Daily Reading
Daily Thought
Job ignored his friends and laid out his final appeal before God: my life was good, really good (Job 29). Now it’s really bad (Job 30). What did I do wrong? (Job 31). At least sixteen times Job suggests a sin and begins, “If I have,” by which he means he hasn’t. Job is, indeed, a righteous man.
If “the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28), Job was intentional in turning away: “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” (Job 31:1). It was not that his eyes would stop seeing–that would be impossible–but that they would never stop moving. The first look is free, it cannot be stopped. It is the second look that costs you. Job’s eyes would not fix their gaze on what they should not.
Job had, at last, presented his case before God, and he was done; “the words of Job are ended” (Job 31:40). In judicial jargon, he rested.
“The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.” ~Isaiah 32:17
It is called shalom, this place of peace where Job had arrived. The turmoil swirled around him still, yet he is secure in the hands of God, as he had always been.
Daily Prayer
Father in heaven, You are holy, You are good. Your kingdom is righteous. I long to live forever in a righteous kingdom, a kingdom where peace reigns, but may it begin now with me. May I find peace in a messy world by trusting in You.
Help me guard my eyes, God, that they will not linger on temptation. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, may I fix my gaze on such as these and delight in goodness. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth, in my life, right now, as it is in heaven.
Amen
Daily Question
What intentional habits do you practice to keep yourself from sinning?