One of the biggest challenges we face in following Jesus is shifting our focus off self and to God. We are naturally the central figure in every situation because we view life from our own eyes. If we are having a "good" day we are happy; if our expectations have been dashed we feel down. This propensity to colour reality according to our own feelings or circumstances is done without a thought. As we follow Christ we don't often recognise it, but life is pretty much all about me. Let me explain what I mean.
If I find myself in a trial, I might imagine God "must be trying to teach me something." Therefore it falls to me to learn the lesson quickly so the painful ordeal can be brought to an end, and this assumes I am capable of teaching myself by concerted effort. This personal struggle often results in frustration and disillusionment because we think ourselves capable of doing God's work ourselves and we find ourselves in the dark. Our minds become so clogged with judgments and doubts we don't know what to do. When we are sick we wonder if we have sinned in some way or are under spiritual attack. Again, we remain the central figure in our drama. We perceive we are being negatively affected, so it falls to us to figure it all out, do something, or stop doing something to end the madness. Does this sound familiar?
Last night I was reading from the book of Job and I was struck at the depths of his suffering. Who but Jesus Christ suffered as this man, and he did not even have the comfort of the scriptures or the promise of the Holy Spirit we have today! He was an upright man who feared God, and in the midst of great loss, spiritual attack, physical pain, and emotional torment he did not waver in his belief. But he asked probing questions about the nature of his suffering and demanded an explanation from anyone to justify it. He defended himself from friends who accused him, falsely asserting his sin was the reason for his tragic circumstances. In his suffering, Job was central: he lamented the day of his birth, wished he had died in the womb, and that he had never lived to see such dark days. He was the main subject in his suffering as he scraped his boils with a shard of pottery.
In the end, however, Job's suffering had very little to do about Job: it was an opportunity for God to reveal Himself to Job, to His friends, and to us. Instead of answering Job's questions with dot-point explanations, God asked Job many questions of His own. This divine revelation made all of Job's pains, questions, and personal wranglings insignificant. God ensured the end of Job was twice as blessed as the beginning - not because Job "learned the lesson" - but because God is compassionate and merciful. See what insight is brought to the subject in James 5:10-11: "My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful." Job persevered in faith, but it was never about Job at all. The end of Job was intended to reveal the compassion and mercy of God given to all who keep trusting God despite pain. Job is a major player in the book of Job, but it is a book which primarily illustrates the compassion and mercy of God.
What a wondrous revelation, that it does not fall to us to earn God's approval or blessing. We learn slow but God is patient and compassionate. God is to remain our central focus as we patiently trust in Him. Some might ask, "Why would a compassionate or merciful God allow anyone to suffer so?" God allows suffering to work for our good and the salvation of others. Consider the suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross and the salvation which has come to countless sinners. The life of Job provides tangible proof of God's sovereign power, gracious blessing, compassion, and glorious rewards for all who endure not only in this life, but in the one to come. I have been profoundly blessed by Job and how God dealt with him, and may it be God would be so glorified through His dealings with me. In Christ our lives are God's own, having purchased us with the blood of Jesus. Life isn't about you or me but all about Him!
If I find myself in a trial, I might imagine God "must be trying to teach me something." Therefore it falls to me to learn the lesson quickly so the painful ordeal can be brought to an end, and this assumes I am capable of teaching myself by concerted effort. This personal struggle often results in frustration and disillusionment because we think ourselves capable of doing God's work ourselves and we find ourselves in the dark. Our minds become so clogged with judgments and doubts we don't know what to do. When we are sick we wonder if we have sinned in some way or are under spiritual attack. Again, we remain the central figure in our drama. We perceive we are being negatively affected, so it falls to us to figure it all out, do something, or stop doing something to end the madness. Does this sound familiar?
Last night I was reading from the book of Job and I was struck at the depths of his suffering. Who but Jesus Christ suffered as this man, and he did not even have the comfort of the scriptures or the promise of the Holy Spirit we have today! He was an upright man who feared God, and in the midst of great loss, spiritual attack, physical pain, and emotional torment he did not waver in his belief. But he asked probing questions about the nature of his suffering and demanded an explanation from anyone to justify it. He defended himself from friends who accused him, falsely asserting his sin was the reason for his tragic circumstances. In his suffering, Job was central: he lamented the day of his birth, wished he had died in the womb, and that he had never lived to see such dark days. He was the main subject in his suffering as he scraped his boils with a shard of pottery.
In the end, however, Job's suffering had very little to do about Job: it was an opportunity for God to reveal Himself to Job, to His friends, and to us. Instead of answering Job's questions with dot-point explanations, God asked Job many questions of His own. This divine revelation made all of Job's pains, questions, and personal wranglings insignificant. God ensured the end of Job was twice as blessed as the beginning - not because Job "learned the lesson" - but because God is compassionate and merciful. See what insight is brought to the subject in James 5:10-11: "My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful." Job persevered in faith, but it was never about Job at all. The end of Job was intended to reveal the compassion and mercy of God given to all who keep trusting God despite pain. Job is a major player in the book of Job, but it is a book which primarily illustrates the compassion and mercy of God.
What a wondrous revelation, that it does not fall to us to earn God's approval or blessing. We learn slow but God is patient and compassionate. God is to remain our central focus as we patiently trust in Him. Some might ask, "Why would a compassionate or merciful God allow anyone to suffer so?" God allows suffering to work for our good and the salvation of others. Consider the suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross and the salvation which has come to countless sinners. The life of Job provides tangible proof of God's sovereign power, gracious blessing, compassion, and glorious rewards for all who endure not only in this life, but in the one to come. I have been profoundly blessed by Job and how God dealt with him, and may it be God would be so glorified through His dealings with me. In Christ our lives are God's own, having purchased us with the blood of Jesus. Life isn't about you or me but all about Him!
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