Job

Job 40:6-7 says:

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:
“Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

Life is full of storms and rough weather.

Often tough times – like those experienced by Job – are trials that God uses for our benefit.

In this storm the Lord spoke to Job and he was instructed to “Brace himself like a man”.

When the trial comes in life, that is the voice we need to hear; The voice of the Lord to us.

It is a frightful voice, it is a confronting voice. But ultimately, it is a comforting voice because the voice of the Lord to us reminds us of who is in control of the storm and the trial we are in.

The same frightful voice of the Lord comforts us when we remember it is the same voice who can say to the storm “be still” (Matthew 8:23-27).

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the storm I am in. I don’t choose it, but I ask you to show me what it is you are teaching me and forging in me during this season. Speak to me Lord. I want to hear your voice and be comforted by it. I love you Father, Amen

Job 31:6-8 says

Let Him weigh me with accurate scales,
And let God know my integrity.
7 “If my step has turned from the way,
Or my heart followed my eyes,
Or if any spot has stuck to my hands,
8 Let me sow and another eat,
And let my crops be uprooted.

This is such an interesting couple of verses!

Job is a man in the bible known for being struck down by God, despite being of virtuous character, only to later have everything restored to him and more.

In this passage Job is defending his conduct and character before God by saying he has kept his way pure by not being seduced to look at things or people lustfully or improperly. Here he uses a phrase to state his case that he has not be “led by the eyes”.

1 John 2:16 tells us that one of the ways the worldly system appeals to the carnal nature of man leading him or her into sin is through the “lust of the eyes”.

Job knew not to get caught being led by the eyes and so allow his heart to be filled with sin. He knew the consequences of a heart full of a desire to sin would be destructive. He knew the wisdom of Proverbs 4:23 which tells us “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.”

Job reminds us that if we live our lives “led by the eyes” we will be led into sin, our heart (our desires, motivations, decision making) will follow and we will be trapped.

Rather we should do two things to avoid this:
1) Fill our heart with good things. Luke 6:45 says “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good”. A heart filled with the goodness of God will detect and discern a lustful eye.
2) Fix our eyes on things above! (Colossians 3:1-2) Set your eyes upon the Lord and be transformed from glory to glory. When we do this earthly distractions don’t seem so distracting.

PRAYER: Lord, I commit to being led by you and not by what I see around me. Lord I want to keep my way pure – purify my heart that I might live fully devoted to you. Amen