A Trial Of Faith

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Thursday, May 26, 2016
Chapters: Job 1-3
Message: A Trial Of Faith

Hello My Friend,

Sandwiched in the middle of the Old Testament books are known as the books of Poetry. Theses books are of human experiences of the people of God under various circumstances of their earthly lives. The Book of Job contains forty-two chapters, it the oldest book written of the Bible books, the timeline is around 1520 BC, around the time of Abraham. The author of the book is unknown, but probable that it was Job or Moses. Unlike most of the Old Testament books that were specifically addressed to the Jews, Job is addressed to all. The purpose of the book is to explain the question many people have, "Why do the godly suffer?". What we are to learn from the book is that there is a spiritual reason behind all the unexplained suffering. “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” - Job 23:10.

There are times in our lives when things just do not make any sense, we try to live right by God, put Him first, be there for others, and yet there seems to be no end to the suffering. Let me tell you, suffering is not something God initiates, but it is something He allows. Why? To keep us from evil. To prove us. The Book of Job answers all the questions we have as to who is actually behind our suffering, and why God even allows it to begin with. As much as we think that the devil has great power over us, the truth is, he has no power over God. Satan can only do what God allows him to do. One day, God had a conversation with Satan about Job.

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.” - Job 1:6-12.

“Doth Job fear God for nought?” Does Job fear God for nothing? Does Job fear God because he has everything? Job had everything, wealth, family, friends, the devil just knew that if he lost it all he would walk away from God. However, he was wrong because after God allowed him to take it all away, even his family, Job still feared God. Why God even keeps him around is a mystery, but until Jesus returns we have to deal with him. It is truly unbelievable to think that God has conversations with the devil over us, but it is true. The biggest trick of the devil is to get us believing that we fear (love and respect) God because we have everything we want. The true test comes when the devil starts taking things away to see if we stay true to God. “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” - 1 Peter 1:6,7.

If there is one thing I have learned the past few years is that it is easy for the devil to tempt us when we seem to have lost everything we have. When the devil cannot get us to forsake God by taking things away from us he starts afflicting our body. Now, when the devil discovered that Job would not forsake God by taking all his blessings away from him, he decided that it was his health that was keeping him faithful to God. Again, God has a conversation with the devil over Job, and He agrees to let the him afflict Job’s health.

“And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.” - Job 2:3-9.

“all that a man hath will he give for his life.” What are you willing to give up to save your life? The devil just knew that if he made Job sick that he would forsake God, but he was wrong once again, he even upbraided his wife for telling him to curse God. Integrity, the entire, unimpaired state of any thing, particularly of the mind; moral soundness or purity. Holding on to ones integrity is not about being perfect, it is about trusting God and fearing Him no matter what the devil does to us. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” - I Peter 4:12,13.

Now, just because we will not give up on God that does not mean we do not have thoughts to give up on ourselves. If the devil can get us to give up on life itself than he had done his job because giving up on ourselves is like giving up on God. Here is Job, covered in boils, scraping them with pieces of a clay pot just to get some relief from the pain. After a week he just starts wondering why he was even born. “Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures; Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave? Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in? For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.” - Job 3:20-26.

“For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me,” You see what the devil did here? He found out his fears and used them to afflict him. Job did what we all do when we are being afflicted and cannot figure out why, he started feeling bad about himself. At this point Job just wanted God to take him out of his misery, but He knew deep down that Job was not ready to give up the fight just yet. Barely a day goes by that I do not thank God for getting me out of bed, with as many health issues as I have deal with, I am blessed to be able to do that. As much as I want to give up the fight sometimes, it is not God that I want to give up on, it is me. However, by the grace of God and strength of Christ in me I will not give up because it is the devil who is trying to get me to lose my integrity. Never let the devil defeat you, Christ is your strength. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” - I John 4:4.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed through Job as he would not give up his integrity no matter what the devil afflicted with him. Jesus was greatly afflicted while being tried and hung on the cross, and while He could have come down from that cross, He kept His integrity and stayed there so that we could live. “And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.” - Matthew 27:30,31.

Today's Prayer: God, I admit that the first thing I think of when I am being afflicted is, “What have I done and how can I fix it?” It is those thoughts that hinder me from seeing the blessings you are giving me through my affliction. You already know what I am going through, I just need to trust You and let You take care of it as I do what I can in my ability. Lord, help me to walk continuously in my integrity and keep looking to You for help through my affliction instead of trying to fix the problem myself without Your guidance. I love You and pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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