We’ve got your daily encouragement, written by Hannah Winslow.
Bible Reading:
“The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.”
Job 37:23
Word:
Because it focuses heavily on suffering, most people avoid deep dives into the book of Job during their one-on-one reading time with the Lord. ☺ Job is an awesome account of a man caught in the crossfire of Satan’s attempt to challenge God. Satan in his hatred and rebellion against God cannot believe that any human actually loved the Lord for who he is, and not just for the blessings he gives us. He challenges God to see whether he can turn one of his most faithful and loving children against him. The story begins:
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Satan then begins to attack Job with a serious of awful trials that put his love and commitment to the Lord to the test. We question why good people who love God seem to be oppressed by him. Why does God allow hardship and suffering when we feel that we’ve done our part and that he owes us a decent life? We see the perspectives of Job, his wife, his friends, and finally, God himself in answering this question. What is the conclusion that Job comes to?
Then Job replied to the Lord:“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;I will question you,and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
God is all powerful, all knowing, and loving toward his creation. His purpose for us even in hardship is for our good and for his glory.
Prayer:
Father, Thank you that in your holiness and power you have loved us so much that you’ve extended grace instead of condemnation! We love you because you have truly loved us first. We thank you with our lives- please show us how to please you through your word and through the work of your holy spirit. It’s in your name that we pray, amen.
Skillwork:
Praise the Lord for who he is! Dig into his word and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal more of God to you. The more we know him, the more we love him! The more we love him, the easier it becomes to lay down our sins, take up our cross, and follow him! Praise the Lord for the loving process of changing us from the inside out ☺
To receive the Faith Workout of the Day every morning, please sign up here.
