Bible League: Living His Word Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job...?"— Job 1:8 NKJV Recently I came to the end of the Book of Job in my personal Bible reading and I was troubled with the same thoughts from previous readings of the book over my 30-year walk with the Lord. Why Lord? Why allow such pain and suffering to one of yours? I have read and studied Job's book many times. I have heard sermons, read commentaries, used illustrations from the book in my own sermons and teachings. I get the good from it, the benefits to the believer. James 5:11 tells us Job was a model of perseverance and patience. Job also shows us that the righteous will suffer and that there is a longing in all of us for a true mediator with God. Good stuff. The agonizing question, however, remained. Why this way with Job, Lord? Coming to the end of the book, praying and asking for divine inspiration to this question, I read in chapter 42 where Job is answering the Lord after so much suffering and before his restoration. He says, "In the past I heard about you (Lord), but now I have seen you with my own eyes, and I am ashamed of myself. I am so sorry. As I sit in dust and ashes I promise to change my heart, and my life" (Job 42:5-6). Wow! It is a true, heartfelt confession from Job. After, meditating on this confession, I was awakened at 1:19 in the morning as clarity filled my heart about Job and the question "Why Lord?" I had to get up an write it down. I was directed back to chapter 1:8 where the Lord says to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job?" Satan was looking for a soul to destroy, and the verse seems to imply God was offering up Job as a sacrifice with whom Satan could have his way. And yet, what the Holy Spirit showed me in God offering Job's life to Satan is that God was already dealing with Job in their relationship together. Job's confession and repentance confirms his shortcomings that were going on. Job apparently had great knowledge of God, blessed in the peace of God, "I have heard of you" (Job 42:5). But it is clear from Job he was lacking in a relationship of true depth and love with God. He did not have the fullness of peace. The peace with God which is the ability to experience the peace of God in all things, all circumstances, having a clear conscience (Hebrews 10:20-21). God had to strip Job of his blessings before Job would surrender to a right relationship in peace with the Lord. His confession speaks to Job truly knowing God now and being at total peace with God. Where the relationship was tainted by darkness and the things of the flesh, it is now shining in a light of brightness he did not know before. Praise be to God. What about you beloved of Christ? What about your relationship with God? We are all Job's—imperfect creatures but works in progress. In our relationship with God, He desires all of us to be in a place where we can experience all of life at peace with God. To get to such a place may just depend on how one is willing to change. This is what God wants for you friend. I am not saying you have to lose everything like Job, but if that's what it takes, that's what it takes. How many flights of stairs must we fall down before looking up to be in complete peace with God? Job got there. What about you friend? By Pastor David Massie, Bible League International staff, California U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Samuel 22, 23, 24 1 Samuel 22 -- Saul Slays the Priests of Nob NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Samuel 23 -- David Saves Keilah, Flees from Saul NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Samuel 24 -- David Spares Saul's Life NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 16:1-18 Luke 16 -- The Parables of the Shrewd Manager, and the Rich Man and Lazarus NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson;if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser. Insight There is a great difference between the person who learns from criticism and the person who refuses to accept correction. How we respond to criticism determines whether or not we grow in wisdom. Challenge The next time someone criticizes you, listen carefully to all that is said. You might learn something. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Hebrews 12:24 Ye are come to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.Reader, have you come to the blood of sprinkling? The question is not whether you have come to a knowledge of doctrine, or an observance of ceremonies, or to a certain form of experience, but have you come to the blood of Jesus? The blood of Jesus is the life of all vital godliness. If you have truly come to Jesus, we know how you came--the Holy Spirit sweetly brought you there. You came to the blood of sprinkling with no merits of your own. Guilty, lost, and helpless, you came to take that blood, and that blood alone, as your everlasting hope. You came to the cross of Christ, with a trembling and an aching heart; and oh! what a precious sound it was to you to hear the voice of the blood of Jesus! The dropping of his blood is as the music of heaven to the penitent sons of earth. We are full of sin, but the Saviour bids us lift our eyes to him, and as we gaze upon his streaming wounds, each drop of blood, as it falls, cries, "It is finished; I have made an end of sin; I have brought in everlasting righteousness." Oh! sweet language of the precious blood of Jesus! If you have come to that blood once, you will come to it constantly. Your life will be "Looking unto Jesus." Your whole conduct will be epitomized in this--"To whom coming." Not to whom I have come, but to whom I am always coming. If thou hast ever come to the blood of sprinkling, thou wilt feel thy need of coming to it every day. He who does not desire to wash in it every day, has never washed in it at all. The believer ever feels it to be his joy and privilege that there is still a fountain opened. Past experiences are doubtful food for Christians; a present coming to Christ alone can give us joy and comfort. This morning let us sprinkle our door-post fresh with blood, and then feast upon the Lamb, assured that the destroying angel must pass us by. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 50:23 "He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God."Colossians 3:16,17 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. • Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. 1 Corinthians 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. Psalm 34:2,3 My soul will make its boast in the LORD; The humble will hear it and rejoice. • O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
    |