Tues.’s Devo - Job’s Integrity

Read: Job 23:1-27:23; 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11; Psalm 41:1-13; Proverbs 22:5-6
Job responds to Eliphaz who argued that God only punishes those who do wrong and brings justice to the innocent. He cries out to God and tells his friends what he would say if he could only get an audience with God. He would present his case and see if God would deliver him from his affliction. Job complains that God know everything about him and where he is but Job can’t find God anywhere. Job is afraid that he has not seen the worse and wishes that God would have a set times of judgement.
Everywhere Job looks he sees people who are cheating others out of their inheritance, stealing from orphans and widows, oppressing the poor, murdering and committing adultery, and stealing others property. They do their wicked deeds with no apparent judgment from God.
Even though they think they are getting away with their wicked deeds, God sees everything. They will die and not be remembered, they have no assurance in their life. Their rule will one day come to an end.
Bildad speaks up and asks Job how a man can be righteous before God.
Job explained that the dead and the living are all visible to God’s eyes. He went on to expound on Gods rule over all the powers of nature on the earth. This is the power that Job stands before and declares that he will die defending his integrity. His conscience is clear. He says that he understands the fate of the wicked.
In Paul’s second letter he assures the people that he has no hidden agenda, just to love and support them. Paul is sad that he has not gotten to see them though he had planned to be able to stop on his journey. He wonders why God didn’t give him His “yes” to come but he concludes that everything in Christ is a “yes”, even if we think it is a “no”. When God closes one door, it is to open another so it is always good.
Paul recalls the painful last visit he had with them because he had to rebuke them for the things they were doing. It was very hard for him to do that but he is so glad they listened and did what he told them they needed to do.
In Paul’s first letter he had advised him to give a man over to Satan for destruction. This man came back to be restored and Paul encourages them to forgive him and restore him back to the body of Christ.
Lord, there is a time to love, rebuke, restore and pray. Help us to know what season we are in and work with you.