by Pastor Afolabi Oladele

And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:  And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:13-21

Our text for today is a live illustration of Psalms 91:5b, 6b, but judge the reaction of a man that fears! How do I respond to such desolation of the wicked when they come? Gill’s Exposition of Psalm 25 gives direction as to what our prayers should be and I summarise here “Lord, if perhaps you lift the veil of protection that has kept me from the wrath of the enemy, please be with me, strengthen me by the presence of the Holy Spirit, so I do not fail you, deny you or speak against your sure love. When by your permission the snare of the fowler comes, keep me singing your praise O Lord, not hastily working out my own solution or sparking my own fire. Help me to recognize that it is you proving me and the integrity of my heart towards you.” Myles Munroe said, Seeds of faith are always within us; sometimes it takes a crisis to nourish and encourage their growth.

Let worship triumph over overwhelming grief and loss while I still have the breath of life that You gave me. This is the pathway to God’s roll of honour. Will I qualify? Will you qualify? Selah

Photo by Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash