Read Job 1
Highlights:
Job's wealth and godliness; Satan permitted to tempt Job; Job severely afflicted; condemned by wife and friends.
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord (Job 2:1).
We are startled to find Satan in the presence of the Lord. He was there to slander and accuse a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil (1:1,8; 2:1-7). This should not come as a shock. Satan is revealed throughout the Word of God as one who is constantly accusing the children of God of wrongdoing. He is the accuser and enemy of God's people. And there was war in heaven . . . against the dragon . . . called the Devil, and Satan . . . And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night (Rev. 12:7,9-10). Satan is also revealed as the one who often uses "friends" to belittle and accuse other Christians. Speaking against other Christians is an abomination to God (Prov. 6:14-19).
Who can understand the heartache and sorrow of Job — the servant of the Lord who was stripped of family, possessions, and health (Job 1:8)? This suffering was far from being misfortune, as Job's friends supposed. All of Job's sufferings were the attacks of Satan (but God's intent was to bring him into a closer relationship with Him). We often blame God when bad things happen to us. We need to realize that God oversees and directs the path of our life as His choice for us. Sometimes, we will walk through valleys that God directed us to, but remember we are never beyond God's reach. Even when times may get tough, God will always see us through. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (I Cor. 10:13).
Spiritual victories do not "just happen" — they are dependent upon the indwelling power of God's Word and upon much prayer. Apart from the Word of God, all efforts to live a victorious Christian life are doomed to failure in our warfare against spiritual wickedness (Eph. 6:12).
Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God . . . and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph. 6:1,17).
Thought for Today:
To remain faithful in the midst of trials, develop a love for God's Word.
Christ Revealed:
In the conversation between Satan and God Almighty (Job 1:6-12). We can see the meaning of Christ's warning to Peter that Satan wanted to sift him as wheat (Luke 22:31). It is comforting to know that Satan cannot test us beyond the will of God.
Word Studies:
1:1 eschewed, avoided; 1:20 rent, tore; mantle, robe; 2:8 potsherd, piece of broken pottery; 3:16 untimely birth, stillborn; 3:24 roarings, grief, groanings; 4:2 assay, attempt; 4:4 upholden, helped, upheld.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Staff: Mary Kay Wagner • Government Officials: Rep. Rick Larsen (WA) and Rep. Adam Smith (WA) • Country: Iceland (272,000) at the northern end of the Atlantic • Major language: Icelandic • Religious freedom • 94% Protestant; 6% Roman Catholic • Prayer Suggestion: Humbly kneel before the Lord with a contrite heart as you pray (Ezra 9:5-6).
Optional Reading: Galatians 4
Memory Verse for the Week: Ecclesiastes 5:4