“I had a call from the pastor of our church yesterday,” Stan commented one morning while we waited for breakfast.
“What’d he have to say?” I asked.
“He wanted my opinion about something,” Stan replied. “The church is getting ready to hire someone for a new position in the support staff.”
“And he asked if you wanted the job?”
“Oh, no,” Stan said with a laugh, “he wanted my opinion on the job description he was putting together so they could start looking for someone with the right qualifications.”
“I see,” I replied. “Get a description of what the job entails so people will know whether or not they qualify and should apply.”
“That’s it,” Stan said. “And after I had talked with the pastor, I was thinking about the person in the Bible named Job and how he had the qualifications for God’s job description for him.”
“Job had a job description?”
“Not exactly,” Stan replied, “but he sure is described with certain qualifications essential for what God had for him to do. And, it seems to me, that I am to have the same job description for what God has for me to be and to do.”
“How so?”
“In the very first verse in the Book of Job,” Stan said, “Job is described as a man who was blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil.”
“Wow,” I responded. “If that’s how Job was described, I can see that he was all set for the job God had for him. But I’m not sure I can meet those qualifications.”
“That’s another story for another day,” Stan said, “but in a nutshell, it seems to me that none of us qualify on our own, but as we surrender to God He will help us meet whatever He has for us to be and to do in being a part His kingdom.”
“It sounds kind of like,” I added, “that Job’s job description could also be used to describe a disciple. Does that make sense?”
“If you mean the three steps of denying, taking up, and following,” Stan replied, “I would say that it sure seems like it to me!”
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Bible verses to consider:
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from Evil. Job 1:1.
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5.
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13.
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:29.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for showing me that how Job is described in your Word has application to me. I am not blameless, but I am forgiven, I have the righteousness of Christ through His finished work on the cross, I fear you, and I seek to turn away from evil. I confess that too often I fall short of your description, but I know that when I turn to you, you will help me follow every step of your lead in being only who and what you intend for your purposes. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: If you were to apply the description of Job to yourself, how do you measure up? Would it be a fair comparison? Why or why not? Do you believe that God will mold you exactly as He wants for His purposes if you are willing to be molded? Why or why not? If you sense the need for change in your life and in your relationship with God, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 