By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
WEDNESDAY
THEME: “THE DEPTH OF JOB’S LOVE FOR GOD“
SCRIPTURE: James 5:11
“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.”
REFLECTIONS:
Job 1:1 states, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” Note the description of this godly man: i) blameless and upright, ii) feared God, and iii) shunned evil. Assess yourself to see if you can be described as blameless and upright. Do you, by all standards, fear God? What do you have to show that you shun evil in this corrupt and compromised world? Perseverance gives birth to victory.
Judgment day will be a great delight for those who are blameless and upright in the sight of the Lord, revere God, keep His word and commandments, and hate evil. On that day, God will deliver the verdict. It will run like as He did for Job: “Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job [PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME], that there is none like him [her] on the earth, a blameless and upright man (woman), one who fears God and shuns evil?” – Job 1:8. Even God confirms what all others knew and said about Job. God never felt ashamed or hesitated to express His delight and pride in Job and his love and commitment to Him. Those who are honest, sincere, love, and fear God have imitated Him to the point where God can defend them before the accuser of the brethren, Satan. Please, meditate on James 5:11.
Job demonstrates that anyone who praises God in their dark moments and appreciates divine intervention even in misfortune remains God’s ally and friend. They vindicate God and make Satan’s hatred of Christ baseless. Our verdict on Job’s relationship with God is that he knew, understood, feared, revered, and sincerely loved God. He had the patience to wait on God – an ever-present Friend he could not do without nor disrespect. It takes love and trust to keep an unwavering relationship with God. He kept the admonition in Deuteronomy 6:5 – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
God’s testament about Job implies that in His wisdom, God allows a righteous person to suffer for a good cause. Thus, do not give up on God in your dilemma, for He has allowed your situation for a good purpose. Moreover, He wants to partner and support you through that specific experience to become better, distinguished, refined, and polished. In this regard, Solomon counseled in Proverbs 3:11-12,”[11]My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; [12]For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.” Your predicament, cries, fears, and challenges are known to God, but they must cause you to come before the majestic throne of God, which is full of mercy. Beloved, let your struggles help you love and depend on God.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 512 – “Just When I Need Him Most” – Rendered by Mark Mcelreath
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for His undiminishing compassion and love; thank God for His grace in your life; pray to love and depend on Him even when life is most difficult;
– Pray for your family (nucleus and extended), neighbors, and friends that they will love Jesus even in their point of despair;
– Pray for people who suffer for doing right, the innocent who suffer, the oppressed and suppressed;
– Pray for Christians to love God, trust, and remain patient even in times of adversity; pray for single parents, victims of war and disaster, and a peaceful and loving country.
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