Have You Considered My Servant?

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

In the opening dialog of the Book of Job, God addresses Satan and says, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1:8) We usually associate Job with patience, but other insights can be understood from this important statement.

First of all, God shows possession of His servant. “Have you considered My servant Job?” This shows that there is a righteous relationship between the two, and God claims Job as His servant. Job knows and worships God (Job 1:5, 20), and God knows and acknowledges Job.

In one aspect, since God created us, we are all God’s children. But there remains a more important relationship with God that, unfortunately, many will never obtain. To become the “children of God” is dependent on one’s acceptance of God’s offer for redemption. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12) Through faith, repentance, confession and baptism, one meets the conditions of the gift of salvation and becomes an adopted child of God through Jesus. (Eph. 1:5) We should all desire to belong to God. After all, we have been “bought at a price.” (1 Cor. 6:20, 7:23)

Next, God shows the characteristics of His servant. “¼(T)here is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man.” These are wonderful accolades to be showered upon anyone. Like the wisdom of Solomon, the righteousness of Job is exhibited here as being without equal in the world. To be certain, Job was not without sin, but blameless and upright. Just as our elders are to be blameless (1 Tim. 3:2), we understand that perfection is not under consideration, but, rather, the direction, aim and actions of a person’s life. Job’s life was exemplary.

Finally, God shows the depth of wisdom in His servant. “¼(O)ne who fears God and shuns evil.” In chapter 28 we find Job pondering the question, “where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?” (Job 28:12) He concludes that chapter with the declaration from God, “the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. And to depart from evil is understanding.” (Job 28:28)

Likewise, Solomon ended Ecclesiastes by saying, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.” (Eccl. 12:13-14) Wisdom and understanding come from these two elements: 1) fearing/respecting God through obedience, and 2) staying away from evil.

Friends have you ever considered what God might say about us? “Have you considered My servant _____?”

In Our Daily Walk today may we so live that there will never be doubt as to whom our master is, or how we shall live our lives, or where we place our priorities. May we live so God may confidently say that we are, and shall remain, His servants!

Our thought for the day: “The story is told of a certain church in Europe which was bombed out in World War II. In the explosion, a statue of Christ was mutilated by having the hands blown off. The statue has not been restored. It stands there today with the hands missing. But underneath has been put this well-known sentence: “Christ has not hands but yours.”

May God bless you on your daily walk