Read: Job 1:1-3:26; 1 Corinthians 14:1-17; Psalm 37:12-29; Proverbs 21:25-26
It always encourages me that God would say about a man that he was blameless and upright, feared him and shunned evil. There were so few good kings so it is refreshing to read this about this wealthy man named Job. Little did Job know, he was being used as an example in the spiritual realm against God and Satan. God put his trust in Job, that he would persevere and win. Satan thought he could use his tactics to destroy Job’s faith. It reminds me that our trials are not always about us. We see our lives in micro-sight, but God sees it in the scope of eternity. Our lives are being watched by heaven and we have a cloud of witnesses watching and cheering us to victory. It is a race of our faith.
I think it is insightful to see that Satan used the things that he knew Job feared. (Job 1:25) Satan watched and saw Job’s love for his family and his fear that they might curse God and die so he killed them. Satan observed how much wealth and comfort Job lived in and put his trust in so he took it. Satan watches us and sees what we value and what our fears are and he attacks us in these areas. It is all a test to see our reaction and if we will praise the Lord no matter what.
Paul showed us the way yesterday, which is love. Now he tells us that prophecy is the gift we should desire. There is wrong teaching that you only can have one or only a few gifts but God says we can desire a gift and get it. We are to ask for the gifts of God - he promised that if we ask for bread, he will not give us a stone. Prophecy is hearing what God says about a situation or a person and saying it. We all need to know what God is saying. We all need this gift so we can ask for it and God will give it to us.
Tongues are great, especially for the individual because when we pray in tongues we are praying the will of God. We are praying the heart of God. But when we prophesying, we are speaking the heart of God for others. Both are essential gifts but one is more personal and the other is for the body. That is why Paul told them to go after prophecy - so they could edify the body. But if the tongue you speak can be interpreted, then the body is edified also. Both are valuable gifts from God.
Lord, help us to trust that our trials are here to make us strong. Help us to praise you in the midst of them and defeat the enemy. We desire to hear your voice and speak it out so give your body the gifts of tongues and prophecy. Help us not to be afraid of your gifts and your moving in our lives.
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