Maybe it's just because I am getting old, but I think that I am finally getting the book of Job.
I am reading Job thru for devotions. The first thing that I figured out is that the first key to Job is in the first chapter. Verse 8 says, '"the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” ' That is a huge hint to all the dialog that begins between Job and his friends that begins in chapter 3. The counsel that his friends give him is good, wise counsel. We can learn from it and profit from it in various circumstances. But as good as the counsel is, it does not apply to Job at the time because he is, as God himself says, 'blameless and upright'. Repentance is not the issue with Job.
But there is the second key to Job - and that is humility. Job's friends dole out all this great counsel, but they start their counseling with assumptions instead of asking questions. They miss the mark because of their assumptions.
The third key I see in Job is that bad things can happen at any time to anyone. These trials are of the worst kind, but they are not punishment, but tools in the hand of God to glorify Himself. How many times have I thought, 'why me, God', or 'I better not do that or I will receive the punishment of God. But these are not God's angry reaction to my sin. I am not ignoring the consequences of my sin, but I am reminded of the gospel - that all my punishment was meeted out at the cross. The full wrath of a just and righteous God was poured out, to the last drop, so that none was left for me.
Am I now prone to sin since all sin is paid for? No, I am enticed to learn more about this incredible Savior who would love me that much.
Grace, it's still amazing!
I am reading Job thru for devotions. The first thing that I figured out is that the first key to Job is in the first chapter. Verse 8 says, '"the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” ' That is a huge hint to all the dialog that begins between Job and his friends that begins in chapter 3. The counsel that his friends give him is good, wise counsel. We can learn from it and profit from it in various circumstances. But as good as the counsel is, it does not apply to Job at the time because he is, as God himself says, 'blameless and upright'. Repentance is not the issue with Job.
But there is the second key to Job - and that is humility. Job's friends dole out all this great counsel, but they start their counseling with assumptions instead of asking questions. They miss the mark because of their assumptions.The third key I see in Job is that bad things can happen at any time to anyone. These trials are of the worst kind, but they are not punishment, but tools in the hand of God to glorify Himself. How many times have I thought, 'why me, God', or 'I better not do that or I will receive the punishment of God. But these are not God's angry reaction to my sin. I am not ignoring the consequences of my sin, but I am reminded of the gospel - that all my punishment was meeted out at the cross. The full wrath of a just and righteous God was poured out, to the last drop, so that none was left for me.
Am I now prone to sin since all sin is paid for? No, I am enticed to learn more about this incredible Savior who would love me that much.
Grace, it's still amazing!
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