Past three day’s devotionals talked about God’s ways of allowing the righteous to be touched by Satan, using Job as case study. The summary of the devotional is that, God sometimes allowed the righteous to be touched by Satan; thereafter, He rewards the righteous far beyond where he/she was. We were cautioned against raining curses on God if we should find ourselves passing through ugly situations. Perhaps, one would like to know the major characters Job exhibited which attracted God’s commending him as a blameless, upright, person who fears God and shuns evil. These characters under discussion today were pointed out by God Himself. In the conversation between God and Satan, God asked Satan: “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no man like him, he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1: 8 NIV).
Our discussion today starts from Job being a blameless man. This has to do with perfection in behaviours. It talks of behaviours that cannot be accused of being wrong before people or God. Job was such a very good man in his days. He was such a great man who exercised self-control in doing things and saying the right word at the right time. He was so mindful of doing things encasing guilt. Job lived without living deceitful life. This is because blameless involves having no deceit of any kind (Psa. 24; 4; 120: 2). Apostle Paul appealed to Christians not to do anything involving deciet in 1 Thess. 2: 3. Job was a man whose languages and morals are clean. Even when Job’s wife encouraged him to curse God and die, Job spoke decently to the wife, refusing to say anything that could tarnish God’s image. Job’s ways of living blamelessly should tell us that as Christians, living above accusations of people is gold. Job lived blamelessly as a Gentile and in a sinful society. We too can like Job.
Another character of Job was upright living. This talks about being righteously on the earth. It should be understood that living a righteous life involves living straight forward life, doing things correctly and living in the ways God originally intended for mankind. If God said Job was a blameless man it means Job was righteous in God’s eyes. We are not supposed to do right or correct things to please human being and displease God. These days, men sleep with women other than their wives in pride. Such attitude commands respect amongst men and women. But not Job! Here what he said about this: “If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbour’s door, then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her…” (Job 31: 9). There are many ways we can show uprightness. But this highlighted about Job speaks volume. All Christians are to take cue!
PRAYER:
LORD JESUS, you excelled in living blamelessly and in righteousness while on this earth. Make me your perfect follower in works of righteousness like Job. Hallelujah!
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch