The scripture for today, January 21, is Job 1:21 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:
“ ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.’ “
Job had every reason to turn against God. In one day his entire wealth was stolen from him, nearly all his servants were killed by an invading army, and all his children died in a storm. Why hadn’t God protected him if he loved him so much?
We often forget that Satan exists also. Just remember, whatever Satan does, God can undo.
On a physical level, Satan is the accuser (Revelation 12:10), but God is the forgiver. Satan can cause us to get sick, but God can heal. Satan can cause us to die, but God can bring us back to life. Satan can make us miserable in this world, but God can take us to a better world.
Shall we leave God to fight Satan alone? We were made in his image. And how do we fight Satan? Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
On a spiritual level, sometimes we are not only separated from material things, but sometimes we are forced to be separated from other Christians. What can be the result? God’s kingdom arises in yet another place. James wrote to the Jewish Christians “scattered among the nations” (James 1:1).
Peter wrote to “God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered.…” (I Peter 1:1).
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” There’s more….
In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
Neither angels nor demons,
Neither the present nor the future,
Nor any powers,
Neither height nor depth,
Nor anything else in all creation
Will be able to separate us from the
Love of God
That is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:37-39)
How can we be “more than conquerors” Unless we have something to conquer? How can we have “victory in Jesus” unless we have something to be victorious over?
Each of us has periodic assignments from God. What bad thing has happened in your life lately? That is your assignment.
Or, must Jesus bear the cross alone?