Better Than I Deserve

Today’s Passage – Job 10 -12

Whenever I ask Evangelist Bob Hamblen how he is doing, he always replies, “better than I deserve”. He, of course is right because all of us are doing better than we deserve since we all deserve to be burning in Hell because of our sin. In today’s passage we are listening in on the conversation between Job and his three “friends”. Job is explaining his innocence and the friends are all pointing the finger of accusation against him. They, with one accord, believe that Job is somehow reaping what he had sowed.

In the middle of this conversation, however, was a statement made by Zophar which caught my attention. He said, “Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth”. Now I fully understand, in context, that Zophar was stating this to prove to Job that he was guilty, and that he really deserved more judgment than he had received. However, the statement itself is very true for all of us. We do receive less from God than our iniquity deserves. We are doing “better than we deserve”.

The next time that you start feeling that life is giving you an unfair break, remember that things could get a whole lot worse. And even if God allowed things to get as bad for you as it did for Job, you are still doing better than you deserve.

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Phil Erickson

Pastor Phil Erickson has been the pastor of Jersey Shore Baptist Church since January of 2002. Having grown up in Ocean County, Pastor Phil has always had a burden for the south Jersey area. After graduating from Bible College in Longview, Texas, he and his family moved to Galloway Township with the vision of digging in and serving the Lord and the people of Atlantic County. Pastor Phil and Cindy Erickson have been married since 1985. They have four children and ten grandchildren. Their oldest son, Phil Jr. and his wife Katelyn are serving the Lord in Egg Harbor Twp., NJ. Their oldest daughter, Melissa, is married to Wesley Clayton who is in the Air Force and is currently stationed in New Mexico. Samantha, their third child, is married to Justin Mears and they are both serving the Lord at the church in Galloway. Hannah, the youngest, is married to Lucas McCollum, and they are also serving here in Galloway. In preparation for ministry, the Lord led him through a variety of educational experiences that have equipped him to serve the Lord and His people. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgian Court University, a Bachelor of Biblical Studies in Pastoral Theology from Texas Independent Baptist Seminary (formerly Texas Baptist College), a Master of Religious Education in Bible from West Coast Baptist College, and a Master of Biblical Studies from The Crown College. More recently, he completed a Graduate Certificate in Biblical Counseling and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Veritas Baptist College. He is thankful for these opportunities to study God’s Word more deeply, and counts it a privilege to use whatever knowledge the Lord has given him for the building up of His church. In addition to pastoring, the Lord has given Phil the wonderful privilege of teaching as an adjunct professor at Vision Baptist College in Berlin, NJ and Veritas Baptist College.

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Alisemary says:

June 14, 2010 at 10:30 am

For as much then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise wth the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
This is the verse God gave me to help me understand the WHY? of suffering. My prayer is that God would be glorified through my suffering and that I would be able to have compassion and love for others who are hurting. That I would have a Christ like spirit even toward my enemies. For while we were yet sinners Christ died for us! This is the better than I deserve that I recieved from the Lord. This is what He requires of me to show to others!
Melissa Dilley says:

June 14, 2010 at 8:31 am

God is like that insurance company that offers "accident forgiveness". Christians don't have to be miserable, always waiting for the ax to fall. Praise the Lord for His mercy endureth forever!!!!