on your own? You need the determination to do it, but the power of God for success. Are you seeking your own path instead of the one that God has set for you? You will never be successful in your life when you resist the plans of God. Remember that when you choose to ignore God, you are claiming yourself as God in your life. That's a dangerous choice to make.

Job 37

Listen to this, O Job, stand and consider the wonders of God. Job 37:14

Some of my favorite memories are from skiing in Colorado when I was a teenager. I had always heard people say that it's impossible to see the mountains and not realize there is a God. They have a point. Riding the lift chair up the mountain I could see beauty all around me. It seemed so unlikely that the beauty of that creation could be random. Randomness is rarely beautiful. I've never spilled a bunch of milk and then marvelled at the beauty of my mess. 

Elihu is pointing to the wonders of God in the physical world such as lightning and ice. But when we think of the wonders of God we shouldn't stop there. Have you considered the wonder of salvation? That you had nothing to offer God, yet He offered His Son to you. What about the wonder of service? Even though God could accomplish every one of His plans without your help, He chooses to use you. The longer we walk as Christians, the easier it is to forget how special God's wonders are. Take a moment today to thank Him for the many wonders He has performed in your life. Consider all that He has done for you, and do not forget.

Job 36

But you were full of judgment on the wicked; judgment and justice take hold of you. Job 36:17

While serving a church, I met a young lady that I was able to lead to the Lord. She was living with her boyfriend, and I told some people in our church about what had happened. Several people claimed to know the boyfriend and said he had gone to our church in the past as a teenager. They felt that he was a waste of time because he had never chosen the right path before. Granted, the kid had made some mistakes, but these church-goers made the bigger mistake: expecting a lost person to act like he's saved. Don't we have enough of that going on in church already?

There is judgment for the wicked, but God will take care of that. Sometimes we get so indignant towards the sinful failings of others, that we feel a need to do something about it right away. The only people we're called to judge is other Christians. When a Christian is in sin, and we know about it, we have a responsibility to call them on it and help them overcome it. When a lost person is in sin, that's to be expected and we must share the gospel with them. What have you been expecting out of lost people? Do you wish they would act saved? Do you see the eternal danger for them if they do? You need to learn to love people where they are, and approach them in their current season of life. Jesus never thought anyone was too far gone to save, and neither should we.

Job 35

If you are righteous, what do you give to Him, or what does He receive from your hand? Job 35:7

In 1953, Ralph Kiner was proving himself to be one of the great hitters in major league baseball. He had led the league again in home runs while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. So Kiner went to general manager, Branch Rickey, and told him that he wanted a raise. Rickey asked, "Where did we finish last year?" Kiner responded that the team had finished in last place. So Rickey responded, "Well, we can finish in last place without you." So they traded Kiner to the baseball purgatory known as the Chicago Cubs.

Sometimes we get like Kiner. We begin to think about how the team just couldn't get along without us. But they did. Pittsburgh had played ball before and they continued after Kiner left. In our walk with Christ, I think that over time we begin to forget that our righteousness comes from Him. I can't even take credit for the good works I do, because they are only possible through the change that Jesus has brought to my life. Do you sometimes wonder how your church makes it when you're gone? Then you need to start re-evaluating your worth. Righteousness is a great gift, and it's not of ourselves but all of Him. Do you need to repent of pride over the good works you have done? Working for the Kingdom is great, but who were you really doing it for? God will never trade you, but He will certainly humble you.

Job 34

For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps. Job 34:21

When I was a cleaning crew supervisor, my first few days were learning how to tell if someone had done their job. I would walk into these offices and think they looked pretty good. But my trainer would show me all the little ways to tell if anything beyond emptying trash had actually been done. In these large offices were smaller, executive offices that had plush carpeting. An employee might say he vacuumed, but if there were no lines on that carpeting then I knew he hadn't. And no matter how much you ring it out, a mop doesn't magically turn dry in a couple hours, so a dry mop indicated another task that hadn't been performed. The cleaning crews may have not seen the supervisors around, but we had ways of determining what had been done and what had not.

Elihu is still talking. In the midst of his verbal assault on Job, he does bring up an important point. God's eyes are on us and He can see all of our steps. Elihu is making the point that Job's actions have been seen by God, and that Job will have no opportunity to argue with the Almighty. Job won't have reason since the ultimate source of his troubles was Satan and not God. But the point that Elihu is making is a valid one; God misses nothing. He doesn't take vacations and become ignorant of our actions. Our good and bad deeds are all being witnessed by Him. How would your actions be different if you remembered God is watching you at all times? The point is not to make you feel that you are a prisoner, but to be a reminder to you as you attempt to live your life for God. Ask God to remind you that you're never alone.

Job 33

I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent and there is no guilt in me. Job 33:9

I was listening to a sermon once and the pastor said a startling thing, "I stand in front of you with no sin." He didn't mean because Christ had washed him clean, but he was confident as he stood before us that there was no sin in him. I thought how great it was that he could make that claim until I realized that none of us can do it. There are times that I may lack deliberate sin in my life, but there is still sin that I have not yet identified.  This pastor displayed what I would call a self-righteous attitude.

This young man Elihu continues to talk in chapter 33. Someone really should have stopped him, but remember he said words were building up in him so he has a lot to say. In verse 9 he makes the statement that he is innocent and has no sin. Isn't that what Job has been saying? How come when Job claims to have been innocent in the disaster that fell upon him, no one believes him? Elihu thinks since he's not going through trials he must be right and Job must be wrong. As my Grandma Hall would say, "That's the pot calling the kettle black." Have you claimed sinlessness in your life? Do you believe that you are living righteously and without sin? You're not. We fight against sin, but we will NEVER conquer it completely here on earth. There have been times I have been praying forgiveness for sin, but unable to think of any. That's not an indication of perfection, but of my blindness to sin that I had failed to identify in my life. Ask God today to show you your sin, and be prepared to deal with what you find.