Christian Commentary Encouraging Devotions

Isaiah recognized his own falling short.

"I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips,

and I live among a people of unclean lips,

and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." Isaiah 6:5

It's Doomsday! I'm as good as dead!

Every word I've ever spoken is tainted—blasphemous even!

And the people I live with talk the same way,

using words that corrupt and desecrate.

And here I've looked God in the face!

In thought, word and deed, many times we fall short.

From Job 23:11-14...

I have stayed on God’s paths;

I have followed his ways and not turned aside. (Have I?)

I have not departed from his commands,

but have treasured his words more than daily food. (Have I?)

But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind?

Whatever he wants to do, he does.

So he will do to me whatever he has planned.

He controls my destiny.

You know, if we spent as much time being concerned about offending God as we do about offending people...

Reading Job does this to me.

I deserve what Job received.

This is the major sin, right?

Falling short.

None are exempt.

For all have sinned and fall short of God's glorious standard. Romans 3:23

We're no better than Job.

Most likely worse when you read...

There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz.

He was blameless—a man of complete integrity.

He feared God and stayed away from evil. Job 1:1

Then he was tested. And he came through.

And we can too.

Thanks be to God, it doesn't have to end with,

"Woe is me for I am undone..."

I had only heard about you before,

but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

I take back everything I said,

and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance. Job 42:5-6

When Job prayed for his friends,

the Lord restored his fortunes.

In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!

The Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. Job 42:10,12