Learning DAILY

 

Job 1: 8, Then the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God.  Verse 12, And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold all he has is in your hold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person:  So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

 

Luke 22:31-32, And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon!  Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brothers.”

 

I need to give some examples to what I have written in the last two pages of the blog.  I have written that God allows things to happen to His people in order for them to learn and be able to teach others.  Job’s suffering is well known; his suffering is an example for Christians today to draw hope from when trials occur in their lives.  The accounts of Job and Peter help us to understand two other important aspects of our trials.  One, Satan is most likely behind the suffering and, second, God has given permission for what is happening.  Satan was behind both of their suffering and he is still causing trouble for God’s people today!

 

In Job’s situation, Satan questioned God about the motives for following God and therefore the reality of Job’s righteousness.  He insisted Job’s love for God and his desire to serve Him was self-serving; he said Job worshipped God as long as he profited from it.  Satan also challenged God by saying Job had bribed Him into blessing Him.  God was accused of failing to reconcile humanity.  Satan said if God was to stop protecting Job, giving him wealth and happiness, Job would curse Him.  So, God allowed Satan to destroy Job’s family and property; God limited what he could do to Job.  He could not kill him.

 

Jesus also knew that Satan would test His disciples.  But, Jesus called out Peter specifically.  Jesus “called him by his old name, Simon, because He knew Peter would soon fall into his old ways.” (David Jeremiah Study Bible).  Jesus allowed Satan to tempt Peter (and us) only within certain limits and by His permission only.  Satan is not free to do whatever he wants with God’s people!

 

Notice something else that Jesus said and this is very important!  Jesus prayed for Simon.  He prays for every person who comes to Him in faith.  Hebrews 7:25 tells us, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” And 1 Corinthians 10:13 encourages us by stating, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  The condition for the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayers is to accept and walk in the grace of God.

 

I think Satan accused the disciples of following Jesus for the same reason he said Job followed God?  Because Satan tells the same lies today, I think he accuses the followers of God of the same things.  A little testing and they will fall away from You God.  And, the tests occur because God knows your heart and believe His love and prayers for you will strengthen you to endure when the tests come.    Is this the last hour?  Again, I do not know.  I do read and see that the godless are coming for the Christians.  I can hear in my imagination Satan telling God that the people who say follow Him are more self-centered, more interested in the materialistic, and wanting to gain riches and a good life than to really follow You.   Will God allow you to be tested?  If He does know He has given permission for it and He promises to not allow you to be tested beyond your capacity to endure.  Be encouraged!  God loves you! He has not forgotten you!  And, He is praying for you!  Jesus told Simon and He is telling us as well, ”But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brothers.”

 

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