a child of god
this is the way, run in it
Job's life, his story, how does it all end? Having just finished the book of Job, I've seen again an inescapable conclusion - we are not blessed if we do not forgive.
Job is validated by God in the end. The LORD God calls him "My servant, Job" and says to the men gathered to console and counsel Job, called his friends, "My wrath" says the LORD, "is kindled against you (Eliphaz the Temanite) and your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, like My servant Job has" (Chapter 42: v.7). Wow. Talk about a telling off - and from God, at that. But look at what God instructs. He makes a way for the three men to be restored to fellowship with Himself, and with Job their friend - He says they can bring an offering, "seven bulls and seven rams" to offer up to the Lord, but, Job - "My servant, Job" - is the one they have to ask to make the offering on their behalf and they have to ask him to pray for them. That is the path of humility, and you can't do that kind of thing while harboring any resentment or bitterness or anger in your heart towards the other person. The work of forgiveness is difficult, it requires a laying down, a surrendering, of our negative human emotions that rise up and separate us from God and from each other. The work of forgiveness is also easy, as easy as just that - laying it all down at Jesus' feet. Leaving our hurt feelings, our need to be vindicated, our feeling that we are right and they are wrong, and acknowledging before God that He alone is right all the time. When we belong to Him, and He calls us His servant, then that is what we are called to do. Now, check this out! It's not all about the baddie friends getting told off. Notice God makes a way for them to be restored, so they belong to Him as well, even though they got it really wrong. But! God also wants to see Job do something. The three friends, "Eliphaz the Termanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naanathite went and did as the LORD told them" (v.9), so they obeyed. They submitted to the Lord, they repented and they brought their offerings of sacrifice and request for forgiveness to Job as the LORD had directed them to. Obedience is always the best choice when it comes to life with God! And what does the bible say then, it says "...and they did as the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted Job." Why does it say that Job gets accepted when the friends do as God told them to? Look at the next verse, v.10, "And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends...". Job had to forgive as well. He had to be in a place where he could pray to God for his friends and ask God to forgive them. Forgiveness is a two way thing between people. We have to forgive each other. Have you ever humbled yourself and gone to your friend and said you were sorry for something, and then waited, fully expecting that they, too, would say sorry? And then they don't? I'm sure we have all experienced that. What happens though to us when one person forgives and another doesn't? The one who can't forgive lives with broken relationships - with others and with God. God requires us to forgive others, even when they are our enemies, even when they have really hurt us because they are our close friends. That isn't easy. But it is so necessary. Blessing flows from God when we forgive. Our hearts remain tender - to God and to one another - when we can let go of the negative things. The book of Job ends with this surprising twist. That both Job and his friends have to submit to God. One side asking forgiveness and the other side giving forgiveness, after a 42 chapter long book of suffering, pain and misunderstanding. Release, a forgiving heart, not only that but a heart that can pray for blessing is required by God of His people, and in this book in particular of His servant Job. I think He requires that of us today, as well. In fact, I know it. So I say, yes Lord. Please help me to honor you and love others enough to be able to do both - ask forgiveness and give forgiveness when I need to. Let your blessing and release and freedom and real life flow!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Franci Ballwatching and working for the kingdom of God in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham - UK Archives
January 2019
Categories |