Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Broken to be Restored

Broken to be Restored 

“Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship.” Job 1:20 (New Living Translation)

     The Bible tells us of an extraordinary man by the name of Job. Listen to his back-story: “There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless – a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area” (Job 1:1-3 NLT).

     But in one day, Job lost it all! He lost his animals, his servants, and even his children. Job 1:20 describes his response. He showed grief by tearing his robe and shaving his head. These were usual expressions of great sorrow in his day. Yet even in his sorrow, he possessed his soul. He did not break out in uncontrolled displays of emotion. He did not faint, but arose. He was deliberate in his actions – he experienced grief, yet in repose.

     I love the next part, Job then “fell to the ground to worship” (Job 1:20). If his riches had been, as Satan insinuated, the only reason for Job’s piety, now that he had lost it all he would certainly have lost his religion; but the account in Job 1:20 sufficiently proves the devil a liar and Job a blameless man!

     Job’s experience of loss and brokenness initiated greater depth in his conquest to seek and know God. It is those times of brokenness that allow us to draw near to God and commune with Him more deeply. In his broken state, Job saw himself as “naked” (Job 1:21), not wounded or maimed, but naked – unclothed, unarmed, exposed. He was reduced to humanity’s first condition. He was back to his first love. Even before his wealth was restored, his heart was restored. You may be in a Job-like situation. Draw near to God in worship. Hope in His mercy and experience the restoration only He can provide.

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