Matters of the Heart: What do you do when everything seems to go wrong? Job 1:1-22
Growing in Godliness: The fruit of Godliness will develop in our lives as we grow in our personal knowledge and understanding of God. Godly living turns from evil and seeks to understand God’s perspective in every circumstance of life. Seek to walk before the Lord blamelessly, fearing God and rejecting evil. Recognize that simply hearing about God is not enough. Intimacy and a personal encounter enable us to perceive and know Him for ourselves.
Pursue diligently an understanding of God’s perspective when trying to apply truth to a given situation. Though Job’s friends spoke truth, they wrongly applied it and falsely accused Job. They did not speak right about God nor did they understand His perspective; as a result, they provoked God’s wrath.
Cultivating dynamic devotion is cultivated within the rich soil of knowing, understanding, and trusting in the character and nature of God. The book of Job does not answer the “why” question, but it does answer the “who” question. We may not understand why we go through trials and suffering, but by trusting in who God is in His love, righteousness and power, we can say with Job, “though he slay me, yet will I trust Him”.
Remember that God knows you. He knows what you can handle and will not allow you to be tested beyond what you can endure (1 Cor. 10:13). Rejoice that Jesus Christ is our mediator and advocate with the Father (1 Tim. 2:5, 1 John 2:1). Put your trust in who God is based on who His Word has revealed Him to be. Place your hope and trust in God the Creator and sustainer of all things; the loving, righteous, all-powerful and just one.
Pursuing Holiness: As we begin to see and understand the holiness and purity of God, we begin to understand our own need for holiness and purity. Commit yourself to keeping your eyes pure. Be careful to look upon things that honor the Lord and are consistent with holiness. Humble yourself before the Lord, just as Job did. He encountered God’s majesty and holiness and it left him deeply aware of his sin, and inability to justify himself (Is. 6:1-7, Rom. 5:18-21).
The Walk of Faith: Faith is the confidence of things not seen. Job’s circumstances made it appear that either Job had sinned or God was unjust. Neither conclusion was accurate nor faith brought Job through his trials, enduring patiently to the end. He learned God’s sustaining grace and experienced God’s merciful restoration (Heb. 11:1, James 5:10,11). Believe God is for you, even in the midst of intense trials. Recognize there may be a satanic source involved in suffering and affliction; but also remember He who is in you is greater that he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)! Do not be like Job’s friend. Do not assume that someone’s illness of trial is a result of sin or judgment. Encourage the downcast. Strengthen the weak; comfort the afflicted. Hold fast to Jesus, your redeemer. Be comforted knowing He is able to redeem any circumstance (Rom. 8:28).
