Monday, January 25, 2016

Mon.’s Devo -God’s Refining Fire

Read: Job 22-25
Eliphaz accuses Job of thinking he is so pious and sinless when he is really full of sin. He gives Job a list of things he probably did, like oppressing a lender, refusing to help the poor, or sending away a needy widow. Eliphaz says that Job thinks God is so high in the heavens he doesn’t see or care about what happens down here on earth. His advise to Job is to submit to God and then God will turn things around for him. He tells him to give up his lust for money and pray for mercy.
Job responds that he would love to talk to God and present his case. He would love to hear God’s response because he would listen to him. But he knows that God has mapped out his path and he trusts in God’s wisdom for his life even if he doesn’t understand it. He does wonder why God doesn’t punish the wicked instead of him. He comes to the conclusion that God sees everything and will judge according to His plan and purpose.
We, like Job have lots of questions of why things happen the way they do. Why did Christians lose when the stock market fell in 08? Why do our cars break down or disaster strike? God has one plan and that is to conform us into the image of his Son so that we can be a helpmeet suitable for him. Everything we go through is to test us and refine us like gold. Gold has to go through the fire and so do we.
Lord, help us to trust you when we walk through the fire and not to waver or give up. The end will be glorious!

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