Live Like Job - Week 1 (Monday Morning Devotion)
This series, written by Pastor Ricky Jacob, who is serving the Winnebago people of Nebraska, looks at the story of Job and helps us discover how to live a life of faith like him.
Today we reflect on a story about Job from God's Sacred Word. Creator God bragged to Satan about this God-fearing and upright man. “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” [Job 1:8–11 (NIV84)]
Job had no warning of what was about to happen. In one day he would lose his wealth, seven thousand sheep, five hundred oxen, as well as his three thousand camels and five hundred donkeys. Not to mention countless servants.
If Satan had his way he would not stop there. Satan did have his way and through a wind storm, Job and his wife, lost their seven sons and three daughters. Disasters happens!
Like Job, we have three choices when something devastating happens. We can let it destroy us. We can let it define us. Or we can allow it develop us. “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” [Job 1:20-21]
Satan is your enemy He would take everything from you if he could. God allows him to go so far and no farther. Satan tempts people in order to trap them into all types of addictions. Addictions to drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality, greed, pride, arrogance, murder, gossip, slander, ridicule - all items that Satan uses in order to destroy your relationship with God.
Unlike Job, Jesus knew exactly what was coming. Following His baptism Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted by Satan to no avail. Satan then left Jesus until an opportune time.
That opportune time would come on Good Friday when Satan would apparently destroy Jesus,. Satan was limited to what he could do to Job, Satan could not take his life. In the case of Jesus this was not so. But the story does not end there. Nor does it end with Jesus' burial. Jesus rose victorious, on the third day! Jesus offers you victory as you surrender to the will of His Heavenly Father by trusting in Jesus as your Savior.
This has been Pastor Ricky Jacob of Jesus Our Savior Lutheran Church and preschool, of Winnebago. I close with the words of Good News of Job: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth" [Job 19:25 NIV]