Piney Mountain United Methodist Church

06/24/2026

A Scripture Thought
June 24, 2026
(A Brief Devotional)
Job 19:7-19

7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry for help, but there is no justice.
8 He has walled up my way so that I can't pass, and has set darkness in my paths.
9 He has stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.
10 He has broken me down on every side, and I am gone. My hope he has plucked up like a tree.
11 He has also kindled his wrath against me. He counts me among his adversaries.
12 His troops come on together, build a siege ramp against me, and encamp around my tent.
13 "He has put my brothers far from me. My acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.
14 My relatives have gone away. My familiar friends have forgotten me.
15 Those who dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger. I am an alien in their sight.
16 I call to my servant, and he gives me no answer; I beg him with my mouth.
17 My breath is offensive to my wife. I am loathsome to the children of my own mother.
18 Even young children despise me. If I arise, they speak against me.
19 All my familiar friends abhor me. They whom I loved have turned against me.
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Job has hit the stage of extreme pity. He is ill, deserted by everyone he knows, and, in his opinion, even by God. He can find no place to turn for help. He is in a complete state of sorrow. What do we do when we find ourselves in such a forlorn place that we are at a complete loss? As I thought about this, I realized that we have help that Job didn't. We are told that when we hit that point when we can't even pray, the Holy Spirit takes over, bringing our needs to God. May we ever give thanks for what God has done for us.
By Sharon Bagwell

06/24/2026

06/23/2026

A Scripture Thought
June 23, 2026
(A Brief Devotional)
Job 19:1-6

1 Then Job answered,
2 "How long will you torment me, And crush me with words?
3 You have reproached me ten times. You aren't ashamed that you attack me.
4 If it is true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.
5 If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach;
6 Know now that God has overthrown me, and has surrounded me with his net.
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Job is responding to his friends, and we can see his frustration with their "words of comfort". He is finally speaking up in response to their hurtful words. He has enough troubles without being accused of bringing it all on himself because of his guilt. I think we can learn from this to weigh our words carefully and that sometimes it is actually better to just be quiet, especially if our words are not truly spoken in kindness.
By Sharon Bagwell

06/22/2026

A Scripture Thought
June 22, 2026
(A Brief Devotional)
Job 11:13-12:5

13 "If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him.
14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, Don't let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.
15 Surely then shall you lift up your face without spot; yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:
16 For you shall forget your misery; you shall remember it as waters that are passed away,
17 Life shall be clearer than the noonday; though there is darkness, it shall be as the morning.
18 You shall be secure, because there is hope; yes, you shall search, and shall take your rest in safety.
19 Also you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; yes, many shall court your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, they shall have no way to flee; their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit."
1 Then Job answered,
2 "No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yes, who doesn't know such things as these?
4 I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.
5 In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune, It is ready for them whose foot slips.
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Here, another of Job's rather discouraging encouragers speaks. Zophar seems to want to let Job know there was all sorts of hope for him if he would repent, but poor Job hasn't done anything wrong. And we notice that by this time Job is beginning to sound a little angry at these friends. Advice can sometimes be mistakenly given and can make the situation worse. May we be careful even when we mean well to speak only with the voice of love.
By Sharon Bagwell
Credit for artwork:
Glory Story / FreeBibleimages.org.

06/21/2026

A Brief Sunday Thought
June 21, 2026
Job 4:1-9

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
2 "If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.
4 Your words have supported him who was falling, you have made firm the feeble knees.
5 But now it is come to you, and you faint; Iit touches you, and you are troubled.
6 Isn't your piety your confidence, the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 "Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
8 According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity, and sow trouble, reap the same.
9 By the breath of God they perish, by the blast of his anger are they consumed.
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Well, this is certainly less than comforting. Job's friend insists he just has to tell Job these things and then proceeds to remind him how many times he has comforted others, and seems to indicate that Job's reaction to his suffering is now a lack of faith and integrity. He even begins to hint that these kinds of things just happen to someone who is guilty or failing to live an upright life. It is easy, even now, to find “blaming reasons” for people who are down and out, but that rarely helps the situation. May we react to others as Jesus did.
By Sharon Bagwell
Credit for artwork:
Glory Story / FreeBibleimages.org.