“Fear God And Shun Evil!”

“Fear God And Shun Evil!”(Job 1:1-5).
Welcome to day five of Lent 2023.
It is the beginning of a new week and the book of Job is going to be our focus for almost all of this week. Job is placed first among the five biblical books now called “Wisdom literature.” The others being Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs.
The book of Job is the story of a man called Job. He was a blameless and upright man; he feared God and shunned evil. He was wealthy and had a large number of servants. He was blessed with seven sons and three daughters. Job “was the greatest man among all the people of the East.” Infact, Job carried grace.
It is however sad that Job falls in that category of people who think that God can be placated, appeased or cajoled. This is evident in his regular custom of sending and having his children purified after a period of their feasting. After purification he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them.
He did this thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God.”
Even if they sinned, God does not require from us sacrifices and burnt offerings. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart…”(Ps.51:16-17).
The LORD does not delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices. Obeying the voice of the LORD is better than sacrifice (I Sam.15:22).
Dear friend, as we journey through Lent and through life as a whole, let us try the best we can to be blameless and upright, to fear God and shun evil. Even so, we can never attain that perfect condition through our own efforts, but grace can lift us up to the coveted position of heirs of God’s kingdom.
When we turn to the LORD in true repentance and faith, his grace in Christ Jesus will do for us what sacrifices and burnt offerings cannot do.
Prayer of the day and week: Holy Spirit help me to fear God and shun evil. Amen!
Have a blessed day and week! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.