Tag Archives: Job 1:1

Christian

A Man After God’s Own Heart

If you want to become a man after God’s own heart you have to examine the men in the Bible whom God both chose and loved and imitate them.

David was a man after God’s own heart. How did he live his life? David meditated on God’s word. We know that from the Psalms. He was courageous as evidenced by his fight against Goliath. He was unafraid to confess his sin and ask for forgiveness when confronted by it. 1 Kings 15:5 KJV says, Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

Job was also a man after God’s own heart. Job 1:1 KJV tells us, There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

Paul was chosen to preach God’s word to the Gentiles. His zeal was evidenced by the trials he went through. He was stoned, beaten with stripes, ship wrecked, yet he didn’t give up. He didn’t waver. He kept preaching and teaching the Word of God.

This is by no means an exclusive list of the men God loved and chose to do his work and keep his word. Nor is it an exclusive list of things you should do if you want to follow the Lord.

Read the Bible regularly, pray for wisdom and understanding, and live out God’s word as you learn it. Just as women should dress conservatively I believe men should dress conservatively. As a man do not cover your head when you pray to the Lord. Don’t be effeminate. These are just a few nuggets from Church tradition and the Bible on how to become a man after God’s own heart. Another key way is to build a personal relationship with God. Keep his commandments. Read the Bible. Pray. Attend Church. Living our these things will become easier as you go and God himself will help. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you. James 4:7-8.

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Christian

Grey

The Bible warns us of those that like to cause confusion. In fact, Isaiah 5:20 KJV says, Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Preachers and teachers attack and argue with the word of God on a regular basis, usually a result of interjecting their own conscience. How can they read you the exact words of the Bible and then serve you up a watered down or simply wrong meaning. Perhaps they don’t call black white or white black, but they can cause much harm spreading the grey. A few recent examples follow:

  • When the Bible says Job was perfect, Job 1:1 and Job 1:8; it doesn’t really mean he was perfect.
  • When the Bible says for willful sin there remaineth no more sacrifice, Hebrews 10:26; it doesn’t mean wilful sin but rather a rejection of the gospel.

Perfection with Christ’s help is possible. Don’t let anyone dissuade you from trying. Jesus told us in Matthew 5:48 KJV
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

And when the Bible says to fearfully expect judgment when you sin willfully that is exactly what the Bible means. Don’t trample the blood of Christ and disrespect his sacrifice with willful sin. Hebrews 10:26-29.

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Perfection

I just heard another preacher say “no one is perfect, only Jesus was perfect”.

Is this true? No.

We find our perfection in Jesus. In baptism his blood washes us of our sins. After baptism he willingly forgives us in response to our act of confession. 1 John 1:9. Strength to walk in the light and remain sin free comes from Jesus, in him we trust.

If we could not be perfect why would Jesus have said in Matthew 5:48 KJV,
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

In Job 1:1, God calls Job a perfect and upright man. Just as Job was perfect so can we be perfect. It’s not only a matter of actions it’s a matter of faith.

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