October 21st
Today’s Reading: Job 9–10; Acts 15–16
Scripture Focus:
“For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully?” – Job 9:4 NLT
“Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy.” – Job 9:14–15 NLT
“If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together.” – Job 9:33 NLT
“You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care.” – Job 10:12 NLT
⸻
Reflection
When you read Bildad’s words to Job and then Job’s response — what did you notice?
Bildad knew things about God,
but Job knew God.
That difference changes everything.
Bildad spoke from head knowledge — facts, tradition, and reason.
Job spoke from heart relationship — faith, awe, and love.
How could Job have known God so intimately?
1️⃣ Even before the written Law or prophets, people knew God through creation and conscience.
“They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them… Ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky.” — Romans 1:19–20
Job often reflected on this. In Job 9:5–10 he describes mountains trembling, stars shining at His command — Job saw God’s majesty written across creation.
2️⃣ The patriarchs (like Adam, Noah, and Abraham) passed down what they knew of God’s character.
Job, living in that early time, likely received this oral truth. That’s why he called God “El Shaddai” — the Almighty — and recognized Him as both Creator and Judge.
3️⃣ Job’s walk with God was deeply personal.
He didn’t depend on others’ faith; he built his own altar. He prayed, sacrificed, and interceded for his children (Job 1:5).
Even in pain, he could still say,
“You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love.” — Job 10:12
That kind of knowledge comes only through worship and repentance — through relationship, not intellect.
4️⃣ The Holy Spirit revealed truth directly to him.
Job’s longing for a mediator —
“If only there were a mediator between us.” — Job 9:33 —
was a Spirit-inspired glimpse of Christ long before the Gospel was known.
Centuries later, Paul would write:
“There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity — the man Christ Jesus.” — 1 Timothy 2:5
So when Job replied to Bildad, he wasn’t arguing theology — he was wrestling with the mystery of God’s justice while holding tight to what he knew of God’s goodness and holiness.
He was saying, “I can’t argue with Him. He’s perfect; I’m dust. My only plea is mercy.”
“For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged Him successfully?” — Job 9:4
“Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy.” — Job 9:14–15
Job’s reverence shows a living faith — one that humbly acknowledges God’s power while trusting His heart.
Bildad’s logic made him sound religious, but Job’s relationship made him righteous.
Bildad reasoned about God; Job reasoned with God.
One argued from tradition, the other from trust.
And even while questioning, Job’s words reveal worship. He never denied who God was.
He still declared,
“You gave me life and showed me Your unfailing love. My life was preserved by Your care.” — Job 10:12
That’s the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him.
It’s the kind of faith that anticipates Jesus — the One who now stands as our Mediator, drawing us close to the Father so we can boldly come and find mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16). 🙏
⸻
Lesson for Me: Truly Knowing God
Here is a lesson that I’m seeing in these chapters:
When I come every day and read God’s Word, I gain knowledge about Him — that’s head knowledge. But when I take what I’ve learned and begin to worship Him for who He is, when I live out the truth He’s working in and through me, that knowledge becomes heart knowledge.
That’s when faith becomes real — not just something I know, but something I experience.
That’s when I, like Job, begin to truly know God from deep within.
Even in suffering or silence, I can still say, “Lord, You are wise, mighty, and merciful.”
That kind of knowing doesn’t walk away when life hurts — it clings even tighter, trusting His character when nothing makes sense.
Too many people today walk away the moment trials come. They may not leave church or deny God with words, but they turn to secular comforts, distractions, or advice to get through the pain instead of turning to the Lord. But Job shows us a better way — to stay before God, to wrestle honestly, and to keep worshiping even when we don’t understand.
⸻
Application Questions
•Am I spending time with God just to learn about Him, or to truly know Him?
•How can I move from reading truth to living truth this week?
•When trials come, where do I run first — to the world or to the Word?
•What does my response to suffering reveal about the depth of my relationship with God?
⸻
Prayer 🙏
Father, thank You for revealing Yourself through Your Word, through creation, and through Your Spirit.
Teach me not to settle for knowing about You — I want to know You intimately, like Job did.
When life hurts, help me to cling tighter instead of drifting away.
Jesus, thank You for being my Mediator — for reconciling me to the Father and inviting me to come boldly before Your throne of grace (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:16).
Keep my heart soft, humble, and worshipful even in the middle of pain.
In Your holy name, Amen.
⸻
Journaling Reminder ✍️
Take a few quiet minutes with Jesus. Sit in His presence and ask,
“Lord, what are You teaching me about truly knowing You?”
Write what He shows you — what to release, what to strengthen, and how to walk closer with Him.
⸻
Takeaway
True faith isn’t proven by what we know about God — it’s revealed by how we trust and worship Him when life hurts. 💛
Today’s Reading: Job 9–10; Acts 15–16
Scripture Focus:
“For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully?” – Job 9:4 NLT
“Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy.” – Job 9:14–15 NLT
“If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together.” – Job 9:33 NLT
“You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care.” – Job 10:12 NLT
⸻
Reflection
When you read Bildad’s words to Job and then Job’s response — what did you notice?
Bildad knew things about God,
but Job knew God.
That difference changes everything.
Bildad spoke from head knowledge — facts, tradition, and reason.
Job spoke from heart relationship — faith, awe, and love.
How could Job have known God so intimately?
1️⃣ Even before the written Law or prophets, people knew God through creation and conscience.
“They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them… Ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky.” — Romans 1:19–20
Job often reflected on this. In Job 9:5–10 he describes mountains trembling, stars shining at His command — Job saw God’s majesty written across creation.
2️⃣ The patriarchs (like Adam, Noah, and Abraham) passed down what they knew of God’s character.
Job, living in that early time, likely received this oral truth. That’s why he called God “El Shaddai” — the Almighty — and recognized Him as both Creator and Judge.
3️⃣ Job’s walk with God was deeply personal.
He didn’t depend on others’ faith; he built his own altar. He prayed, sacrificed, and interceded for his children (Job 1:5).
Even in pain, he could still say,
“You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love.” — Job 10:12
That kind of knowledge comes only through worship and repentance — through relationship, not intellect.
4️⃣ The Holy Spirit revealed truth directly to him.
Job’s longing for a mediator —
“If only there were a mediator between us.” — Job 9:33 —
was a Spirit-inspired glimpse of Christ long before the Gospel was known.
Centuries later, Paul would write:
“There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity — the man Christ Jesus.” — 1 Timothy 2:5
So when Job replied to Bildad, he wasn’t arguing theology — he was wrestling with the mystery of God’s justice while holding tight to what he knew of God’s goodness and holiness.
He was saying, “I can’t argue with Him. He’s perfect; I’m dust. My only plea is mercy.”
“For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged Him successfully?” — Job 9:4
“Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy.” — Job 9:14–15
Job’s reverence shows a living faith — one that humbly acknowledges God’s power while trusting His heart.
Bildad’s logic made him sound religious, but Job’s relationship made him righteous.
Bildad reasoned about God; Job reasoned with God.
One argued from tradition, the other from trust.
And even while questioning, Job’s words reveal worship. He never denied who God was.
He still declared,
“You gave me life and showed me Your unfailing love. My life was preserved by Your care.” — Job 10:12
That’s the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him.
It’s the kind of faith that anticipates Jesus — the One who now stands as our Mediator, drawing us close to the Father so we can boldly come and find mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16). 🙏
⸻
Lesson for Me: Truly Knowing God
Here is a lesson that I’m seeing in these chapters:
When I come every day and read God’s Word, I gain knowledge about Him — that’s head knowledge. But when I take what I’ve learned and begin to worship Him for who He is, when I live out the truth He’s working in and through me, that knowledge becomes heart knowledge.
That’s when faith becomes real — not just something I know, but something I experience.
That’s when I, like Job, begin to truly know God from deep within.
Even in suffering or silence, I can still say, “Lord, You are wise, mighty, and merciful.”
That kind of knowing doesn’t walk away when life hurts — it clings even tighter, trusting His character when nothing makes sense.
Too many people today walk away the moment trials come. They may not leave church or deny God with words, but they turn to secular comforts, distractions, or advice to get through the pain instead of turning to the Lord. But Job shows us a better way — to stay before God, to wrestle honestly, and to keep worshiping even when we don’t understand.
⸻
Application Questions
•Am I spending time with God just to learn about Him, or to truly know Him?
•How can I move from reading truth to living truth this week?
•When trials come, where do I run first — to the world or to the Word?
•What does my response to suffering reveal about the depth of my relationship with God?
⸻
Prayer 🙏
Father, thank You for revealing Yourself through Your Word, through creation, and through Your Spirit.
Teach me not to settle for knowing about You — I want to know You intimately, like Job did.
When life hurts, help me to cling tighter instead of drifting away.
Jesus, thank You for being my Mediator — for reconciling me to the Father and inviting me to come boldly before Your throne of grace (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:16).
Keep my heart soft, humble, and worshipful even in the middle of pain.
In Your holy name, Amen.
⸻
Journaling Reminder ✍️
Take a few quiet minutes with Jesus. Sit in His presence and ask,
“Lord, what are You teaching me about truly knowing You?”
Write what He shows you — what to release, what to strengthen, and how to walk closer with Him.
⸻
Takeaway
True faith isn’t proven by what we know about God — it’s revealed by how we trust and worship Him when life hurts. 💛