Let Christ Define You

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Chapters: Job 17-19
Message: Let Christ Define You

Hello My Friend,

Define, To determine or describe the end or limit. I got a text message from someone I did not know and after we chatted a bit the person started accusing me of things. Instead of arguing I just blocked the person from my phone, but the first thing I did was ask God why was I the one who had to be targeted. We can question why people accuse us, but the real question is whether or not we are going to let them define who we are by their lies. People are always going to talk trash, especially about those who are true to Christ, and while it hurts, they do not define us, Christ does, and in the end they will be the ones sticking their feet in their mouths. “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” - I Peter 2:20,21.

I understand the more people talk bad about you that all you want to do is hide, but God does not want us to hide, He wants us to come out and move forward. The more Job hears his friends talk trash about him the more he just wants to get away from everything. Job continues speaking in response to Eliphaz, at this point he longs to die, he feels as though it is his only option of relief.

“My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me. Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me? For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them. He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret. Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow. Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.” - Job 17:1-9.

“and aforetime I was as a tabret.” Byword, to represent. Aforetime, the face, Tabret, to spit on. Job feels as though God is using him as an example, right now as an object to be spit upon in the face. How often do we feel as though we are the ones being punished? With all the wicked things people are doing, God decides to choose us to be an example of ridicule? The truth is, it is not God doing this, it is the devil. Where is God in all this? He is up there waiting for us to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and not let the trash talk define us. Do you realize the trash talk He gets every day? He knows how we feel. If Jesus stopped doing what He came here to do based on the way they talked about Him we would still be sacrificing animals. Pick up the pieces and move on, do not let false accusers win, we do not have to argue with them because God will take care of them. “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.” - II Corinthians 1:5-7.

Consolation, Comfort; alleviation of misery, or distress of mind. Job just wanted some words of comfort, what he got was everything, but that. Bildad speaks again, convinced that Job is lying, and convinced he does not even know God. “Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place? Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world. He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted. Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.” - Job 18:1,4,5,18-21.

“and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.” I saw this comic strip, it had two pictures, one of a church congregation and one of prisoners. It pointed out that many who we think will be in heaven will not. Our salvation is not granted to us by the things we do, according to God, none of us know Him, and it is true, unless we know His Son. We are not defined by our works because none of us are good, we are defined by the one we believe in and receive as our Saviour. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” - Romans 3:10-12,24-26.

I get it, people are mean and cruel, especially with their mouths, but they are not who defines us, if Christ in is you, He defines you. Job, defends himself once again, reminding them all that he has a Redeemer, and he will be justified. “Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” - Job 19:22-27.

“yet in my flesh shall I see God:” Oh, if Job only knew that his story would be printed in a book, it was not printed in just any book, it was in God’s book. Job knew who his Redeemer was and that through Him he would be saved from judgment. We are not redeemed by any righteousness of our own, but through the righteousness of Christ. Salvation (eternal life) is the gift of God through His mercy and grace in our acceptance of the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son. It cannot be earned or bought because Christ paid that price for us. We need a Redeemer to be saved from the second death and hell, and the Redeemer is only Jesus Christ. “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:22,23.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed through the redeemer. He became our Redeemer by living a sinless life and giving His life to redeem all who believe in Him. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” - Galatians 3:13.

Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for sending Your Son to redeem me, I know I am not saved by anything I do of my own, but by my faith and trust in what He did for me. Because I am redeemed I know that You are always with me, but sometimes I feel like You are no where to be found. I catch myself trying to handle my troubles on my own instead of asking You for help and I know that is only the devil messing with my head. Lord, give me Your power to see past my troubles and look to You, as I do my part, by faith, I know You will do Your part and I will see the amazing blessings that You have waiting so show me as I endure the pain with You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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