Friday, December 19, 2014
TEXT: JOB 34:31-37
Key Verse: “That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more” (Job 34:32).
The saying goes that ‘life is not a bed of rose.’ Trial often comes when we can see no particular sin which has led to it and no special reason why we should be afflicted more than others.
The principal character in our narrative for meditation today, Job, challenges us to put up the right attitude when we are going through some unpleasant and inexplicable experiences like he did. Although pressured by his wife to curse God, accused unjustly by his friends, despised by his neighbours and afflicted by Satan, Job, still unable to explain the cause of his predicament, decided to reflect on his life and was quick to repent, confessing to God that if he had done any sin, he would not continue in the unrighteousness (verse 32). He could not point to any outright wrongdoing in his life, yet he was willing to repent.
Rather than murmur or accuse God wrongly, the first step is to look inward and look backward, then to look upward. We look inward to search our heart whether we have done anything wrong. We look backward to consider what led us to where we are now - mistakes made, wrong steps taken, reckless or careless decisions made. Then, we look upward to heaven to plead for God’s mercy and favour to bring us out of the affliction.
Do you attempt to blame others for what you are going through now? Are you experiencing some things you cannot just explain? Before you begin to accuse men or God, why not look inward, look backward and in true repentance, look upward.
Thought for the Day: Affliction makes the wise to reflect on his ways.
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