“The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory. That's the essence of it.”
1Then Job replied:
2“If only my grief could be weighed
and placed with my calamity on the scales.
3For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas—
no wonder my words have been rash.
4For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me;
my spirit drinks in their poison;
ACTS 7:20-43
JOURNAL
Job's story dismantles the idea that life with God operates according to a simple formula. Scripture repeatedly describes Job as blameless and upright. Yet he suffers more than almost anyone in Scripture. His losses were not punishment for sin, nor evidence that God had abandoned him. In fact, the very foundation of the book is that Job's suffering occurs despite his faithfulness.
In Job 6:1-4, we hear the raw honesty of a man overwhelmed by grief. His pain feels heavier than the sand of the seas. He feels pierced by the arrows of the Almighty. Job does not hide his anguish, but neither does he abandon God. Even in his confusion, he remains engaged in relationship with Him.
In Acts 7, Stephen recounts the story of Moses. Moses was chosen by God, preserved as an infant, educated in Egypt, and prepared for a great purpose. Yet his path was not one of immediate success. He was rejected by his own people, forced into exile, and spent decades in the wilderness before stepping into the role God had for him.
The same chapter ultimately leads to Stephen's own death. Moses is spared and restored to lead Israel. Stephen is stoned for proclaiming the truth. One regains his life and purpose in this world. The other loses his life. Yet both glorify God.
That is the lesson. The Christian life is not a transaction where obedience guarantees comfort, success, or favorable outcomes. Job was blameless and suffered. Moses was chosen and rejected. Stephen was faithful and killed. God's purpose was never simply to give them an easier path. His purpose was relationship and the revelation of His glory through their lives.
The question is not whether circumstances turn out the way I want. The question is whether I will remain connected to Him through them. God calls me to seek Him, trust Him, and become a conduit of His power, love, and discipline. The circumstances may differ dramatically, but the calling remains the same.
Vince Lombardi Jr. said, "The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory. That's the essence of it."
Job was brought to his knees. Moses was brought to his knees. Stephen was brought to his knees. Yet each, in his own way, exalted God. Their lives remind me that true success is not measured by outcomes but by faithfulness. When hardship comes, my greatest purpose is not to escape it but to allow God to work through it, shaping me into a living expression of His love and making my life an outpost of His Kingdom.
Romans 12 reminds me that worship is offering myself completely to God and allowing Him to renew my mind. As I do, my life becomes less about controlling results and more about reflecting His character. Whether I experience restoration like Moses, suffering like Stephen, or bewildering trials like Job, my calling remains unchanged: seek God, trust God, and allow His power, love, and discipline to flow through me for His glory.
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
No comments:
Post a Comment