S) "2 Oh that I were as in months gone by,
As in the days when God watched over me;
3 When His lamp shone over my head,
And by His light I walked through darkness;
4 As I was in the prime of my days,
When the friendship of God was over my tent;"
Job 29:2-4 (NASB)
O) This chapter is a lament for times past. Job began the discourse with the above verses, and he went into quite a bit of detail throughout the rest of the chapter, describing a lot of how his life looked, before God allowed him to be tested as he was when he was speaking all of this. The notable thing is that, while reading through the chapter of hindsight, he never really mentioned a sort of self-awareness of the blessings he had, while he had them. That is, you get the impression reading the whole chapter, that he didn't know what he had till it was gone.
A) The opening verses here are haunting, when I go on to compare how Job was blessed, and I currently am blessed. Don't get me wrong, I do not have any of the prestige or influence, or affluence, that Job had. But still, in my life today, I am surrounded by a wife who loves me dearly, children who are healthy and like me. My family seeks God, together and individually (so far as the younger children are learning how). I have a good job with a livable wage. I am active in my church, and I'm blessed to be a part of many lives. With all of this, I can trace it back to see that God watches over me. His lamp shines over my head, and by His light I walk through darkness. I am in the prime of my days, right now, and the friendship of God is over my house... do I dare take any of this for granted? Obviously, under the grace of the gospel, there are elements that will not be taken away. The friendship of God that I have, the righteousness given to me through faith in Jesus Christ, this will not change. However, Job was tested because of his righteousness. He was not even tested despite of it, but because of it. Who am I, to ever presume to know what tests lie in wait for me? In an instant, God could take away my wife, my children, my career, my ministry; all of it could be gone tomorrow. Would that leave me as Job was in the verses above? Would I look back on today longingly, remembering when I felt the blessings of God upon my life so obviously? The only way I can avoid that same fate, is to strive to relate to Job's sufferings now, in the midst of my happiness. I must strive to more fully appreciate what I have, here and now.
P) Father, Your grace is humbling. Reading the story of Job, and realizing how quickly his test came upon him, makes me deal with the possibility that I could be tested in a similar way, any minute. I know that in Christ, I am promised reconciliation with You. The fact that the Holy Spirit is within me, brings comfort and peace such as Job was hard pressed to recover. Also, he was tested in literally biblical proportions. I would not think so highly of myself to ever imagine You might test me in the same way, to be such an example to countless people who may follow my life. Still, I know that tests and discipline will still be coming in my life, on some levels. I could selfishly ask that You not take certain things from me. But really, who am I to make such a request? I confess that everything I have is Yours to control. My marriage, my family, my job, my relationships, my ministry, my hobbies... all of it is Yours to do with them as You see fit. I only pray that I am faithful in the face of such testing. Find me faithful, Lord God. Help me to glorify You in every part of my life. And help me to more fully appreciate all of the manifested blessings You give me, while also realizing how briefly I may have them. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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