Job 13-15; 1 John 3

“Let me have silence, and I will speak,
    and let come on me what may.

Behold, I have prepared my case;
    I know that I shall be in the right.

²³ How many are my iniquities and my sins?
    Make me know my transgression and my sin.(Job 13:13, 18, 23 ESV)

Job had been through a lot. (The understatement of the year). Lost all his children, all his wealth; even his health was stripped from him. And, while He did not curse God, he clearly did not have an accurate understanding of His working either (who among us does?)

Job thought that given the right platform, he could defend himself, justify his cause, prove his innocence before the almighty God of the universe.

But, it was apparently just talk, as time would tell. Job tried hard, but he still fell short in claiming the depth of his sin and revering the holiness, wisdom, and sovereignty of God.

¹⁸ Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (I John 3:18 ESV)

We, like Job, might also jump to justify ourselves now and then. Blinded by self and pride to the sin that still nips at our heels, we can talk a good talk. But then, God told us to love.

Love.

¹⁶ By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. (I John 3:16)

He even showed us love. Not just describing it from behind a veiled current or looking down from heaven, but walking in our shoes, he left his blood-stained footprints on this world in a completely pure living-out of love. Not because we deserved it, but because He is completely holy and He is love.

Something to spend a life time living up to. Not in a guilt-ridden, failure-streaked way, but joyfully following and imitating our master in his poured-out love for this hurting world.

Dearest Father, give me Your love for the world around me. Give me an accurate perspective of myself that I may never think I am above showing love to a fellow human, but neither would I judge myself incapable of making a difference. Pour me out as Your son so freely did. Both resting in and standing on Your holiness. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Erin (6intow)

 

 

 

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