² “Oh that my vexation were weighed,
and all my calamity laid in the balances!

Ever had a bad day?

The Lord had already put on my heart to write from Job’s experience as continuation for our Lenten preparation in consideration of the cost of the Cross. And then I had yet another ‘bad day.’

Job was angry and frustrated with what GOD had allowed to happen to him after all of his faithful worship and righteousness in every part of his life. GOD had always rewarded Job’s righteousness.  GOD had always brought blessing into Job’s life.

Blessing or curse: Is it from God?

WHY! Job asked?

Why ME! we ask?

Why, Lord, have you brought me very low to this place?

I know that I am a sinner. I know that I do not deserve your grace in Christ Jesus. I know that.

But you have done all these things to me. You have afflicted me with my own sin and the sin of those I love. WHY?

Prior to Job’s complaint (and God’s eventual answer and restoration): Job 2:

 9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”

10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

It’s OK to have an argument with God; Job did. It’s called prayer, private petition; and you had better be ready to brace yourself for God’s answer, if you have ears to hear as our Lord would instruct.

It is a fearsome place… to be alone in the place of God… no wife (or perhaps, husband) to support you in your love of the Lord and care for your over-abiding love for her by God’s grace. It is a lonely place to sit among friends (even so-called ‘christian’ church friends) who feel sorry for you and fill your wearisome ears with misguided uncompassionate advice.

Prayer for yourself

Just between you and God

Waiting to hear

The answer of the Almighty

Should bring us to our knees

And bow down our sinful souls

Into the dust and ashes

Of repentance.

Let you with ears to hear hear, before you would speak so boldly into the ear of the One who hung upon the Cross for your sins.

Yet we have questions. And we have an Advocate in Christ who knows our pain. Jesus hears and will answer if only we will hear Him. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart.

In our strong will to tell GOD what to do, will we hear His answer?

Job 6:11 What is my strength, that I should wait?
And what is my end, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?
13 Have I any help in me,
when resource is driven from me?
14 “He who withholds kindness from a friend
forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed,
as torrential streams that pass away,
16 which are dark with ice,
and where the snow hides itself.
17 When they melt, they disappear;
when it is hot, they vanish from their place.

Yes, prayer with the Almighty, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is a fearful place. Prayer is a fearful place for battered flesh and broken heart of one so continually refined by the fire of the Holiness of GOD.

Yet the grace of His love comes at high cost. The ransom paid for our continuing sin is more than sufficient before the King for Him to be gracious to those He loves.

Let us repent once more and listen. Let us this time obey and follow His Cross without turning or regret.

John 12

  4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said…

23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified…

27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’?

 40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them.”

(Are you praying, you with ears to hear?)

Jesus Came to Save the World

⁴⁴ And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. ⁴⁵ And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. ⁴⁷ If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

⁴⁸ The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day…

You with ears to hear hear… and pray.

Pray also for me, sinner though I be.