Breaking Point

Job 1:8

I was thinking about the life of Job and everything he had been through. Other than Christ Jesus, there is no greater example for patience in suffering than Job.

As I pondered, I began to wonder why God chose to allow Satan to torture poor Job. Was He provoked into the decision (Job 1:9-11, Job 2:4-5)? No, I don't think that's it. Then I thought, was he somehow intimidated into the decision? No way! So, why did God allow it? And what purpose did it serve? Was it just for God to have an 'I-told-you-so' moment?

God can be provoked, to be sure. But provoking God usually brings judgement to the ones who do the provoking, not to people who obey God in all that they do.

God cannot be intimidated. Not by Satan or anyone else (Isaiah 46:8-11).

Everything God does has a purpose. God does nothing on a whim.

So what was, pondered I, His purpose in allowing Satan to put Job through such a nightmare? I did some digging and some thinking. As the wheels slowly turned in my little head, I remembered a song about suffering and the chorus said that a rough and a rocky road leads to a beautiful place. What was happening to Job had nothing to do with Satan's protests and challenges (as usual, Satan was getting outfoxed). God was leading Job to something that was even greater than all his possessions, greater than his health and physical well being. Job was being taken into the fire (Malachi 3:3)!

Job ended up in the most beautiful place of all. He ended up in the very mind of God. Job ended up with a deep and profound understanding of Who God is. Job 42:5 - "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you"

When we go through trying or even nightmarish times, trust God. There is a reason. If we trust in Him like Job did, we will end up in a beautiful place.

God is AWESOME!

Undo

John 1:29

I spend a lot of time at work doing some pretty boring administrative things. Mostly, I enter data from the field that I use to generate reports in my lab. I sometimes enter the data wrong or accidentally hit a key that makes the program I use do something crazy. I don't panic though. I just move my mouse up and click on the 'undo' button, and all is well.

I was doing my usual work this morning when something dawned on me. In Christ Jesus, we have been given the 'undo'. He has taken away all our sins and given us a new start. Wiped the slate clean(Isaiah 53:11, 2 Corinthians 5:21).

The One who saved us is the Great King. He is The Lamb of God and The Lion of Judah and so much more! (Revelation 19:11-13)

God is AWESOME!

Politics As Usual

Romans 13 and Romans 14:10-12

It's hard to believe it's been nearly four years already. The political season is upon us again. The mud slinging ads, the debates, the photo ops and sound bites, the shaking hands and kissing babies. It's something to watch.

I try to steer clear of politics on my blog. My blog has a specific purpose. I use it as a canvas on which I can spill and splatter my thoughts and opinions about the overwhelming and unsearchable depths of the God to Whom I owe everything. The One Who has forgiven me of more than I could ever know. Our understanding of Him and Who He is hasn't even scratched the surface.

I don't think my views on politics are very popular. When I voice how I really feel about the subject, I'm often told why my thinking is wrong.

My views are as follows:

• The political affiliation of the person holding the office is not relevant.
• The political beliefs of the person holding office are irrelevant.
• The person holding office is there for one reason and one reason only...they were put there by God to advance His agenda and achieve His purposes (Genesis 50:20 and John 19:10-11).

Yes, we should be involved. Yes, we need to exercise our right to vote and yes, vote your conscience. But don't lose site of the bigger picture, of who we are. Our political differences should not mean enough to break fellowship with one another. We are united under Our King. Not a political party.

For we who believe, whose citizenship is in Heaven, the only important thing should be our relationship with our King.

God is AWESOME!