Bondservant

Lets go back to Job.  Remember that God gave permission for Satan to afflict Job.  In one day, Job lost his children and all his livestock.  If this happened to you, how would you respond?  Would you fall trap to the devil and fulfill Satan’s words in Job 1:11.

¹¹But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Would you curse God?  Would you think that this thing really does not work?  Or would you respond like Job did in Job 1:20-22?

²⁰Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,  ²¹And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: Yehovah gave, and Yehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Yehovah. ²²In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

After all that happened, Job worshipped God.  Job submitted to God’s authority and will.  Job never charged God.  This is because Job was a servant of God.  He was a bondservant. A slave to God’s total will.

Satan was wrong.  Job was not your typical Christian.  Job was steadfast in his attitude and lifestyle towards God.  Paul writes about this in the New Testament in Philippians 4:11-13.

¹¹Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. ¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³I can do all things through Messiah which strengtheneth me.

Paul, similar to Job, was satisfied serving God.  Paul like Job was not looking to be served.  This is why Paul could state in 2 Timothy 3:10-11.

¹⁰But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,  ¹¹Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

And later in the epistle, 2 Timothy 4:17-18.

¹⁷Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever.

Paul like Job had a hedge in his life.  No matter what occurred, Paul was delivered by the Lord.  Many believers foolishly think that they can quote these verses and have the protection and strengthening of God.  Unfortunately for them, the protection afforded to Job and Paul come at a price.  One must live the life of Job and Paul to have the fulfillment.  One must repent God’s way.  One must be a footstep follower of Messiah in all ways.

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