Online Devotions: April 20 (Job 1:20)

Sunday, April 20, 2014

April 20 (Job 1:20)

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. (ESV)

~~I doubt that~~… ~~I am not sure that~~… Worship would not be the first thing on my mind after learning that I had just lost my job and that my children had tragically died. Tearing my clothes and pulling out my hair? That would be reasonable. Worshiping God? Or as it says in the next two verses, blessing His name and not accusing Him of anything? I would more likely do the exact opposite.

Yet Job is the example of how a man or woman of God should respond to adversity. It may be difficult to relate to Jesus on the cross or even the glory of today, Easter Sunday. That may be too far beyond our ability to comprehend. Yet the sufferings of Job are the sufferings we see in friends and family. We may even have experienced them ourselves.

How did Job keep his faith and honor God in suffering? He did it the same way Jesus did it and the same way you and I can do it. He surrendered it all to God. He did not deny his human feelings. He wept and mourned. Yet as a man of God, he did what only faith allows. He put praise on his lips instead of a curse.

Almighty God, thank You this day for the glorious resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. May His faithfulness and the faithfulness of all the saints who have gone before me strengthen me for the challenges I face. In the midst of battle, may I stand as one already victorious in Him. Amen.

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History of Online Devotions

In January of 1999, I began the Online Devotions with the teens of the church we were attending. Each week they would receive a verse of Scripture, a short reflection, and a prayer. Over the years others subscribed to this email list, and soon the Online Devotions were going out to people across the country and beyond.

In 2007 I published in book format a collection called Desert Days: Forty Devotions for Men.

After suggestions from several readers, I launched in 2010 the Online Devotions blog. Devotions are still available each week by email, and if you would like to subscribe, please indicate so in the comment box.

As I have always said, if one of these devotions touches you, you can be sure it was from God. If one leaves you flat, then there was too much of me in it.