The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"A Tranquil Heart"
Job knew the grace of God, as evident in the Lord's affirmation of His trusting servant:
"And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect (complete) and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" (Job 1:8).
Job nevertheless acknowledged after his suffering began that despite his integrity and sincerity, he lacked the knowledge of God that leads to deep and abiding peace of the heart:
"For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came" (Job 3:25-26).
It is possible to trust the Lord for His grace in the Lord Jesus Christ that results in relationship with Him and a life that honors Him, while nevertheless requiring growth in God's grace and truth in Christ that results in abiding peace amid the temptations of life. Like those to whom the book of Hebrews is written, we can "seem to come short" of God's rest in the Lord Jesus despite having entered into it (emphasis added).
"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest" (Hebrews 4:1-3).
The peace of Christ can be resident, but not realized in the believer's heart. One reason for Job's trials involved God's determination to advance His servant into a walk with Himself that led not only to an exemplary life, but also a consistent and growing experience of His peace. Job admitted that he had lacked this strength of spirit, while not knowing at the time that God had allowed his trials in order to lead him into a far greater and deeper knowledge of Himself. This happened, as confirmed by Job's testimony after his severe trial concluded: "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee" (Job 42:5).
The Lord Jesus died not only to establish the peace of redeeming relationship with God, but also the realized peace of His presence and promise: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee" (Isaiah 26:3). Our Heavenly Father will never be content with our simply knowing Him in the new birth, glorious as is such marvelous grace. Remaining a babe in Christ whose heart is tossed about by turmoil is not optional in God's purpose for us. "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat" (Hebrews 5:12). Our Lord may thus administer and allow challenges in our lives that seem to place us in great peril, while actually making possible our experience of His great peace. "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept Thy Word" (Psalm 119:67).
Presently, a tranquil heart in Christ must be known in the troubled haven of the fallen world in which we live. The Apostle Paul confirms this provision of a peace in the Lord Jesus that makes no sense to natural understanding, but which brightly illuminates the hearts of those who believe that God can fill our hearts with His assurance in all things…
"Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:6-7)
Weekly Memory Verse
Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.
(Ephesians 6:10)
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