Studying Job

     If you are anything like me, having been raised in church your whole life and knowing every bible story, you have heard and know the story of Job. It's one that I have heard many times, and often more so than not just passed by. However, there is a lot to be learned in the story and life of Job. As I have begun reading a new book and devotional, this week's study is on no other than Job. It has opened my heart to some things that I felt like sharing. 

     Job was a man after God's own heart. The bible says he was "blameless and upright"  that he feared God and turned away from evil.  He was dear to God because of his faithfulness and love. Job continually praised and worshiped God. When Satan confronted God about Job, he made the argument that if everything God had blessed Job with was taken away then surely he would curse God. I can just imagine the devil before God trying to make a point that Job hasn't been through any trials, that he has had it easy. That Job just needs a little pressure and surely he will crack. It was all a test to see if in the end Job would cave or if he would continue to praise and worship God. God granted Satan permission to touch anything that Job has, but not to touch Job. The main point here is that God had to grant Satan permission!

     In Job 1:13-19, just 6 verses I might add, everything is taken away from Job. One servant after another came in to tell Job that all he had was now gone. In total he lost 1,000 oxen, 500 donkeys, 3,000 camels, 7,000 sheep, all of his servants except the few who escaped to tell him what had happened, and all 10 of his children! In a 24 hours, Job had gone from being a wealthy man to utter poverty. In all of this Job still had the strength to praise God. In verses 20-21 it says, "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.'" Job fell on the ground and worshiped God, in all of his turmoil. Job isn't a fictional character or a symbol to make a point, he is a real person just like you and me. He endured more heart break in 24 hours than most of us endure in our life, yet he still chose to worship God. Job also acknowledges that nothing was his to begin with, and that God had the right to take it away. Through all of his pain, Job still praised God. He didn't let poverty, hurt, grief, or even torment stop him from worshiping God. He continued to praise and magnify the one true God. All I can say is WOW! How many times do we stop and worship God when bad things happen to us?!

    Many times we, as Christians, allow our pain to stand in the way of knowing God more intimately. We get a case of the poor pitiful me's and want everyone to sympathize with us. When the rains starts to fall and you find yourself on your knees, is the best time to praise and worship God for the blessings He has given you. We have to remember that even when times are tough and things are not going as they should, that God is in control. Satan has no control over our life, it is only through God's permission that he can touch us.  James 1:2-4 tells us to consider it joyful when we go through trials. Trials build and produce faith and trust, making us pure. Every time I read this verse I think about how crystal is molded into beautiful sculptures. While we were on our honeymoon we had the opportunity to see how crystal sculptures are molded. When you first see it is dull and dingy, there is nothing spectacular about it, but after it is put in the fire and begins to burn it starts to form a shape and begins looking beautiful. Once the crystal is pulled out, it is spotless. You only have so much time before the crystal starts to harden to work with it and mold it into a masterpiece. We as humans are the same way. God is constantly molding us. We go through the fire so that we can be broken down and molded back together. It is through that fire that we are continually growing and learning to truly rely on God.
     
     Job 3 shows us a different side of Job. To me this only proves to us that he is human. Job asks the question that so many of us ask when things go wrong in our life... WHY?? Job 7:20 says, "Why make me your target? Am I burden to you." I find myself asking God the very same thing when things are going wrong in my life. It is so easy to turn and ask God why, but we must understand that God does not owe us an answer. This is something that I struggle with. I'm the type of person who probably gets on everyone's nerves because I am always asking questions (often why). I am just inquisitive and like knowing all the answers to stuff. So, it's hard for me to know I can ask all day long, but still not get a direct answer. My parents always talk about how when I was little I had to have all the attention when I was speaking, constantly pulling on them making them look at me when I was talking. How much simpler would life be if we could do that to God. To just turn to Him and get the answer right then. Although it seems like a great idea, how much would we learn or grow from that? It is through seeking the answers that God moves us and leads us closer to him. Those trials purify us, our faith, and bring us to the point of worship. It requires us to lean on and trust God's promise. God doesn't mind us asking questions, but we can't get caught up and focused on all of unanswered questions in life. God wants us to depend and rely on Him with every circumstance in our life.


     Job did just that. When everything else fell down, when he had nothing left he turned to God and simply praised. All of his friends and even his wife couldn't understand why he continued to worship a god who would allow this to happen, but he did anyway. In the end Job was blessed twice beyond what he had before. No matter what happens to you or how painful the situation may be, the Lord has the final say. He will get the victory and the glory. When trials come your way begin to look at the positive and praise God.

One Touch...

     I have always loved the story of the woman who was healed by touching Christ's garment as He passed, but today as I was reading my book this story seemed to come to life. I've never really looked deep into this story to see the fine details of the woman. Due to the woman's health, hemorrhaging for 12 years, she was likely to have lived an  isolated, lonely, and painful existence. In those times you were not allowed to attend church, social gatherings, or even be touched if you were "unclean." She spent most of her life trying to find a cure, living in pain and agony. She more than likely didn't have any friends and probably felt as if no one cared for her. I can imagine she felt empty and had a heavy heart, as most of us do while we are carrying burdens. However, in her pain and suffering she remained faithful. She tried everything and nothing else worked, so she knew that her only option was Christ. She knew she needed His supernatural healing, His power, so she made her way to receive it. As Jesus walked through the crowded street, you can imagine the ciaos; people pushing, grabbing, and trying to get to Him. However this woman was different, the moment she touched Him, He felt the power leave. 

     Luke 8 and Matthew 9 speak of how the woman made her way through the crowd, and how she came up behind Jesus to touch His cloak. She specifically reached for the hem of Christ's garment. In order to do this she had to go low enough to touch the hem, she had to literally bow down. She had to relinquish all form of pride, self-preservation, and human wisdom. She had to humble herself to bow down in the crowded street, to be open to be impacted by Christ's power. She had to stop looking at her current situation through her own perspective, and start looking for Christ's solution. She knew that with that one touch she would be healed! It was by her humility and faith that she received that. 

     Now, can you imagine bowing down in the middle of a crowded street?? Think about if your favorite actor or actress came to your town. There would be hundreds, if not thousands, of people gathered around him or her. That is what it was like in the street that day. Jesus, the son of God, was passing by and everyone wanted to see. This woman had the courage and the faith to bow down in front of all of those people just to touch Jesus' garment.  Would you? 

     There is a huge difference in this woman and everyone else who touched Jesus that day. In fact, when Jesus asked who had touched Him Peter responded, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you." But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone from me. " (Luke 8:45-46) While everyone else was standing up, she was bowing. They were apart of the crowd, content to be at the same level with Jesus. The people were unaware of their need for His power, while she recognized her lack of worth and need for Him. The woman humbled herself to pursue the very thing she desired. Her solution was found only by humbling herself before Christ and surrendering everything to the word of God. 

     You see, you can be apart of the crowd, but until you recognize your true humility and your complete dependence on Christ and His word, you will only be in the vicinity. You will remain untouched. Many times Christ allows us to carry burdens and go through trials so that we, in return, will recognize that need for Him and to draw us to His power. We should, instead, be constantly walking in humility, seeking to touch Christ. We are to want nothing more than to live in Christ's presence, to seek him daily. In order for this to happen, we must be willing to leave the security of our comfort zone and step out in faith, to pursue the path that will take us the closest to Jesus. We must let go, and get low before Christ. Bow before Him today, and see the miracles happen in you life.