-Devotion by Makenna (Cisler) Landry (MN)
Key passage: “Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 97:10 (NIV)
Job, a man having faced great turmoil and distress. You by now have come familiar with the back and forth between Job and his friends. In today’s reading, Job laments that his friends have harshly and shamelessly reproached him not once, not twice, but ten times! His own personal inner thoughts are turmoil enough. To hear his friends speak to them aloud must have been devastating! His friends are still convinced that Job must have done something evil to deserve this wrath of God, but Job seems to see it as God simply putting him through the ringer with no clear reason. His friends blame him and he blames God. This blame game is not unfamiliar today.
In today’s psychological world, the blame game is ever a rising issue. People tend to try to place the blame on anything but themselves. Why else would someone be facing hardship if not from an outside source? Just as Bildad blames Job and Job blames God, we are constantly trying to find someone else to blame. It makes it easier to handle the hardships in life. Or so we want to think.
In reality, once we reach the end of Job we will see God speaking that neither Job nor Bildad are entirely right. We see at the beginning of Job that it was Satan causing the misfortune! The same goes for the bad things that happen in our world today. James reminds us in the reading today, that “every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17a NIV). How do you remind yourself to stop playing the blame game in your life?
Here is my suggestion:
Read the book of James! Especially the first chapter like we did today. It reminds us that trials are bound to happen and that we must persevere through them because the one who perseveres will receive the crown of life (James 1:12). Let’s take a closer look at chapter one to help understand and apply the scripture.
James opens his letter to the scattered Jewish Christians by identifying himself as a servant. He was likely the leader of the Jerusalem church and even likely to have been the half brother of Jesus and yet he identifies himself as a servant. One who gives his life in humble service to God. This humility is common among the New Testament writers and is one that we need to remind ourselves to copy. It can be easy to get wrapped up in titles, talents, awards, but our identity should always be rooted in God. He grants every good and perfect thing in life. How do you show that your life is rooted in God and not the world? This theme of rooted in God is seen throughout the book of James as it explains how to be doers and not simply hearers of the Word of God.
What does James mean when he says to “consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2 NIV)? Consider Job once again. Even though he was struggling and played the blame game with God and his friends, he still held fast to hope. Chapter 19 of Job ends with Job’s excitement and hope to see God one day. He trusted that God would restore all things even if it wasn’t during this age. James gives his readers the hope that can be held onto during trials that can help produce joy. That hope is the crown of life! This crown of life is the promise of restoration in the Kingdom of God. When all things are made new and we will live eternity with our loving creator.
How do we display joy during trials? James answers this question as well. He first reminds his readers that temptation and evil is not from God. Similarly we see this theme in today’s Psalm that wicked is the opposite of God. Wickedness can not come from something that is good. Reminding ourselves of this can help focus that God will bring good even while we are persevering through trials.
Joy is also shown through verse 19. James wrote “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” (James 1:19 NIV).
It’s hard to do that when you are facing hard times. I was recently listening to the book Vertical Marriage. It was discussing this verse and how it’s so easy to do this when life is easy, finances are secure, jobs are good, everyone is healthy and on the same page. But as soon as a snag happens all of those things fly out the window. The more we don’t listen, the more likely we will say something hurtful, and the higher chances not only yourself but the person you’re disagreeing with is to become angry. This anger comes from frustration, hurt, a lack of joy, and much more. It’s extremely easy to jump to anger when you are facing something difficult. Let this passage encourage and remind us to seek joy in all that we face.
QUESTIONS TO POUNDER
How have you found joy this week?
What are things that bring you joy? How can you praise God through those things?
PRAY
Dear Heavenly Father, Allow Your Holy Scripture to draw me closer to You. May Your Words fill me with Your gift of joy. Teach me to know Your good and perfect ways and protect me from evil. Forgive my sins and heal my wounds. May I see You, my loving heavenly father, in every moment today. Give strength for the hardship and joy that lasts. I praise you for the greatest gift of Your son. In the name of Jesus, Amen
Seek Grow Love 