Todays readings… Job 29&30, Zechariah 6&7, Revelation 3&4

One of the most challenging lessons in Scripture is to realize that, what seems logical reasoning about cause and effect – does not – at least in the wisdom and outworking of God’s will in our lives – always apply.  Today, in the book of Revelation, we read, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent” [Ch 3 v.19]    

This week, I wonder how many parents are spoiling their children with an abundance of presents?  How many of those presents will stimulate their minds toward worthwhile things?  How many, toward things of no real value? 

 Is there real wisdom in their love toward their children?

We are reading Job; it is a challenge to understand it, but when we get to the end we will see a vital lesson of how Job grew in his knowing of God as a result of adversity. Without adversity, and a resultant prolonged contemplation on the ways of God, this would not have happened – and in the end there came into his life far more abundant blessings. 

The verse in Revelation we have just quoted, is followed with Jesus saying, “Behold I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him.  The one who conquers (or, overcomes, most versions)   I will grant him to sit with me on my throne” [3 v20/21]  

 Now, we have to “open the door” and it is the Bible, the ‘written word’ which invites us to open the door.  As we read the Bible, if we are reading it properly; we ‘hear’ in our minds the ‘knocking’ and the invitation to follow the shepherd and become one of his sheep.  His sheep know his voice, heeding his word, and the time will come when they will be welcomed to take a place in his kingdom and be given a role according as to how they have used their talents, as a parable tells us.