WHERE ARE YOUR AFFLICTIONS TURNING YOU?

Oh the lessons that can be learned from the Bible. Every book and every chapter is full of knowledge and wisdom to be gained, if we will simply read it, study on it and give thought as well as obey what God reveals to us through its pages. In the book of Job we learn that man can trust God even when explanations are missing. Like Job, we can learn that God's silence does not mean His absence. His control over nature and creation assures us, of His all sufficient ability to care for us. 2 Cor. 12:9 reminds us that His grace is sufficient for us in any area of our life. That means we need not worry about anything, but simply and quietly accept God's designs, knowing that all things work together for those that love the Lord. While we can go to God and ask Him why, so that we may better understand His ways for our benefits, we should never question His wisdom or reasons as to why He does what He does or allows things through His own Sovereignty. For God does not report to man and man must learn to remain content in the things that he cannot understand; and because we are but mere men and women, we are finite and that keeps us from having eternity's perspective in all its fullness, which only God possesses.

God has reasons for everything He does or allows and they are all, to better His children because of them and through them. The scripture tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, that God knows the plans that He has for us, and they are to prosper us, not to harm us. Whereas, satan intended to use Job's afflictions to move Job away from God, God's intentions were that those afflictions open the way for Job to experience God in a deeper way comprehending His person and character in a more surreal way than before his afflictions. The story began with satan's charge that Job was serving God for the profit motive and that his affections was payment for blessings only. If God removed or withheld His blessing form Job satan accused, then Job would curse God and therefor both God and man would be belittled and mocked. The reputations of both God and man were at stake. God bribes no man to worship Him, like the angles in heaven they freely want and desire true worship of their own free wills. God does not dangle rewards in front of us to entice us to serve Him, but blesses the humble and shows mercy and grace to all out of His great love.

Like Job, we have the honor every time we are slandered by satan to be used by God to refute satan's accusations that we too serve God for only the good that He allots us and that we will curse Him when He withholds a blessing or two. As Job questioned his wife, we too must ask ourselves the same thing: will we receive good from God but not bad? Jesus told Peter that the devil had ask permission to sift him and that is what he ask of us as well. God allows the sifting to show us our true commitment lever for Him. Jesus told Peter, "but I have prayed for you", and he does the same for us as well. His Spirit intercedes on our behalf to help us stand. After Job had been sifted by satan, he was found to have had what it took to honor God with his life, even when he had nothing but his life left to give God. Job chose to keep on honoring and serving no matter what he lost.

Let us search our own hearts to see what is in us. Don't wait to be sifted by the devil. Start today searching and cleaning house! 2 Chronicles 16:9 reminds us that God is searching for those whose hearts are really turned toward Him, so remember, never let your afflictions turn you away from God, but always turn you to God!

Hold Fast,

-Bren