05 June 2007 Devotion for Today “Still Kickin’ ” Job 19:25-26
The other night we had an event at our church in which an elderly gent from another church attended. I greeted him and asked him how he was doing. Well past 90 years of age, the man retorted, “I’m still kickin!”
I grinned admiringly at his comment. He had seen a lot in his 90 plus years. A lot of joy, and I am sure, a lot of heartache, too. Yet he still goes on- a little tottery perhaps, but he’s still moving. If I ever live to be that age, I wonder if I will be able to get around as well? I’ll be happy enough to still have my mind, much less still get around at that age.
Today I am also reminded of another individual who encountered perhaps more than his fair share of disappointment. His name was Job. Nearly everyone knows about the sufferings of Job, and the bitter disappointments and heartaches he experienced in life. Yet when we read about the losses of Job’s children, his wealth, his health, and all of his possessions, it causes our sufferings and disappointments to look very tame, comparatively. In spite of all Job went through, including the temptation to curse God and die, Job was still able to say in Job 19:25-26, “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.”
I heard a preacher tell a story that teaches us to persevere through life's difficulties. He told the story of two frogs that were hopping through a barn where a farmer was milking a cow. When the farmer finished, he got up to care for one of the animals and left the bucket of milk sitting on the floor of the barn. The two frogs came upon the bucket and wondered what was inside. One suggested that the other hop into the bucket to investigate.
"I'm not going alone," he replied. "Very well," responded the other frog, "I'll jump in if you will."
Well, they both took a big leap and landed in the milk. At first, they were splashing around and having a great time until they realized they couldn't get out of the pail. Then, as they began to tire from swimming around, one of the frogs said, "We might as well give up. We're never going to get out of here!"
"Oh no," said the other frog. "We can't give up now. We have to keep on trying."
"Not me," said the first frog. "I've had enough. I'm going to give up." Down he went into the milk and drowned.
The other frog kept splashing and kicking, splashing and kicking, until finally, to his amazement, the milk began to curdle, and after a while it became a plug of butter. Then the frog hopped from the top of that plug of butter and jumped out of the bucket.
The moral to this story is that a child of God never gives up. He keeps on kicking because he knows God is in control. And God will always make a way out for those who trust Him and never give up. So if one day you find yourself like those frogs, in over your head, know that your if your faith is solid, you will get your feet on it eventually, and God will deliver you from it, or through it. Are you still kickin?
Have a blessed day!
Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@embarqmail.com
jcrussell@liberty.edu
Church website: http://25621.lifewaylink.com
Devotion Archives: http://www.msnusers.com/DevotionforToday
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