Daily Devotional

Word of the Day

Perfection through Proving

Job was possibly the king of affliction! We have the luxury from the Scripture of seeing the life of Job from the full vantage point--beginning to end. When you and I are experiencing different things in our lives, we don't have the luxury of seeing the beginning to the end. The one thing I want you to understand about Job is found in chapter 1, verse 1. "Job...was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil...This man was the greatest of all the men of the east [AND HE NEEDED TRIALS!]." Where do you think that leaves you today? Are you the greatest man in the east?

God speaks about the maturity of this man. You'll find that when God makes these statements throughout the Scriptures, the phrase that's used sometimes is being the "greatest in their generation." Most of the time the Scriptures qualify the fact that you're perfect by being perfect "in your generation." Maybe you're the perfect man in your fellowship. That's not saying much. There's not a whole lot to boast in except to be thankful that God's working in your life. The point is that Job, though he was spoken of as being perfect, still had to be proven. Your perfection has to be proven that you might become perfect again. Whatever state of maturity you're in at this moment-- you may be a perfect five-year-old or mature for a twelve-year-old-- compared to the Head of the Church, Jesus, you have a long way to go. Your life is in need of a continual purging.

Job needed to see a couple of revelations. When Job went into this trial, God knew what manner of man he was, but Job didn't. Let me tell you something. It's okay for God to call you perfect, but don't call yourself perfect. In Job chapter 5, verse 17, he says, "Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. In famine He shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth." He's rejoicing and understanding these things--the admonition that's being brought-- that God has a purpose for this chastisement.

Verse 17 is absolutely the truth of God: "Happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty." Why? It's because as we see in Revelation that whom the Lord loves He rebukes and chastens. We understand, then, that chastening is part of God's program for our lives. Correction doesn't mean that God is displeased with you. Correction means you're on the right course, you're a child of God, and He wants you to come to that next level of maturity.

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