January 19, 2025 -Open Hands

JOB 1:1-4:21

One Year Bible Audio & Daily Reading (oneyearbibleonline.com)

Job 1:20 Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. 21 He said,

“I came naked from my mother’s womb,

    and I will be naked when I leave.

The Lord gave me what I had,

    and the Lord has taken it away.

Praise the name of the Lord!”

22 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

We just had our 8th annual This is Us Women's conference. Our theme was living in truth. Jesus is truth and the word of God is truth. The book of Job is the word of God and what he says here is a hard truth to live in. Even if everything we have on this earth is taken away we should praise God. EVERYTHING that we have was given to us by God and if it is taken away it is God's to take away. This really speaks to the integrity of Job. He didn't just know the truth that God is provider of all things he lived in that truth. So much so that even in his grief and mourning he didn't blame God and he praised Him. Notice that he did grieve. He was broken hearted. He didn't know or understand why it was happening. But in living in the truth that all things belong to God more than they belong to us allows him to hold onto things with open hands. If we hold onto things with clenched fists when something is taken away it is even more traumatic more painful.

I think that how we hold onto things is the difference. Have you ever met a modern day Job? Someone who experienced great loss. A child is shot and killed, a house burns down, a debilitating or life ending medical diagnosis is received, and instead of blaming God and being angry even in the midst of their grief they praise God. Those who forgive the shooter that killed their child, who praises God and sees their house burning down as a blessing and opportunity to trust Him. Those who thank God for their diagnosis because it means they get to see Jesus soon. These people still grieve, they may even ask God why but they don't blame God because they hold the things of this world with open hands offering all they have up to God.

The thing that I think you will find in common with them is that they do hold with a tightly clenched fist to somethings. The hope and truth that is Jesus Christ. They hold tightly to the word of God. They hold tightly to His truth. I think walking in truth can only be done when we are walking hand in hand with Jesus. Hold tightly to Jesus' nail scared hand because when you are walking through this dark, broken, and painful life you are not alone and you need to remind yourself of that. What better way than to be clinging to your savior. Whatever it may be that you are holding onto that is not yours to hold, open your hands and if God takes it away raise one hand in the air praising God and with the other hold tightly to your bible like it's Jesus hand and let Him walk you through this life in truth.