January 25 – Reading 25

JANUARY 25 – Reading 25

by John Christian Pra | January 25

“DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?”
(Job 29:1 – 31:40)

“Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness, as I was in my prime…” – Job 29:2-4

What were your “golden days” like? The days that you remember being the best days of life. When you were most recognized, involved in everything going on around you, moving up-and-to-the-right in life, feeling limitless and free. Do you still dream about those days? Or maybe you’re living in them. 

For Job, he had some great days here on earth. He would have been occupied from sunup to sundown with some amazing things. To name a few, he was blessed with many children, he had riches and livestock, he had power and notoriety in his culture, he lived a generous life towards others, and he cared deeply for the justice of the poor and needy. As Job walked around town, people knew exactly who he was.

And then, he lost it all. For some reason, Job’s life as he knew it, with all of its joy and glamor crumbled before him. Understandably, Job was an emotional wreck, crying out in anger to God in wondering, questioning how this could happen. Then, like any of us would, Job began to list all of the good things he was doing in his life and why he didn’t deserve this treatment. 

It’s as if he was asking, “God, do you know who I am?” Everyone around Job knew him and applauded him for the man he was. Yet God didn’t seem to take Job’s righteous, godly living into account when all of this was taking place. 

Suffering isn’t always linked to sinfulness. In fact, God promises suffering will come upon the most righteous. Why is that? God is revealing to Job that the blessing of our life is not linked to our performance, but rather our relationship with God.

What if God was answering Job’s question, “Do you know who I am?” with another question: “Do you know who I am?”

What if suffering wasn’t based on what we have or haven’t done in life, how good we’ve been or even how sinful we’ve lived? What if suffering instead revealed to us more deeply who God is and how His righteousness is what truly brings us the blessed life?

Today, our Father is not looking at your past accomplishments and righteousness for your current blessing in life. Instead, he comes and offers you blessing forevermore even when you walk through trials of many kinds.

The Father sent His Son, Jesus, to live the perfect life and to die the death we deserved so that when we go through hard times, we don’t have to look to God and say, “Don’t you know who I am? I deserve better!” Now we can say, “Regardless of what I go through, you gave me your all and you are with me.”

Our lives are not about who we are, what we’ve done, or how we look before God. When we come to Jesus, we are seen in light of the Son. Now we get to say, “I am your child and nothing can take that away.”

Think about it. Pray about it.

• How has your past (whether good or bad) kept you from seeing your current blessing in Jesus?
• Take time today to give thanksgiving to God for all He has done in your life, even if you are going through difficult times. 
• Write down 5 things you are thankful for today. Think about keeping a gratitude journal to add to this list daily.