My Top Ten List

Chapter 32 through 37
Chapter 32:1: Job's three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence.

They couldn't change his mind, but oh how they tried. They gave it their best shot's. You can't say that Job wasn't open to their opinions, he was. He let them have their say and he listened, but there are some things that Job knew, that he knew, that he knew. In writing that last sentence, I got to thinking about the spiritual truths that I know, that I know, that I know. What are the absolutes in my system of beliefs? What things aren't open to debate or interpretation? If tested like Job was tested, what beliefs would still be standing? Glad "you" asked. As I thought about my absolutes I came to realize that some of them were things I did not always believe. You might say that I absolutely did not believe them at one time. I find that observation interesting and wonderful. Interesting because I think of an absolute as being something that is unchangeable. Wonderful because when your absolute happens to be error, God gives you an opportunity to repent (change your thinking) about what you believe, which in turn changes your actions that resulted from that wrong belief. And, in some cases could even go so far as to changing your eternal destiny. I can't tell you how I thank God for revealing truth to me when I was steeped in error without really knowing it at the time. Well, now that I've brought that up, allow me, if you will to share my Top Ten absolutes with you: (The scripture references I refer to are by no means all-inclusive on these subjects, they are just a few that came to my mind)
1. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. No man (or woman) comes to the Father but by Him. (John 14:6) Their is no other way.
2. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot "earn" our way to heaven, it is a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8)
3. God's love for me is independent of any thing I do for Him. Nothing I can do will make God love me more and nothing I can do will make God love me less. (Romans 5:8)
4. Jesus Christ is God. (John 1:1 and many, many other scriptures) this was a biggie for me, as I did not always believe this. When I got a revelation of this it changed everything!
5. God wants me well and wants me to prosper in my life here on earth. (3 John 1:2)
6. As a Christian, I have been given authority over evil, over the devil's schemes in my life. (Luke 10:19, Mark 16:17, James 4:7)
7. I have become the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
8. It is impossible to please God without faith. (Hebrews 11:6)
9. What we think and what we say are powerful forces in our life. (Proverbs 23:7) and (Proverbs 18:21 & Matthew 12:37)
10. The Bible is God breathed and is the final authority for man. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, Mark 13:31, Revelation 22:18-19)

Well, there you have it, at least some of it anyway...I love knowing that my absolutes are now based on the written Word of God, infallible and unchangeable, as they are no longer based on a religious doctrine, what I was raised to believe or my own private interpretation of the scriptures. Unmovable, unshakable truth. Solid ground. The Rock, who is Christ Jesus, The Lord!

I challenge you to come up with your own list of spiritual absolutes and and share it with someone. (You could start with me!) The Bible says we should always be ready to give an answer to someone who may ask what we believe and why we believe it. Your absolute list is a great place to start!

When I began this blogging journey 13 days ago I saw it more as my commentary or as my "take" on the scriptures I am reading. It's a bit of that I guess, but even more so it is becoming a "springboard" for me to see what is in my heart. When God inspired me to begin this He told me it would be life changing. The process has already started, for His word is living and active and able to discern the thoughts and intents of my heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

The hard part about that "springboard" thing is that I never really talked about the subject of the chapters I read the last few days. But actually, I'm kinda glad about that, it's more of the same, but chapter 32 introduces someone new. His name is Elihu. He's a younger man that has been listening in the background, chomping at the bit to set everyone straight as to what's really going on in Job's life. One thing for sure, he's very opinionated for such a young man. (I've heard that opinions are like noses, everyone has one and they always have a couple of holes in them. :o) I digress. He definitely has a high opinion of his opinion as noted in chapter 36:vs 2-4: "Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God's behalf. I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker, for truly my words are not false, one who is perfect in knowledge is with you." Wow, now that's what I call some self esteem. Chapters 32-37 are all of Elihu's speeches to Job (and his friends, if they are still hangin' around.) I find it interesting that once Elihu starts to speak, Job never gets a word in edgewise. Or maybe he just didn't have anything more to say. He's heard enough from those who think they are authorities on his sin and his righteousness. But Job is about to hear from the one who really does know a thing or two about sin and righteousness. He's about to hear from the God he has loved and served all his life. Yes-sir-ee, things are about to change for Job, in a big way you might say. How 'bout let's you and I meet back at this same place tomorrow and we'll see what the Almighty has to say about all this bloviating that's been going on. Trust me, you won't want to miss this!