Hi how are you all today? I hope you are well. What am I feeling like – hot? This is the hottest day for October in my town for nearly twenty years. It was around 36 degrees C or 96 degrees F and we are only in spring. I hope that we only have a few days like this and not weeks on end. How is the weather for you?
Last week my topic was a little controversial and for those I offended, I am sorry. But this week gives us part 2 because Job’s story didn’t end with the results of God stepping back . The reason for this is that Job stayed faithful to God all through the trial. Job was restored and rewarded and that is the good news for all of us. God is no respecter of persons and what He did for Job, He will do for you and I too.
The difference between Job and us is that our restoration comes through Jesus. This means that when we know and then declare that Jesus is now our Lord (because we can’t do life successfully on our own) and believe what Jesus did for us on the cross , we will be saved or restored into our rightful place as sons and daughters of God.
God didn’t send Jesus to condemn us but to save us – for restoration to happen – so we could live like we would have in the Garden of Eden – walking with God, communing with Him and partaking in all His blessings.
But this is a process. Our spirit is born again but our soul (mind, will and emotions) needs to be transformed or re- programmed by the Word of God. In Gods kingdom, we are required to act differently, speak differently and obey Him just like what we would have to do if we moved to another country ( which is literally what happens when we get saved).
That’s how we are restored initially but does restoration have to continually happen in our lives? Yes. In Philippians 2:12, the Bible tells us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. What does this mean? On a daily basis, we need to continue living knowing and remembering that Jesus is our Lord. That everything He died for is now ours to live out, For example – being righteous, living holy – separated to God, believing God daily for healing and deliverance, repenting of sin. All this can be summed up in loving God, loving others and knowing our own identity in Christ as His sons and daughters.
Restoration comes as we allow God to do a deep work in our hearts, our emotions, our identity and our actions. To allow God to transform us to be more like Jesus. Restoration is not a once off but a daily surrender to God and the work He wants to do in our lives.
So getting back to Job. How did God restore him? In Job 42:6, Job repented of his wrongdoing. He also prayed for his friends to receive forgiveness. In verse 20, the Lord restored to Job twice as much as he had before.
God is always in the restoration business and wants to restore you and I so we can be blessed and a blessing to others. Will you and I allow Him to do that? I know I will – no matter how painful it gets. Because on the other side of my restoration obedience is untold blessing. Will you join me?
Have an amazing week and keep living the life God intended for you.
Bless you
Karen
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