I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

     Elihu accuses Job of arrogance. He explains that God made everyone and they all are equally important to him. We have no ability to decide when God will bring judgement against us. God will bring us before judgement when He chooses. Elihu asks who has the knowledge or power to justly criticize God’s judgement? Elihu suggests that people need to come before God with one of two declarations, “I have sinned, but I will sin no more.” Or, “I don’t know what evil I have done—tell me. If I have done wrong, I will stop at once.”
     Elihu goes on to point out that when we sin it brings no harm to God and when we do good it brings no benefit to God. Our sins and our righteousness effect only ourselves and other people. We may not see God, but He hears the cries of those in distress and brings judgement in His time. Elihu points out that God is both mighty and wise, yet He holds no one in contempt. Elihu warns us to be careful to not let wealth seduce us into sin. God is all-powerful and wise, no one is has the power, wisdom or knowledge to condemn His actions as wrong. Instead we should praise Him for His wondrous acts.

     Paul declares that his ministry is from God. Because of that he refuses to use deceptive or underhanded tactics to attempt to spread the Word. He will not distort God’s Word to make it more palatable to those he preaches to. I think this is an important point. We should not attempt to disguise the fact that we are preaching the Gospel. That does not mean that it is wrong to try to make our presentations entertaining, but we should not attempt to hide the fact that we are presenting the Gospel. When the Gospel is veiled and hidden from sight it is because Satan has blinded people so that they will not see the truth.
     Paul tells us that we must always make clear that we are frail servants of God’s perfection. Jesus was the only perfect man. We are imperfect sinners whose only goodness is from the Spirit working within us. The God who said, “Let there be light” is shining His light through us. We must continually give over our sinful bodies to death so that Jesus’ resurrection can be revealed through us.

     It is not through our strength and power that we enjoy success, but through the grace of God. The good life I lead is not because I am such a wonderful person, or because I have skills that make me better than others. It is because God has chosen to grant me these blessings. I will continue to rely on God, trusting that He will provide for me.

     There is a certain type of person who mocks those with whom they disagree. Even when they are right in the positions they take, their approach to disagreement leads to quarrels and conflict. It is better to speak graciously to those with whom you disagree. In that manner you are more likely to convince a third-party of your position. If your plans rely on treachery they are likely to be disrupted.