Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place… And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.
--Job 2:11-13
I read a survey once in USA Today that was conducted among parents. The question was asked, “Do you think you’re doing a better job raising your children than your parents did?” And overwhelmingly, these parents said that they were, in fact ,doing a better job than their parents.
Yet, when you examine the facts, you discover that while the average parent 30 years ago spent 2 or 3 hours a day with their children, the average parent today spends less than 15 minutes a day with their kids. And do you know how love is given and received by people today? Time.
That’s why I love today’s passage. When Job had lost everything – his family, his possessions, and his home – his three friends came and just spent time with him. They wanted him to know that someone cared for him!
Love is expressed in sacrifice for others. That’s why spending your time with those you love is so very important. So whether it’s your family, your friends, or just someone who needs you to be there, sacrifice your own time for the sake of others. When you do, you may just realize it was the best possible use of it!
FOR SO MANY PEOPLE TODAY, LOVE IS EXPRESSED IN TIME. SO INVEST YOUR TIME WITH THOSE YOU LOVE SO THEY’LL KNOW THEY’RE IMPORTANT TO YOU.
The Source of the Song
Thursday, January 09, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”
Psalm 40:1–3
The famous hymn writer Fanny Crosby was not born blind. She contracted a cold at just six weeks of age, and the treatment left her unable to see. She went on to become one of the most prolific and effective poets in the history of the church, writing words that we are still singing more than 100 years later. Among her early poems were these eight lines, written when she was just eight years old:
Oh, what a happy soul I am,Although I cannot see,I am resolved that in this worldContented I will be.
How many blessings I enjoyThat other people don’tTo weep and sigh because I’m blindI cannot and I won’t.
There are lots of bad things that happen to good people. But God is always faithful, and if we rely on Him, we can find a song in the darkest time of our life. We don’t have to come up with a song of our own—He gives it to us. It is no accident that being filled with the Holy Spirit is so closely connected to singing. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:18-19).
The fact that so many Christians seem to have no song is not a testimony to their trials, but to their lack of connection with God. God gives a song to those who trust in Him and patiently endure what He sends into their lives.
Today's Growth Principle: The song in our heart does not come from our surroundings but from our Saviour. |
No comments:
Post a Comment