Today I heard someone say,”Job sinned against God and that’s why all those terrible things came to him.” As I listened to those words another set of words came bursting in my heart,” You don’t have to worry about terrible things come on you Amy because of your sins because I took care of all your punishment for you when I died on the cross.” I’ve heard many messages about the story of Job and many try to find out why all these things happened to him but I think we miss the whole story when look for those answers. As I think about the story of Job their is one thing that really sticks out in my mind. At the end Job realized questioning and accusing God was foolish and he sat in repentance, changing his mind about God’s character.
Today we can stand in complete confidence in the character and wisdom of God because of Jesus. When life begins to throw us obstacles instead of trying to figure out why it’s happening look to Jesus. When things come against you some would say you are reaping what you sowed or you must have sinned against God and that’s why all things are happening. But friends I have good news for you! If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior you are no longer under the old covenant of the law but you are now under the new covenant of God’s grace. The law demanded our obedience in order to receive BUT because of Jesus Christ we are now under the new covenant of grace, which means that today God does not assess us based on our performance, but God blesses us on His goodness and faithfulness. Today God does not remember your sins or hold them against you because He has already judged them on the body of His Son, Jesus. We get confused when they do not realize that the cross has made a difference. When we don’t understand that God’s grace is His undeserved, unearned, and unmerited favor, we will depend on our own efforts to keep the law to deserve, earn, and merit His favor. Similarly, when we don’t understand that righteousness is a free gift, and that it’s about “right standing” and not “right doing” we will depend on our own effort to earn this gift.
Yesterday, the passage in John 16:23-33 came to mind and as I looked at who I am in Christ the light of this passage came. Let’s look at it together. ” Jesus is speaking, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. “In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.” His disciples said, “Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. “Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? “Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.”These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Praise the Lord! When we go to the Father we can have confidence that our prayers will be answered because Jesus has paid the full payment for all our sins. Hallelujah! The bibles says, Jesus became sin who knew no sin so that you and I could be made the righteousness of God. Let’s look at verse again, Jesus tells us that we can use his name ourselves because the Father loves us. The Father accepts and loves us because we love Jesus and believe that he came from God.
Jesus speaks of joy coming to us when we ask the Father for something in his name. I’m thankful that Jesus loves us, died for all our sins, and has brought reconciliation so we could have fellowship with God. My heart is joyful that the Father no longer counts our sins against us but sees us righteous, holy, and forgiven through the blood of His dear Son Jesus.
Romans 4:13,16- The promises, blessings of God on not based on obedience to God’s laws, but on the new covenant relationship with God that comes by Faith in Jesus.
