Living in the Spirit
October 22, 2018
Scripture Reading: Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Then Job answered the Lord:
‘I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
“Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?”
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
“Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you declare to me.”
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.’ –Job 42:1-6
Job is an uncomfortable book to read. It requires us to face how our worldview sometimes gets in the way of our faith view. When Job asked the question: “Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?” He is quoting from an earlier question of God (38:2): “Who is this that darkens counsel without knowledge?” with one-word change as noted in bold. God’s chosen word has the connotation of dimming; Job apparently took in God’s word to mean conceal. God’s word suggests a lessening of consideration of counsel for no reason as not being prudent. Job’s word implies ignoring counsel for no reason. I think the author of Job changed the word to illustrate how our intake of information is filtered for good or bad by our culture, life experiences, and heritage. Our worldview impacts all our lives, correct or not.
Our quest in life is to become our fullest potential as we intersect with all other people and the world around us in loving as Jesus loved. We cannot change what we have already experienced or inherited; we can choose to offer that knowledge and those traits to God for help in restructuring negatives into positives and life lessons into examples of courage and hope as we strive to prevent our past negatives from being stumbling blocks for us or others.
Testing our worldview against the plumb line of God’s worldview is challenging and sometimes painful, but I have found it to be powerfully freeing as I strive to love like Jesus. I hope you will find the same thing happening within you.
Prayer: Lord, help us to see clearly as we examine ourselves and work to restore any brokenness and separation from you in our lives, so we can readily receive and accept your counsel. Amen.