Oh,
That I Were as in Months Gone By
Job longed for things to be the way
they used to be. He longed for the friendship he had with God. He longed for
his children. He longed for the respect he had in the community. He longed to
see the joy and gratitude on the faces of people he helped and served. Job lost
everything he had and everything he was. Now, he was judged by his
friends, rejected by the community, and taunted and spat at. This is not such
an unfamiliar story. Before He emptied himself of His divine nature (Philippians 2:7) Jesus had everything. He had all
glory and majesty; all power and wealth; all respect and honor. But Jesus gave it all up when he became human. And at the end of His human life, he was beat and
despised and spat at. Jesus willingly suffered because He believed that there was a
greater purpose for his suffering. "He bore our sins in His body on the cross,
so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24). Are we
willing to give up everything we have and everything we are? Are we willing to
suffer, believing in a greater purpose? Or do we
accuse God of being cruel when we suffer? The apostle Peter teaches that Jesus is
our example, and we are called to follow in His steps. Jesus committed no sin, yet He was reviled. He
did not revile in return, nor utter threats but kept entrusting Himself to
Him who judges righteously. (1 Peter 2:21-23). Dear Father, when we suffer,
help us to entrust ourselves to You, believing in Your righteous judgment. Please
help us to trust in Your faithfulness and love. Help us to rest in You and
rejoice in the prospect of Your glorious deliverance. May we take up our
cross and follow in the steps of Jesus with the full assurance that we are Your
children and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we
may also be glorified with Him (Romans 8:14-25).
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