August 31, 2005
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Hey Xanga,
So from Job, while we see that Satan can be responsible for trials or mishaps, we also see that God is not being "snuck around" but that He is right in on the trial, and is watching Satan to make sure that the trial is "within bounds." Within bounds probably is best defined by looking at 1 Cor. 10:13, where Paul writes that all temptations are (a) common to man, (b) no larger than we can bear, and (c) compleate with an escape route, path, or means.
So, with all this in mind, it seems that all my circumstances are brought to me by God as opportunity for me (a) to trust God, and His management of the universe, (b) Discover my weaknesses and faults that tend to be brought out when life turns hard, (c) Teach me compassion for others who suffer similarly, and (d) Practice contentment with God, and His care for me.
Thus the passage in Phillipians 2 http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=Phil+2%3A12-16&version=NIV-IBS actually rests on the above ideas. Complining, whining, griping, etc. are simply the outer expression of discontent. If we stop the whining out loud, but don't deal with the discontent inside us, we will simply find another, non-whining way of expressing our discontent
Nuff for today?
Comments (2)
Job is a tough book for me. Why is God even giving satan the time of day? Why did God allow children to be killed, servants, etc. Do their lives not matter? And that they died for a stupid comment from satan? Yes, it is awesome that God trusted Job's response? But at what price? Much is made of how much Job got restored, he didn't get his children restored. He got new ones. If satan is a done deal, why does God even muck around with him. sorry, Job is a tough book for me, given my past and background, I kind of feel Job pretty deeply.
Heather
Thanks for your further clarification. I have a lot of stuff to deal with about God, and there are times when it is better and worse. I need to separate God from those who hurt me. Trust does not come easy. I am so glad God did not choose me, or he would have lost his bet.
Heather
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