Is this really happening to me?

Explore the Bible
June 2, 2013 

Gerald W. Nash Jr.
chaplain
Second Baptist
Conway

Job 1:1-3, 8, 11, 20-22; 2:7, 9-10

A few months ago my daughter-in-law was diagnosed with stage-three colon cancer. Because his wife is a faithful Christian, my son couldn’t understand why God would allow this. 

I told him the truth: “I really don’t know.” 

Job was the most righteous and godly man in the world (Job 1:8; 2:3), and he suffered (Job 1:13-19; 2:7). Satan accused God of having a hedge of protection around Job (Job 1:9-10). He argued if God would remove His protection from him, Job would curse Him (Job 1:11). God allowed Satan to strike Job but not to harm his person (Job 1:12). The results were devastating. Job lost all his livestock, servants and his children. 

In spite of these devastating losses, Job says, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21, NKJV). 

Job did not lash out at God, nor did he sin (Job 1:22).

Later God allows Satan to strike Job’s body so long as he spared his life (Job 2:5-6). Satan strikes Job’s entire body with boils (Job 2:7). 

In Job 2:9, Job’s wife asks, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” 

In Job 2:10, Job responds, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” 

Does Job ever ask, “Why?” Yes, in the form of complaints. God isn’t listening to him (Job 13:3). God is punishing him (Job 6:4). And, God is allowing the wicked to prosper (Job 21:7). After much debate, God weighs in and speaks about His power, wisdom and sovereignty. He makes no personal reference to Job’s personal suffering. Why? He wants Job not to focus on his suffering, but to focus on what he can learn from his suffering. He wants to teach Job that He is sovereign over Job’s life (Job 37:23-24). 

Rather than asking, “Is this really happening to me?” perhaps the better question is, “Now that this is happening to me, Lord, what do You want me to learn?”

God begins the story

Bible Studies for Life
June 2, 2013 

George Sims
member
South Highland Baptist
Little Rock

Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 2:15-17; 3:6-7, 14-19, 23-24

God existed in the beginning, but mankind did not. Man had a point of beginning along with all the rest of creation. God had purpose in all He did, and He gave purpose to man. He was to rule over all that had been created by God. Man also had the special distinction of being created in God’s image. He had potential to live, love and relate to his Creator in a special way.

Man’s assigned activity was clearly stated when he was placed in the garden to care for it. He could eat freely from the fruit of the garden, but he was restricted from eating from “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen. 2:17). Man knew all of the good provision of God by experience. Knowledge of evil could only come from experience, as well. Once the man and woman rationalized that the forbidden fruit was good and ate it, their eyes were opened to evil by their experience of disobedience toward God.

Relationships that had been so wholesome were now broken. They felt that they had to hide from God. The serpent, part of God’s creation, was cursed for its part in tempting them. For the woman, pain in childbirth would be accompanied by a changed relationship to her husband. The man had traded the free and generous provision of God for the struggles of cultivating his food. His end would be to return to the dust from which he had been created.

Although banished from the garden and prevented from returning to the “tree of life” (Gen. 3:22) by his own efforts, there is promise of eternal life in the story of the fall. Through the gracious act of sending the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, God provided the way for man to overcome sin and rebellion and to return to a relationship with God who loved His creation.

We all experience the fall in our lives as we choose to rebel against God. Only by coming to believe in Jesus Christ can we return to God by having the barrier of sin removed.

Look for good works

Explore the Bible
May 26, 2013

Frances Raley
minister of adult education
First Baptist
Benton

Titus 2:1-15

Tom Rainer, in an article he wrote called “Seven Common Comments Non-Christians Make About Christians” states that non-Christians say, “I really can’t tell what a Christian believes because he doesn’t seem much different than other people I know. The only exception would be Mormons. They really seem to take their beliefs seriously.” 

That is a sad commentary about how we are living out our faith in the world today. 

We all know people who come to church on Sunday and talk the talk, but later we find out that they act quite differently Monday through Saturday. 

The people of Crete knew there were new converts living among them, and they were watching to see what it meant to be a Christ follower. For this reason, Paul begins the final chapter of Titus with further instructions on how the Christians were to live their lives so that unbelievers would be drawn to their God.

Not much has changed. We live in a culture that is increasingly questioning anything to do with Christianity. They need to see people whose lives have been transformed by their faith in Jesus Christ. When I married my husband, I took his name. He can either be proud or embarrassed that I wear his name – it will depend on my actions. When I became a Christian, I took Christ’s name, and how I act can either bring glory or shame to His name. We need to be challenged to live in a constant awareness that people are watching how we act and listening to what we say.

We were made for good work. Galatians 6:9-10a reminds us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.” 

May our prayer be that God will give us eyes to see and ears to hear the needs of people and seek to serve Him wholeheartedly by serving others and meeting their needs. Then God is glorified.

Giving others what they really need

Bible Studies for Life
May 26, 2013

Jim Monroe
associate pastor
First Baptist
White Hall

Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; 27:5-6, 17

When I was in college, my best friend and I were roommates. One day we had a conversation that infuriated me. However, after I cooled down, I realized the wisdom of his reprimand. I was involved in an unhealthy relationship that was affecting my grades and negatively impacting my future. I couldn’t see this for myself; it took someone who cared for me to see the situation objectively and take steps to correct it.

He didn’t have to intervene in a situation that didn’t involve him. But because he cared for me and my well being, he risked our friendship to do what was right. We continue to be best friends to this day and I’m grateful for his lovingly harsh words from over 30 years ago.

As we conclude the study in Proverbs about extraordinary relationships, we’re looking at giving others what they really need. Sometimes our friends need encouragement. Often they need our support. At other times, they need to be reprimanded. A rebuke is something we don’t enjoy giving or receiving, but a true friend is willing to have difficult conversations with a friend in a loving, yet firm, way.

You may have hundreds of friends on a social media site, but we all need that person in our lives who is “a friend who stays closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24b). This is the friend who “loves at all times” (Prov. 17:17a) and wants the best for you, even if it involves an unpleasant conversation.

When my friend spoke with me, his words were “an open reprimand” and “wounds of a friend” (Prov. 27:5-6). I didn’t like what I heard, but it was needed. Our friendship has matured as we continue to encourage each other and speak words of correction when needed. We continue to sharpen each other as “iron sharpens iron” (Prov. 27:17). Is there someone whom you need to lovingly reprimand? Whom do you allow to speak harsh truth into your life?

Look for spiritual excellence

Explore the Bible
May 19, 2013

Frances Raley
minister of adult education
First Baptist
Benton

Titus 2:1-15

As a child, did you ever challenge your friends to “walk this way,” which meant they were to mimic you as you walked in funny, roundabout ways. Basically it was a game of follow-the-leader. It was a fun game to participate in and was also entertaining to observe. Even a baby will intently watch the face of his mother and mimic her. This is how babies learn; they watch and mimic. 

In Titus 2, Paul is telling Titus to issue the challenge to “walk this way.” Once again, Paul lists traits that are to be reflected in the lives of believers, as well as traits or habits that should not be a part of a Christian’s life. In turn, he instructs that older women are to teach the younger women and the older men to teach the younger men how to live godly lives. In today’s vernacular, he would be encouraging them to be mentors. 

The dictionary defines a “mentor” as “a trusted counselor or guide.” My pastor often reminds us that we only need to be a little further down the road than the person we are leading. When Paul speaks of older women and men, I think he means mature and is referring to their mental and spiritual maturity. Age is not as important as what we have learned and what we have to give.  Esther Burroughs, in her book “A Garden Path to Mentoring,” says, “Mentoring, in many ways, means using the best part of yourself to help another see and become the best that they can be.” 

Our world needs men and women who will pour into others, encouraging and challenging them to live godly lives. I often feel inadequate and wonder what I have to offer. We have a young couple that stays with us often. She truly does want to sit or help as I cook, fold clothes or pull weeds. We talk, laugh and talk about the Lord. Let us all be challenged as Paul challenged Timothy in 1Timothy 4:12b, which says, “But set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” 

Be a mentor to someone.