The Joy of Glory

Discovering endless joy in the boundless glory of God…

Category: Lent

March 17, 2014

Lent Devotional: Job 1:1-12

Job 1:1-12 (click here)
And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” (Job 1:8-11)

Reflection
What is the real reason that Job fears God? Satan’s claim is that Job’s motivation is completely bound up in the fact that God has blessed him with material possessions. He’s claiming that Job doesn’t really love God the giver, but just the gifts. Take away the gifts and he will curse God…at least that is the claim.

Have you ever asked yourself, “Why do I fear God? Why do I love him, cling to him, and trust him?” It is important to know what is the foundation of our faith because if it is anything other than God himself it is a foundation that is easily destroyed.

If Job fears God because of God’s gifts…then his fear/faith is about to be gone. But, if Job fears God because of who God is…then his faith will remain no matter what happens.

What is the root/the foundation of our faith? Is it God’s good gifts or God himself? Only one of those things will sustain us when we undergo attacks from the enemy. Hint…it’s not the gifts.

*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

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March 16, 2014

Lent Devotional: Ecclesiastes 12

Ecclesiastes 12 (click here)
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. [14] For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Reflection
Solomon began by saying that nothing mattered, but he ends saying everything matters because it matters to God! God will bring everything and everyone into judgment…so every single act, thought, word, etc matters!

This fills our heart with fear…terror…and rightfully so because we know that our hearts are full of sin and deserve nothing, but God’s judgment. Yet, we are not called to respond with awful fear, but with awe-filled fear.

Fear God. See him for who he is and be in awe of him. Treasure him. Trust him. Our God is one who has not poured out his judgment upon us, but upon himself. Jesus Christ has received the judgment for our deeds (even the ones done in secret). Our response is to fear him, revere him, treasure him, love him, embrace him, trust him.  If we do that, it shows up in that we follow him (keep his commands).

The fact that God will judge everything and everyone does not fill the believer with awful terror, but puts us in awe of our treasure…Christ. For he has borne our penalty of death to bring us life. Let us fear him and follow him.


*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

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March 15, 2014

Lent Devotional: Ecclesiastes 11

Ecclesiastes 11 (click here)
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. (Ecclesiastes 11:9)

Reflection
All of life is SEEMINGLY vanity…but this is only how things seem as long as our gaze falls only on that which is “under the sun” and God is left completely out of the equation. However, when we know God and know that he will bring all things into judgment…all of a sudden EVERY act become eternally meaningful.

How should we think of this “judgment of God”? Should this frighten us so that we live our lives like slaves under a relentless task master…seeking to serve his every whim. Solomon seems to suggest something very different than that scenario.

He begins with the word “rejoice!” The fact that God is judge should bring us to proper enjoyment of all things. We know that God created all things good (including us) and invited mankind into eternal enjoyment of him. All of creation was to be enjoyed as a gift that ultimately pointed us back to the giver.

Solomon says that this is the kind of joy we seek. Not a joy in the mere gifts we find under the sun with no reference to God, but a joy that through these gifts points us to God! Enjoy all these things, but in such a way that you know God brings all things into judgment! Enjoy them in such a way that leads you back to God. That is the purpose for which all things were created and when enjoyed that way “God as judge” is not bad news…it is good news, for we will be judged as faithful ones who enjoyed him and spread the joy of him to the world.


*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

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