When we ask what is it that really made Job Great? In the first three verses we read that Job had seven sons and three daughters, he had so many possessions, he had his health. But these can’t be what made Job great because latter we read that he lost all these things. What made Job great was that he kept his faith in God throughout all the losses, trials, and suffering. This lesson hits the point that Job was not the only great man, there were others, and even today there are great men because of their faith.
According to the scripture there are many things we “Must” Do. “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…” (2 Cor. 5:10). “as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Col. 3:13). We must believe that He is, and “diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). In this lesson I want to suggest five “Musts” (1.) You Must Live / Be Born. (2.) You Must Accept the Gospel to Be Saved. (3.) You Must Die. (4.) You Must Be at the Resurrection, and (5.) You Must Face Judgement.
Jesus is now in Heaven, seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:2). Jesus is coming back! (1 Thess. 4:15-17). But until He does come, and He is coming, what must both the Christian and the unbeliever be doing?
Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). • (Mark 16:16) Baptism: Commandment! • (John 13:34) Love: Commandment! • (Heb 10:25) Assemblies: Commandment! • (2 Tim 2:15) Rightly Divide: Commandment! • (Mark 11:25) Forgive: Commandment! • Pray, Be Salt and Light, Fear God, Honor your father and mother, all commands. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16, we have a command which is just as binding upon Christians as any you can find in the Word of God: “Rejoice always”! Question is are we?
Miracles have passed and are no longer needed today, for we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). Miracles served their purpose in that they confirmed Jesus is the Son of God (Isa. 7:14, 9:6; Matt. 2:11, 14:32-33; John 10:30-33), and they confirmed the word (Mark 16:20). But today, in one sense, we all can work toward a miracle. That is the miracle of your soul’s salvation. No little thing that God’s plan has been to save you, and that He has shown us all a way through the magnificent teaching of Christ and His Apostles, that is the word of God, which is able to save your soul (James 1:21).
Have you ever considered that there is a right way, and a wrong way to suffer? A continuation from Psalm 42 the Psalmist in chapter 43 asks, “Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?” Then he answers with a resolve saying, “Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.” The key to suffering rightly is to always keep your hope in God, always look upward, and trust in His power to hold you up.
As brothers and sisters in Christ we are commanded to love one another (John 15:12), care for each other (1 Cor. 12:25) carry one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2), and abound in the work of the kingdom together (1 Cor. 15:58). We must know that spiritual devastation awaits all who ignore the commandments of God our Savior, and they are commandments. We are spiritually killing ourselves, O’ so slowly by our indifference to our brethren when we “don’t know, where our brother is”, by our absence in the assembly, or by our lack of work in the kingdom. GOD’S THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTION? “Where is Abel your brother?” • Cain’s response was: “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” – (Gen 4:9). What would your response be?