As the year draws to a close, as does this year’s ‘Read-the-Bible-in-a-Year’ journey, I again find myself in the book of Job. This trip through Job has been different, though, than at other times because instead of pinpointing ‘misstep’ in the lives of Job and his friends, I find myself asking God for his mercy that I wouldn’t slip into the same ‘mire’.
As I seek the Lord as to how to avoid these traps of self-righteousness, religion, criticism, judging others, and blaming God – and reflect on the many times I have fallen prey to the same ‘enemies’ – I realize my only hope is to abide in Jesus.
Micah 5:5-6 says…
And this man (Jesus) shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.
And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he comes into our land, and when he treads within our borders.
Our hope, our strength, and our victory against all the wiles of the devil – no matter what is going on around us – is to abide in Jesus.
In John 15:4, Jesus said…
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Earlier, in John 8:31-32, Jesus said to some believing Jews…
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Interestingly, the words ‘Abide’ and ‘continue’ are the same Greek word – which is directly translated ‘to stay’.
David said in Psalms 18…
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
As one Jesus follower to another, I encourage you spend time in God’s Word – to commit yourself to a ‘Read-the-Bible-in-a-Year’ plan, to continue in the Word, to Abide in Jesus, to stay diligent. As we humbly approach the Lord in times of reading, he meets us, he changes us, he enlightens us, and he keeps us safe in these turbulent days.
Read it for yourself. 