Trials And Temptations Help Us Grow In Faith
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Job 18 and Psalm 119:145-152 (NIV)
(Gordon Tan, Associate Lay Leader)
READ:
Psalm 119:147-149 (NIV)
I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. Hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, LORD, according to your laws.
Job 18:5-7 (NIV)
“The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out; the flame of his fire stops burning. The light in his tent becomes dark; the lamp beside him goes out. The vigour of his step is weakened; his own schemes throw him down.”
OBSERVE:
As I read the passage Job 18, I consulted the free version of Matthew Henry’s Commentary. And there I read: “In this chapter Bildad makes a second assault upon Job. In his first discourse (ch. 8) he had given him encouragement to hope that all should yet be well with him.” And later in the commentary: “Bildad here shoots his arrows, even bitter words, against poor Job, little thinking that, though he was a wise and good man, in this instance he was serving Satan’s design in adding to Job’s affliction.” This allowed me to reflect on the thought that because of the Cross of Calvary, I and every believer have been forgiven of our sins when we choose to repent and turn to Christ . Therefore, while I face the consequences on earth for the sins I commit, I do not face an eternal spiritual consequence for my sin because I am forgiven. What I face in trials and tribulations are according to the eternal purpose and wise counsel of God. As James 1:2-3 says, our trials and tribulations are tests of our faith which produce perseverance. And through our perseverance, it causes us to grow and mature and be complete in our faith.
APPLY:
It is therefore important for me to recognise that when I go through periods of trials and tribulations, I should cry out as the Psalmist does, clinging on to my hope in God’s promises. And in the process of praying and wrestling with our Lord over the painful feelings, seek His mercies and grace.
And whilst it is necessary for me to confess my sins and repent from them, I need to remember that I am forgiven and that God does not hold them against me. But rather expects me to obey Him out of love for Him as my Lord, Father and Redeemer.
DO:
As I go through each day, I want to learn to surrender my painful thoughts and feelings to God. As I deal with people whom I find difficult, I want to lift them and myself to God. I want to seek His strength to forgive and extend grace to them. As I face anxious moments, worrying about the future, I want to remind myself that God does not repay my evil deeds with evil but continues to love me and care for me. And that in this way, He will continue to be my Provider and Protector.
PRAY:
Dear loving Father, I want to thank you that despite my sinful ways, You continue to love and forgive me. I want to be able to obey and walk in Your ways not out of fear for Your punishment but out of a genuine fear and respect for You, the Lord of my life. I want to walk in the ways of righteousness as an expression of my love for You. I thank You Lord, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
