Felloship Friday: Blind Struggle

The reading in Job 33 reminded me of my own life and walk with God. In this chapter Job a prominent man of God is being reproved by a younger man. Job was a devout man of God, full of faith and wisdom. Yet at this time he is being corrected because Job is professing his righteousness and claiming God is against him.

^9 “I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.”

^10 “Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,”

The young man proceeds to say,

^12 “Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.”

It is God that declares and makes holy. Sometimes believers can walk about with a mindset that they are flawless or perfect because God is in their life. This is detrimental because it can cause a superior mindset and cause people to look down on others. I am not better than anyone because God is in my life, but rather I am a better version of myself with God. This better version of us is our witness to win those who aren’t walking with God. Self righteousness or believing your holy or perfect is simply self glory. Bible says no flesh should glory in his presence. So coming to God with this “I’m perfect or holy mindset” does not please God. This was Job’s sin.

^14 “For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.”

^17 “That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.”

Pride only keeps you away from God and keeps your perfect image as the God you serve. Instead of looking down on sinners or the unlearned, follow those that do know God and his word by humbly seeking to help them. When a child can’t tie his shoes, do we call him an idiot, make faces at him, tell ourselves were better or do we seek to teach the child. When someone who doesn’t know God or wavers in their walk with God let that analogy guide your thought process and action. Is it more beneficial to pray for them or within yourself claim yourself as the better believer or person. Where’s the benefit? Unless, you count your appraisal of yourself, this benefits none especially God’s church.

Last year, I thought I was without blemish in my walk with God. If you asked me last year how is God reproving you or what is he working on? I would say nothing, I’m good. 2012 I learned I had pride, which caused me to look at myself and see nothing wrong. I would refuse to hear correction and treated everything I learned or heard as knowledge for somebody else. This is what pride does, keeps you blind. Once God corrected and opened my eyes from pride I realized the myriad of imperfections in my walk. God is holy, so the closer we get to God, the more our imperfections will be exposed to us. Last year was a year I drew closer to God and at the same time it was a year I realized how unlike Christ I really was. At one point I said to God I feel like Swiss cheese, I have so many holes. My whole life I thought I was a good Christian. Pride is blinding and something extremely detrimental to anyone seeking God. My pastor said we should always be working on something in our lives, basically teaching us were not perfect, be humble.

^29 “Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,”

This verse is referring to God always correcting man of his pride. If he is always correcting, then this means it’s an ongoing struggle to remain humble. We must analyze ourselves and ask God to keep us humble. Simply ask God today, “If I have pride God expose it?”

Matthew 5:6

^6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled”.