Daily Devotions · November 7
Reading for November 7
Read the whole Bible in a year, a few chapters a day.
Job 31–32 · Galatians 5–6
Job 31–32 · Galatians 5–6, Berean Standard Bible
Job 31
“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin? 2 For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high? 3 Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity? 4 Does He not see my ways and count my every step? 5 If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit, 6 let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity. 7 If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands, 8 then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted. 9 If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife, or I have lurked at his door, 10 then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her. 11 For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged. 12 For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest. 13 If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me, 14 what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account? 15 Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb? 16 If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail, 17 if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless— 18 though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow— 19 if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak, 20 if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep, 21 if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate, 22 then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket. 23 For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower. 24 If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security, 25 if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much, 26 if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, 27 so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth, 28 this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high. 29 If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him— 30 I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse— 31 if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’— 32 but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler— 33 if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart, 34 because I greatly feared the crowds and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside— 35 (Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment. 36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown. 37 I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)— 38 if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together, 39 if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants, 40 then let briers grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” Thus conclude the words of Job.
Job 32
So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 This kindled the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram. He burned with anger against Job for justifying himself rather than God, 3 and he burned with anger against Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute Job, and yet had condemned him. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he. 5 But when he saw that the three men had no further reply, his anger was kindled. 6 So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared: “I am young in years, while you are old; that is why I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know. 7 I thought that age should speak, and many years should teach wisdom. 8 But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding. 9 It is not only the old who are wise, or the elderly who understand justice. 10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; I too will declare what I know.’ 11 Indeed, I waited while you spoke; I listened to your reasoning; as you searched for words, 12 I paid you full attention. But no one proved Job wrong; not one of you rebutted his arguments. 13 So do not claim, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not man, refute him.’ 14 But Job has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments. 15 Job’s friends are dismayed, with no more to say; words have escaped them. 16 Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand and no longer reply? 17 I too will answer; yes, I will declare what I know. 18 For I am full of words, and my spirit within me compels me. 19 Behold, my belly is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like a new wineskin. 20 I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and respond. 21 I will be partial to no one, nor will I flatter any man. 22 For I do not know how to flatter, or my Maker would remove me in an instant.
Galatians 5
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery. 2 Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. What matters is faith expressing itself through love. 7 You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth? 8 Such persuasion does not come from the One who calls you. 9 A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough. 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be. 11 Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves! 13 For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; 20 idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.
Galatians 6
Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own work. Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else. 5 For each one should carry his own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. 8 The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith. 11 See what large letters I am using to write to you with my own hand! 12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God. 17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain.
How to SOAP
Grab a journal and a pen. Read the chapters above and watch for the verse that stops you. Then take it through four steps.
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Scripture
Write out the verse that stood out to you.
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Observation
What is it saying? Who is speaking, and to whom?
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Application
What does it mean for your life today? Be specific.
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Prayer
Talk to God about it. Ask Him to help you live it.
Why daily devotions?
Devotions are time set aside each day to read God's Word and let Him speak. The point isn't checking off chapters. It's meeting with Him.
Ten or fifteen minutes is enough to start. Pick a time and a place and keep the appointment. Mornings work well for a lot of us, before the phone and the day start talking.
Missed a day? Don't start over. Read today's chapters and keep going.