JOB 13:15a – Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. Please take time soon and read the book of Job. In fact, take extended time and read it in one sitting. As we do, ask the Lord to teach us the most important lesson Job learned as he went through the most extreme of fiery trials a believer may undergo. That lesson is summed up in one word which is the most important and necessary spiritual discipline the Christian must learn and practice – submission. And it is submission to the always wise, always loving, always good, and always mysterious work of God’s sovereignty in our lives.
In the process of living out the Christian life, there is a dual work occurring. The Apostle Paul instructs us of this work in his letter to the Philippians – Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13). Pay attention to what Paul does not say, “Just let go and let God.” That is extremely poor theology and not the definition of submission as seen in Job’s life. What Paul does say is there are two working parties in the process of living the Christian life; the Christian who works out his or her salvation by obedience, and God who works out circumstances and situations in our lives to make us like His Son. And His work quite often makes little sense to us, especially when it involves pain and suffering. For Job? For us? The words from the prophet Isaiah, concerning God’s ways in our lives, become very real and go beyond just words when we are in the refiner’s fire – For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). Back to our friend Job for a moment.
As we follow our suffering brother along in his book, we find him in deep pain leading to wrong assumptions about God. He also is dangerously close to blasphemy of God by complaining and defending himself. Yet, Job is learning through his suffering. He doesn’t see in the early stages but when we come to today’s scripture, chapter 14, he starts to get it. Job is learning to trust, which is really the application of submission. And when it comes to submission in the Christian life, we cannot underestimate its importance. Learning to gladly submit with thanksgiving to God’s sovereign work in our lives, especially in dark, painful and hard circumstances, is the most important and necessary spiritual discipline we practice. Without such glad and thankful submission, the sins of complaining and rebellion will entrench themselves in our lives leading to a lack of joyful fellowship with the Lord and a poor testimony before a watching world for the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
So, the most important lesson in the Christian life? It is not a stretch to say “submission” because from salvation to glorification, that one word defines our relationship with the Living God.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to gladly and totally surrender to Your always good but often mysterious sovereignty.”
QUOTE: “Learning to submit to God in the toughest of life’s seasons is the most important discipline in the Christian life.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim