James 5:11 “As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”
Lord, Job should be an example for us all. I honestly doubt that I have ever been tempted by Satan himself. He is not omnipresent as You are. Job did not suffer because he was an errant one of Your children, but because he was righteous. He went through tremendous grief, physical pain, and even harassment from his friends and wife, but never blamed or turned against You. How long did he suffer, Lord? Was it a month, a year, 2 years? In our “instant” culture, we tend to expect that suffering of any kind should last hours at most. My dear twin sister suffered with cancer and its side effects for 20 years and she, like Job, never once blamed You. In fact, when she was asked “Why You?’ she would always reply, “Why not me? If God did not withhold suffering from His perfect Son, why should I, His imperfect servant, expect not to suffer here as well? I will never suffer again in all of eternity!” What a precious testimony!
Lord, perseverance, like contentment, must be learned. It is not within our nature to have the desire for either. Your Spirit is the One who helps us to learn through times of trial and suffering. Thank You for not leaving us alone down here. Help us to see Him at work each and every day of our lives, and may I not quench His work in mine. We may not see the tremendous restoration of health and wealth You restored to Job while we are here, but in Heaven…for eternity…Oh what awaits us! Our lives here are but a breath! Even so, Lord Jesus quickly come!
No comments:
Post a Comment