Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Godly confidence comes from a clear Conscience


Read Job 13.

By this point, Job was already weary of debating with these so-called friends.  They proved to be of no help.  Indeed, Job compared them to "worthless physicians".  Or, as Dr. Roy Zuck wrote, they were "worthless medical doctors with no prescription to alleviate his pain" (Bible Knowledge Commentary).  He wanted them to be quiet and just listen to him.

Again, he expressed his greater desire to argue his case directly with God.  Job understood fully the potential consequences of this request.  It had already been stated that no human being is a match for an all-powerful, sovereign God.  It could cost him his life (verse 15).

His confidence remained in the fact that he had done nothing wrong to justify this suffering.  In essence, Job continued to ask what every hurting person asks, "Why? What did I do wrong?  What did I do to deserve this?"  He even boldly asked that his sins be enumerated.

In verse 26, Job mentioned the sins of his youth and questioning the value of bringing that up against him.  God, of course, will not do that.

We who know Jesus and have experienced His forgiveness never have to worry about God dredging up the sins of our past.  Such plaguing thoughts do not come from Him.  Often the Evil One will remind us those things to impose false guilt and seek to destroy our confidence.  Our memories of the past should quickly shift to the grace extended to us by faith in Jesus.  To be forgiven by God means our record is clean with Him.

"'Come now, let us reason together,' says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; thought they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.'" (Isaiah 1:18)


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