"Even if He slay me, I will not trust in my own ways, I prove to be before His face."1
Job had lost all, his fortune, his name, his family, his health, but he knew God in a deeper way. He did not follow God because he was blessed with earthly things, no, he put his trust in God, as He is good and faithful. We do not look down upon trials and tribulations like the friends of Job did, as Jesus is the refiner, the fullers soap. We pray refine your people, make us pure, so that we may put our trust in you, not in earthly things nor relate to you as one who rewards good nor punishes evil, but as One who is deserving of all honor and glory, One worthy to be loved with all our heart. Let us seek those things that endure unto everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give us.
"do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you to repentance?"4
A strong foundation. We can put trust in principles of do not touch, taste, or handle... don't hang around these people, don't be lazy, don't do this and don't do that... incorporating principles and disciplines that replace putting trust in God, of entering into His rest. Thus we put obedience before trust and even preach sermons condemning others for not putting their trust in God. Instead of "faith working through love" we use condemnation, fear, shame... in attempts to control peoples behavior. But such the devil uses to enslave others, God's Spirit is of power, love, and a sound mind, a repentance of the will of God without regret. We are like Christ in fullness of grace and truth. Earthly things fail within the storms of life, when we build our house upon the sand. Do you know God so deep that you would say as Job, even if you slay me, I will put my trust in You?
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight."3
It is the greatest commandment to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. In Arabic this word trust means to throw one down upon his face, lie extended on the ground. Surely we must come to the end of ourselves, putting complete trust in God. In Hebrew the glory of the Lord was upon the high places, on the mountain God told Moses to remove his shoes as it was holy ground, even if an animal touched such a place it would die. In the new the glory of God shown upon a little baby in a manger, in a little town called Bethlehem. The long arm of the Lord reached deep, deep into lowly places, to sinners and tax collectors. His mercy triumphed his judgment. The glory of a Holy God stooped down and took off the shoes of men and washed their feet. It is His blood and the washing of the Word that cleanses us, not by works. Being like Him, His servants do not lord over others as the world does but they serve one another in love.
"so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."6
He is a good, good Father, it is who He is. He has chosen his people by grace, given us a Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father. We know the Father, we see face to face, as Job said, "I had heard about you, now I see you with my eyes." He is perfect in all His ways, He sent His Son in love. He is perfecting his children in love, not fear because fear has to do with punishment. We look into the truth, the face of glory, the face of His Son and are being transformed into His image, from glory to glory. Such is the riches of his grace and glory, by the good pleasure of His will, that in Christ he would show His kindness towards us. Put your trust in God he is good and trustworthy, his grace, loving-kindness, endures forever. Even if He slay me, He has proven to be trustworthy, honorable, and good, I put my trust in Him. I prove to be before His face.
"oh taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who trusts in him!"7
Even If
Job had lost all, his fortune, his name, his family, his health, but he knew God in a deeper way. He did not follow God because he was blessed with earthly things, no, he put his trust in God, as He is good and faithful. We do not look down upon trials and tribulations like the friends of Job did, as Jesus is the refiner, the fullers soap. We pray refine your people, make us pure, so that we may put our trust in you, not in earthly things nor relate to you as one who rewards good nor punishes evil, but as One who is deserving of all honor and glory, One worthy to be loved with all our heart. Let us seek those things that endure unto everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give us.
"do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you to repentance?"4
A strong foundation. We can put trust in principles of do not touch, taste, or handle... don't hang around these people, don't be lazy, don't do this and don't do that... incorporating principles and disciplines that replace putting trust in God, of entering into His rest. Thus we put obedience before trust and even preach sermons condemning others for not putting their trust in God. Instead of "faith working through love" we use condemnation, fear, shame... in attempts to control peoples behavior. But such the devil uses to enslave others, God's Spirit is of power, love, and a sound mind, a repentance of the will of God without regret. We are like Christ in fullness of grace and truth. Earthly things fail within the storms of life, when we build our house upon the sand. Do you know God so deep that you would say as Job, even if you slay me, I will put my trust in You?
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight."3
It is the greatest commandment to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. In Arabic this word trust means to throw one down upon his face, lie extended on the ground. Surely we must come to the end of ourselves, putting complete trust in God. In Hebrew the glory of the Lord was upon the high places, on the mountain God told Moses to remove his shoes as it was holy ground, even if an animal touched such a place it would die. In the new the glory of God shown upon a little baby in a manger, in a little town called Bethlehem. The long arm of the Lord reached deep, deep into lowly places, to sinners and tax collectors. His mercy triumphed his judgment. The glory of a Holy God stooped down and took off the shoes of men and washed their feet. It is His blood and the washing of the Word that cleanses us, not by works. Being like Him, His servants do not lord over others as the world does but they serve one another in love.
"so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."6
He is a good, good Father, it is who He is. He has chosen his people by grace, given us a Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father. We know the Father, we see face to face, as Job said, "I had heard about you, now I see you with my eyes." He is perfect in all His ways, He sent His Son in love. He is perfecting his children in love, not fear because fear has to do with punishment. We look into the truth, the face of glory, the face of His Son and are being transformed into His image, from glory to glory. Such is the riches of his grace and glory, by the good pleasure of His will, that in Christ he would show His kindness towards us. Put your trust in God he is good and trustworthy, his grace, loving-kindness, endures forever. Even if He slay me, He has proven to be trustworthy, honorable, and good, I put my trust in Him. I prove to be before His face.
"oh taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who trusts in him!"7
Even If