Your Daily Devotional for July 7, 2007

 

July 7,  2007

 

 

A Tender Heart

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"Then Job answered and said, Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him."

 

Job 23:1-9

 

Most Christians, after being saved a short length of time, become familiar with Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Many times we use this verse to help comfort others who are going through a trial. But perhaps no man illustrates the principle of Romans 8:28 as Job.

 

The early verses of Job tell us of his trials. In Job 1:18-19 we read that his sons and daughters were killed by a great wind from the wilderness. Job 1:20 shows us Job's response to this news, "Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord." Job was upset that his children had died, but he trusted that God was in control.

 

Not only did his children die, but his wife turned against Him. Job 2:9-10 says, "Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips." Job's wife did not understand Job's faithfulness to God and she encouraged him to deny God. Even though he was going through a trial and so many people were turning against him, Job remained faithful to God.

 

The reason Job could remain faithful to God during this difficult time was that he had a tender heart. Even though Job didn't understand what God was doing in his life, he knew that God was in control. He trusted God to take care of him.

 

Many times when difficulties come our way, we can become bitter and turn from God. Job's wife had become angry with God and tried to convince Job to curse God! Yet as Job kept a tender heart toward God, God was able to bring him through the trial and bless him.

 

Over the next few days we will see how God was able to grow Job's faith and bless him with more than he had before because Job remained faithful. Even through the worst of trials, Job showed us that as we remain faithful to God with a tender heart, He will bless us.

 

Do you have a tender heart toward God? Even though our human nature wants to become angry or upset, we must remain tender and open to God during tough times. Approach God with a tender heart right now and ask Him to strengthen your faith.

 

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

Job 34-35 • Acts 15:1-21

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