https://odb.org/MY/2022/05/10/engraved-grief
I just shared a message in church on Romans 8:28 last Sunday that took Job as one of the life examples of what is the “good” or agathos in Greek and my take is one where our faith and His plans and purposes are preserved despite the adverse circumstances we may go through in life. Job who was very wealthy was left penniless, with all his children killed and contending with painful boils and yet he preservered on with his faith in God intact. He refused to curse God and die. In fact he declared that even if God were to slay him, he will still trust God (Job 13:15) and in Job 27 verse 2 onwards, Job declared that even though God has made his life bitter and has denied him justice, he will not say anything wicked. In Job 19:25-26, Job was convinced that his Redeemer lives and after his skin is destroyed, yet in his flesh he will see God.
Job is thus the perfect example for us on how to grieve with God for the losses, disappointments and grief we go through in life whether it is our loved ones or things or positions that are dear to us. We do not fully understand the ways of God but as He is God, He knows best and will only want the best for us. But most importantly and the most precious thing that we have which is our faith in God is preserved and not destroyed in the process. That’s the spirit of Job. Even if God allowed certain events to occur in our lives like in the case of Job, will we remain true to His cause, faithful to His calling for us, steadfast to fulfil His plans and purposes for our lives, continue to allow Him to mould us to be like Christ (Romans 8:29)?
The message today is grieve we must and yet we must learn to grieve with God. Not be angry at God or curse or condemn God or sulk and withdraw ourselves from God. Everything has a purpose and the Lord will reveal His purpose in time to come. He will make all things beautiful in His time. He will carry on and complete His good work in us until the day of Jesus Christ. That we all know as Paul said he knew in Romans 8:28.
Ronnie's Thoughts 