Fri.’s Devo - Innocent Before God

Read: Job 4:1-7:21; 1 Corinthians 14:18-40; Psalm 37:30-40; Proverbs 21:27 Job’s “friend” Eliphaz spoke and began by praising Job for his past accolades. He had been the one to encourage the weak and fearful and now that he was in the same boat, and he was not taking his own advice. But, it went deeper than that. Eliphaz explained that in his experience it was the sinner who in the end was punished. *** Eliphaz shared his vision where he saw a figure who asked him if a mortal could be innocent before God. The figure didn’t give him the answer. He was to figure it out himself. He pondered the fact that God punished his angels who sinned and the fact that we will reap what we sow. *** He advised Job to take his case to the court of heaven and ask God to judge it. He tried to prepare him for God’s discipline and correction that he felt sure would come. *** Eliphaz listed seven things that in them God would keep a man from doing evil. He gave the rewards of not doing evil which were: no loss of possessions, many children, and long life. All of these had greatly affected Job. He had lost all his possessions, the life of his children and now his health had been hit and his life span looked short. *** Job countered with having the right to complain. Even animals make noises when they can’t find food. He accused Eliphaz of having no fear of God or compassion for man. He assumed Job was wrong and had sinned, but Job stood up for himself because he claims to be innocent. He feels he has become God’s target. *** I feel like Job’s argument is the same argument we are having in the Church about sin. The sins of the believer are forgiven; our sins are nailed to the cross so we won’t be charged with them. We are now new creatures in Christ and he lives through us. I’m sure Jesus had not-so-nice thoughts about the Pharisees and priests and it came out in his words and yet, he never sinned. The scripture says to “be angry, but don’t sin.” We don’t deal with sin as much as we deal with our old sinful nature. We are constantly being washed by the Word from the world’s ways. His Word says we are the righteousness of Christ. Sin should not be a part of our lives as Christians. Third John explains this further. Becoming righteous is a process. *** In Corinthians Paul addresses the arguments about tongues. Speaking in tongues is a gift we all should want. Tongues is a sign to the unbeliever who hears it and its interpretation and sees the impossibility of it all. When he hears his secrets exposed he will marvel at the greatness of God. *** Paul also says about sin that we should be innocent when it comes to evil but mature in the things of God. *** In Corinth, there was much Greek influence. Women were very powerful and were worshiped as goddesses. This carried over to the Church and so Paul had to bring some order. But, he was writing to them in Corinth and addressing their problems. He attempted to bring order to their services by telling them to take turns using their gifts and asked for the women to remain quiet, probably to encourage the men to step up. *** Lord, may we have discernment to understand what you are saying and what season we are in.