Being Upright With Jesus

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Friday, May 27, 2016
Chapters: Job 4-6
Message: Being Upright With Jesus

Hello My Friend,

Upright, Honest; just; not deviating from correct moral principles. Correct Moral Principles, what are they and who decides what they are? In general, being moral means respecting the conduct of man and their relations as social beings whose actions have a bearing on each others rights and happiness. In other words to learn the difference between right and wrong, and act accordingly. We do not have to know God to know that something is right or wrong, but we do have to know God to keep ourselves upright. “Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.” - Psalms 25:8-10.

There is no better guide to teach us how to be upright than God’s Word, while our conscious is pretty good at telling us we are doing something wrong, it can only go so far because our thoughts are not as God’s. Now, with that said, what do you do when you do not have God’s Word. God’s Word followed along with the ages, during Job’s time, His Word did not exist on paper, it was literally all done by faith and what they were taught through the generations. As Job sits there in pain, his friends are watching him, thinking about his life and like, Job also wondering why he was being afflicted. Now, they begin to speak on what they think is going on, first Eliphaz. A descendant of Esau, Jacob's brother, his reasoning as to why Job was suffering was that God was chastening his for some hidden sin.

“Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking? Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways? Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.” - Job 4:1-8.

“who ever perished, being innocent?” Eliphaz could not wait to be the first to reprimand Job, he sees this man who appeared so upright, hiding some terrible sin. Remember, they knew of God, but at this point He was someone who rewarded you for good and punished you for evil. In their eyes, Job had to have done something for God to strike him like this. While God indeed does reward us for good and punish us for evil, He is not quite the ruthless, strike you down for everything you do God that He is still portrayed as. Even when salvation was based on ones works, God was merciful, the same principles applied as they do today, you must walk by faith, believing in God and be atoned for your sins. Being upright is not about trying to remember every sin we committed, it is about admitting that we are sinners and need Jesus Christ. No one is innocent, we are all sinners and the punishment for sin is death and hell. By faith we believe that Christ saves us from that punishment. “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” - Romans 3:27,28.

Do you remember in the beginning of the book, we learn a little about Job, he gave sacrifices to God every day, for him and his children to redeem them if they had sinned, and this was well before the law was written. “for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.” Job knew he was not sinless, but he was perfect in the eyes of God because he followed Him wholly. By nature, if a person who knows God sees someone suffering the first thing they assume is there must be sin in their lives, which is what Eliphaz was doing. Eliphaz continues speaking, encouraging Job to accept his chastening with gladness.

“Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin. Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season. Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.” - Job 5:1-19,24-27.

“and know thou it for thy good.” Eliphaz is telling Job that he is suffering for his own good, and that if he just confesses his sin God is faithful to deliver him out of his suffering. How often do we wonder how good of a Christian someone is when they are being afflicted? How about ourselves, how often do we question whether or not we are doing something wrong of have some unconfessed sin we forgot. If we stop to think about it, we do it more than we realize. It is natural to think that if we are suffering we must have done something wrong. While we do not always suffer for sin, the truth is, we sin every day, most of the time we do not realize what we are doing. That anger that caused a lack of judgment. That frustration that caused hurtful words. That envy that caused bitterness. That disappointment that caused a lack of faith in God. These are all things we do unknowingly that we just need to go to God and say, I’m sorry for sinning against You. Being upright is not about being perfect, none of us are, but it is about confessing that we are a sinner and need the Perfect One, Jesus. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” - Romans 10:9,10.

Do not let your lack of knowing fool you into believing that you can do something that is sinful and get away with it. If you are saved, the Holy Spirit lives in you and He tells you right away if you said, did, or even thought of something wrong. We are, by nature, engrafted to having certain needs and desires of the flesh, but we are very capable of controlling ourselves. And by the way, if you are upright, people know you are, and they know what you are capable of. If someone says something questionable about you the people ought to shrug it off, knowing that it is not possible coming from you. Job responds to Eliphaz, quite saddened by his assumptions.

“But Job answered and said, To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid. Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance? Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty? Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove? Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind? Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend. Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie. Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it. Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?” - Job 6:1,14,21-30.

“cannot my taste discern perverse things?” We know what we are doing, whether it is right or wrong. We do not need God or anyone else to tell us something we are doing is wrong. The first thing many people do is use the excuse that they did not know any better. It is the world that deceives people into believing that something wrong is right. Why do you think the world reacts so inhumanely when a Christian tells them what they are doing is sin? They know what they are doing is wrong. Being upright is not only knowing right from wrong, but living right, despite what the world is doing. It is not the people we have to answer to, it is God. No one is perfect, no one, but we can be led by the Perfect One and let Him help us live right. Each day with Christ pulls us away from the world and toward our Father. We are not nor will be sinless until He returns or takes us home, but He will help us sin less if we remain upright in Him. He is the key to following the Correct Moral Principles that God has laid out for us. “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” - Romans 6:15-17.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed through Job, who reveals he would be conmforted by God through his death. Jesus had no problem giving His life for man because He had comfort knowing that His Father would take care of Him. “I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.” - John 16:28.

Today's Prayer: God, When I am being afflicted, give me the strength to endure it, trusting in Your promises. When I see others afflicted, let me not falsely accuse or judge them, but be a comfort to them through their distress. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your power to be the light that so many need when they are afflicted and do not know what is going on, let me be a guide and comfort to them, and let Your Son shine through me as I live in a way that is pleasing to You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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