I've been reading Job again. In some ways, it's like the first time I've read it because I'm getting new thoughts and understanding. It's slow because I keep re-reading passages over and over until I think I really understand the lessons. One of the things I love about the Bible is that I continue to learn new lessons the more I read. Stories I've heard many times can still bring new understandings and insights to how I understand God and understand my relationship with Him. I think I'll have more to say about Job when I get through it. I still can't understand God's decision to allow Job to suffer. Saying that, I appreciate the lessons and the example but I feel sorry for Job. On the other hand, when I hear the question "why does God let bad things happen to good people?" I look at Job and the answer I hear is "so God can use the strong to teach the weak." I don't know if that's right or not but I gain strength through Job's story. I gained strength watching Jerry and Anna Nicholas. I have gained strength through other friends who have endured pains and battles I will never grasp. The strength I have gained is the strength that allows me to cling to God more tightly, to hold on to the hope He gives me. I still slip and fall but seeing the strong endure the traps satan throws in front of them builds me up, not in myself, but in my ever-increasing reliance on and in God.
I would be thrilled if no other bad things happened to good people but I feel pretty sure that God will continue to use the strong to teach the weak. I hope I continue to learn and continue to seek my strength from God and his perfect love.
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Last night in our men's class, someone asked "Do you think God ever says to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant, Rick?'"
I immediately thought: Job was on His A-team. I'm on the practice squad. But I want to be that man who -- if Satan brought it all against me -- will still say, "I KNOW that MY Redeemer lives."
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