#DailyDevotion Faith In Christ Is Most Necessary In The Darkest Times
February 28th
Read Job 31:1–12, 33–40
Job 31:1-12 “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? (2) What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high? (3) Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity? (4) Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? (5) “If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit; (6) (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!) (7) if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands, (8) then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me be rooted out. (9) “If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor’s door, (10) then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her. (11) For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; (12) for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase.
Job’s final words are a plea to his innocence. He lays out all of his good works and professes his abstinence from evil works. Not that Job hasn’t confessed that he has sinned, but he did offer atoning sacrifices for those sins on a regular basis and not only for his sins but for those of his children as well. He curses himself here if he indeed has sinned willfully against the poor, the widow and the like who are the apple of God’s eye.
He is really left at a loss. He has been brought low, yes he has even been brought down to nothing. We can remember the words of St. Paul, 2Co 12:7-10 “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. (8) Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. (9) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
As the old saying goes, “It is darkest before the dawn.” Job and we need to remember in the darkest times that Jesus’ grace is sufficient for us. Jesus’ power is made complete in our weakness. It is there when we are nothing that Jesus does his greatest work on us. For it is there we are left with nothing but his word and promises. There our faith is called to be exercised and lived. Many trust in Christ when everything is well or when we see a light at the end of the tunnel. We are called to trust in his promises when we enter the tunnel and have nothing but bleakest and darkest of times.
Lord Jesus Christ, grant us your Holy Spirit that we may continue to trust in your promises when everything seems as if it is total loss. Amen.