Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Oh How I Love Jesus – How Do I?

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. …... He also shall be my salvation, …….” – Job 13:15-16

I was thinking about how dedicated I am to my faith – to my Lord or not. What happened was, for whatever reason, I remembered Job and what he said as he faced his trials.  Basically, it didn’t really matter what misfortune came Job’s way – he would not forsake the Lord, his God. Job had a vision beyond life on this planet. He had a lot to be sad about – really to be mad about. He had not done anything wrong – it all started when God said, “Consider my servant Job.” And Satan was quick to point out that it is easy to be faithful when you are not facing adversity – but people are quick to abandon God when things go south.

I just watched a very sad documentary about a Vietnam veteran who ended up homeless. He, like so many other veterans from so many other wars bore scars that were not visible to a passer-by. Oh it would have been so much easier if his wounds were more obvious, if he had lost an leg or arm – but it was his soul that was wounded – even maimed. I can remember returning from Vietnam and being shamed by people for my service. Then when I returned from Desert Storm, I was hailed the conquering hero.  Americans love a winner and hate a loser. But Job had been a winner and then bad things started to happen – things that he had no control over and were not of his doing. He had every reason to be upset – to question God – and yet his faith held.  The strength and purity of Job’s faith was something that God knew and Satan did not. God knew his heart. Jobs deep love for God was independent upon his present circumstances.

Come to think of it, the same was true of Paul -

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:31-39

Is it OK with you if you must face “tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword”? Or does that seem extreme and perhaps inconsistent with your view of what the Christian life is supposed to be like? Do you think that you would have a tough time holding on to your faith if you faced those kinds of problems perhaps because of your faith? Would your love and devotion for God hold – like Job’s did or would Satan be proven right? Questions I must ask myself. Is your faith dependent upon the crowds cheering for you on your return from the battle. What if you were instead cursed and rejected and accused of killing babies and being a drug addict – would you continue to stand for the Lord? Maybe that you are a hater and misguided embracing a lie and not the truth. I am certain that we would all like to think we would or could. Only you know the truth about you – well that is not completely accurate– God knows too. And still He loves you for the child of God that you are.

Peter didn’t do so well before Jesus was crucified – but he was a different man afterward – the difference was the anointing of the Holy Spirit – just like us. God told Joshua as Joshua faced the impossible …..

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:8-9

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

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