Faith-Living in Difficult Times

O. T. #1886  "Faith-Living in Difficult Times"

Feb. 22, 2021

Ezekiel 14-Part 4

LET IT GLOW

Why do people die young? Why does snow and freezing temperatures cover us? Why are some people cripples? Why does misfortune come to some and not others? How is it that evil people prosper? Why does cancer eat away the body of people? So many questions we may have unanswered. Only God may know the answers, so we trust His judgments and plans that are for our good and His glory. Job was one man who suffered so much, yet God says he was righteous. How did that happen?

We have been looking at the righteous men, Noah and Daniel. Today, we will look at the third righteous man that God mentions in verses 14 and 20 of this chapter. It is Job.

The LORD said that His servant Job was a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God, turned away from evil, and there was no one like him on earth. (Job 1:8) What a way to be described by God!

Perfect means pious, perfect, plain, undefiled, upright.  Righteous refers to just, lawful.

It was not their own deeds that made those men righteous. but by the imputed righteousness of God. (Falwell)

It was by faith that those three accomplished much; their remaining faithful to their God. Job lost so much during his time of testing of his faith. He lost his ten children, way of making a living (cattle, sheep, oxen, camels), and his health. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. (1:22)

We describe Job as being a patient man, but I don't think he was, for those answers he gave to his so called friends that condemned Job. I think he endured those tragedies by faith. His pride got in the way. In the end of the trials, Job confessed that he knew nothing, only God did. It was after Job prayed for his pharisaic friends that God gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)

Have you noticed that Job is not mentioned in the roll call of faith? (Hebrews 11) However, Noah became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Hebrews 11:7) Daniel declared that the LORD our God is righteous in all His works which He doeth. (9:14)

My conclusion is that Job did what was right in all his business dealings and how he treated others. He had faith in God and lived it out, not just when it was easy, but in the difficult times, too. How are we living in our difficult times? Are we remaining strong in our faith?

LET IT GROW

Would God consider you and I righteous? Let us look into the Scriptures.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)

In Matthew 5:20, Jesus said, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:4)

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)  The one is speaking about the sinless Jesus Christ shedding His blood unto righteousness, so we could become righteous through Him. (Romans 5:17)

for whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. (Romans 3:22)

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:10)

The Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. (Romans 9:30)

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead, because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Romans 8:10)

... even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. (Romans 6:19)

Anyone who trusts in Christ as his sin bearer, in fact, is granted a righteousness that is not his own-the righteousness from God based on faith. (Philippians 3:9) (Tony Evans)

Friend, it is through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ that we are made righteous before a Holy God. I say that is a reason to shout!

LET IT GO

Thank You Jesus for being the way we can be righteous before Holy God. Such love!

Thank You that it is by faith, not of works or being of Jewish heritage that we can be a child of the King.

How my heart wants to sing, Jesus is mine!

Please Holy Spirit speak to all hearts who come to read this post and give them faith to believe in Jesus as their Savior. Please encourage your children who are going through trying times.