Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
“Keep silent and let me speak;
then let come to me what may.
Why do I put myself in jeopardy
and take my life in my hands?
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;
I will surely defend my ways to his face.
Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,
for no godless man would dare come before him!
Listen carefully to my words;
let your ears take in what I say.
Now that I have prepared my case,
I know I will be vindicated.
Can anyone bring charges against me?
If so, I will be silent and die.
“Only grant me these two things, O God,
and then I will not hide from you:
Withdraw your hand far from me,
and stop frightening me with your terrors.
Then summon me and I will answer,
or let me speak, and you reply.
How many wrongs and sins have I committed?
Show me my offense and my sin.
Why do you hide your face
and consider me your enemy?
Will you torment a windblown leaf?
Will you chase after dry chaff?
For you write down bitter things against me
and make me inherit the sins of my youth.
You fasten my feet in shackles;
you keep close watch on all my paths
by putting marks on the soles of my feet.
“So man wastes away like something rotten,
like a garment eaten by moths.
– Job 13:13-28
Devotion
The primary philosophy of Job’s friends has been that God punishes the wicked and rewards the righteous. Job has argued his innocence with his friends, but he seems to agree with their basic premise. Job’s complaint is that God is punishing him when, in his mind, he has earned reward by living a righteous life. He essentially accuses God of being unjust, since he has done nothing to deserve such punishment.
A prevalent message in our culture is the idea that God will grant you all your hopes and dreams if you have enough faith and righteousness. Preachers fill stadiums with the message that faith in God brings health, wealth, & prosperity. There’s only one problem: That is not the message of the Bible. Job is commended as a man of great faith (Job 1:8; Job 42:7), yet he suffered some of the greatest tragedies imaginable. Many faithful followers of God endured suffering and painful deaths in the New Testament. Of the eleven faithful apostles, church history tells us that ten were put to death for their faith. The eleventh (John) was tortured and eventually died in exile.
We are not entitled to a comfortable life of luxury, nor have we earned it. When we face suffering, we must not let a spirit of entitlement cause us to resent God. There are times that we will face suffering without knowing why. God does not promise us that we will never suffer, but He does promise to comfort us in our suffering (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). Instead of accusing God of injustice, seek to trust God in the storm.
The Big Question
Do you feel that you have earned your blessings from God or that your sufferings are punishments from God? If greater faith leads to greater comfort and material blessings, why did God allow the apostles, early Christians and many faithful Christians throughout the ages to be persecuted, punished and often martyred?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence, reflecting on God’s Word.