.JPG)
The Bible Breakdown
Bible reading plan and SOAP guide: www.experiencerlc.com/the-bible
Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: www.brandoncannon.com
The Bible Breakdown
Job 29: The Good Old Days
Have you ever considered that the moments you're living now could be tomorrow's cherished memories? Join us on the Bible Breakdown Podcast as we journey through Job 29, where Job reflects on the "good old days" filled with honor, respect, and divine presence. We'll explore how he was esteemed for his righteousness and his efforts to uplift those around him. Through Job's poignant memories, we are reminded of the importance of living with integrity and valuing the blessings we currently possess.
This episode doesn't just stop at reminiscing; it challenges us to embrace change and cultivate gratitude. Inspired by Job 1:21, we'll delve into the transient nature of life and the enduring love of God. Through heartfelt discussions, we'll uncover how our present actions and relationships have the potential to foster future joy and fulfillment. By embracing an attitude of gratitude and through prayer, we recognize that all we have is a gift from God. Tune in and be inspired to cherish your current moments, trusting that these could be the "good old days" you'll look back on fondly.
SOAP Bible Study Method- https://www.brandoncannon.com/soap/
Bible reading plan- http://www.experiencerlc.com/the-bible/
Free weekly newsletter- https://www.brandoncannon.com/
Social:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/thebrandoncannon
Instagram: https://instagram.com/brandoncannon
Twitter: https://twitter.com/brandoncannon
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theBrandonCannon
The More You Dig. The More You Find.
Well, hello everybody. Welcome back to the Bible Breakdown Podcast with your host, pastor Brandon. Today, job, chapter 29,. And today's title is the Good Old Days. The Good Old Days.
Speaker 1:I don't know about you, but I had no idea that I was going to have good old days when I was growing up. I would hear some of these older people and they would say, oh man, those were the good old days, and they would talk about a particular time in their life that just seemed like it was perfect. And isn't it amazing how we look back and it's an amazing way that our memories have a way of kind of blunting the sharp objects Things look a little bit better than they actually were. Sometimes things can be worse than they actually were, but many times they think better. And when I was a kid I was like, oh man, I don't have any good old days because I was so young. But now that I look back, I can actually think of two or three seasons of good old days. Well, job's gonna do that today, and I wonder if there's a powerful lesson for us to learn as we read about him reminiscing about some good old days in his life and we're gonna get into that in just a second, but, as always, if you like what we're doing here, make sure you like, share and subscribe to the YouTube channel and the podcast. Make sure you leave us a five-star review on the podcast, because you are always and forever my favorites and I see some of you doing that more and more on Spotify. Thank you so much for doing that. Also, if you're listening to us on Apple Podcasts, make sure you leave us a five-star review, because it really does help us in the search algorithms and I would love to actually get on the top 100 religious podcasts. Wouldn't that be fun? We'll see Whatever God's will is. That's what it's going to be and we can help that process if you'll help us out, all right. Also, you can go to the Facebook Bible Breakdown Discussion, and that is my favorite thing. It's where this amazing team of people are writing devotions every single day as we go through God's Word and man, the more we dig, the more we find. Well, if you have your Bibles, you want to open up with us to Job, chapter 29. Like I was saying a second ago, there are these good old days in our life when we think back and we go man, those were the days. Well, we're going to watch as Job goes through some of these, and I want to challenge us at the end with an idea that really has been challenging to me lately. So let's read this Job, chapter 29, as he is continuing his final speech to his friends, and he says this, beginning with verse 1. Job continued speaking.
Speaker 1:I long for the years gone by when God took care of me, when he lit up the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness. When I was in my prime, god's friendship was felt in my home. The Almighty was still with me and my children were around me. My steps were awash in cream and the rocks gushed olive oil for me. Those were the days when I went to the city gate and I took my place among the honored leaders. The young stepped aside when they saw me, and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.
Speaker 1:The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths. The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect. All who heard me praised me. All who spoke well. All who spoke wait a minute.
Speaker 1:All who saw me spoke well of me, for I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help. I helped those without hope and they blessed me. I caused the widow's hearts to sing for joy. Everything I did was honest, and righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban. I served his eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help. I broke the jaws of the godless oppressors and plucked out the victims from their teeth. I thought surely I will die surrounded by my family, after a long, good life. For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew. New honors are constantly bestowed on me and my strength is continually renewed.
Speaker 1:Everyone listened to my advice and they were silent as they waited for me to speak and I spoke After I spoke. They had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them. They longed for me to speak as people long for rain. They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain. When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them. And so what Job is saying is he said when I was respected and honored by those around me, but then he says it was because I worked so hard to do the right thing for as many people as possible, and because of that I was rewarded with respect, and he was just remembering a time in his life that was a better time.
Speaker 1:And one of the things I've been thinking about lately is a challenge to all of us. Today is number one to realize that right now, in this moment, it's possible. You are living in what will one day be the good old days. You ever thought about that, like what you think of now as the good old days, you didn't realize was so great at the time. At the time you were just living life and just dealing with and doing whatever it wasn't until later, when situations and seasons changed, that you look back and you go man, that was a whole lot better than I realized. I wish I'd taken more advantage of that time.
Speaker 1:Well, it's entirely possible that one day in the future you'll look at your time right now and you'll be like, wow, those were some good days. I'm experiencing that right now with my family. Right now, my daughters are in their middle to late teenage years and I know that one day, when time has passed and seasons have changed and all this kind of stuff, I will probably look back at this time and I'll be like, wow, that was a good time. I do that when my girls were little. We all have our favorite seasons of life and one of my favorite seasons of life were my girls were eight and 10 years old and I just loved that season and things we got to do. And I love the season now, for different reasons, but I didn't realize at the time, man, those were some good days.
Speaker 1:Well, what is it that's going on in your life right now that, not intentionally, but maybe we take a little bit for granted, only to realize that if we were to look around, we go. One day I'm going to miss, that. I know that one day, likely in this friend group, I have one of us, or maybe all of us, will move away. Wow, I want to make the most of this time. That's the challenge.
Speaker 1:What can you do to make the most of the time you have right now? Because if there's one thing that is certain about life and that is change, seasons change, things change. Nothing stays forever, except for the love of God. Other than that, anything is subject to change, and sometimes that's great news, because I'm ready for something to change. I need something new in my life, right, but sometimes it's sad because things that you hoped would be forever change, and so, instead of dreading it, appreciate that fact and enjoy it right now. On the other side of the coin, what can you do right now that will create a situation that you can one day look back at with joy? Maybe right now you are going through a difficult time, but it doesn't have to be that way. What seeds can you start to plant in your life? What relationships can you start to cultivate? What can you do that one day you will look back at and go, wow, I'm so glad I invested in that friendship, I'm so glad I spent time with that, because now it pays off. One day we will be living in, we will look back on, rather, and we will say, wow, those were the days. So enjoy the time you have right now, because one day you'll miss it. I promise it'll happen.
Speaker 1:Let's pray together, god. Thank you so much, lord, that you fill us and you surround us with better things than we sometimes realize. Sometimes, lord, it's important for us to stop and look at our lives and realize that, yes, things aren't perfect. Yes, we wish some things were different, but we are so very blessed. I pray that you will bring things to our attention today to realize just how blessed we are and we will take moments to put those memories in our minds and just store those things to realize we are truly living in what will one day be the good old days. I love you and I'm thankful for you today.
Speaker 1:Jesus, in Jesus' name we pray amen. And what God's word says in Job, chapter one, verse 21,. It says I came naked from my mother's womb and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had and the Lord has taken it away. But praise when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had and the Lord has taken it away. But praise the name of the Lord. That means whatever I have, it all came from him. So I trust him with it all. I love you. I'll see you tomorrow. For Job, chapter 30.
