God uses trials to grow our faith and nurture our character. The Bible presents a huge story on Job. After 41 chapters of trying to reconcile his suffering he makes a profound statement: “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you” (Job 42:5). What key point is made here?
God had a very clear point to make through Job. During the process he transformed Job for his good and God’s glory. Life as he knew it shifted—for the better. As Scripture says, “Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10).
God illustrated how He brings to realization His sovereign purposes and intents. James revealed this truth. “You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord — that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11).
RELEVANCE
Growing from a conservative Jew in Brooklynto a believer in Messiah Jesus has required a major shift in my life. The apostle, Paul, also experienced a drastic shift. Raised a devout Jew, he was trained in the orthodox traditions of Judaism. He became a prominent leader in the religion. One day he encountered a power that transformed his life. In a light shining from above, he heard the voice of the LORD. He received a huge dose of the grace of God; and thereafter arose with a fresh anointing, new vision and new source of hope. The course of Paul’s life shifted. In Philippians 3:6-11, Paul speaks of his enlightened perspective.
“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead”.
REFLECT AND RELATE
Growing in transformational faith takes a shift in perspective and requires some tradeoffs. We all meet the Lord at the Cross, and have to lay some things at the Cross. Ask God what might be the next step in the shift He may be leading you through.
REFERENCES
Philippians 2:5-11; 3:12-14; James 1:2-8