Kim Gentes

Have you ever found yourself "holding back" in your devotions of praise or worship? Do you see tendencies to glorify God just at times when you have lots to be thankful for? Many of us are susceptible to that kind of thinking and action. While I was reading the account of Job and his incredible day in which the whole world is changed for him, I was convicted deeply at his response. Let’s read that section of scripture:

One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job 1:13-22

Let's face it- most of us will never have to endure what Job faced. Still, the same God that encouraged and strengthened Job, and made his heart faithful, is now our Comforter. In the day of our calamity will we also do as Job when "he fell to the ground in worship”? In the hour of our grief, can we see the freedom of God-centeredness in surrender that Job showed when he said to the Lord "may the name of the LORD be praised”?

It wasn't about ignoring the pain or removing oneself from the grieving process. It was about a God who is ultimately worthy of worship and praise, regardless of the circumstances of life. Understanding that, and living in that truth, paved the way for Job to have Christlikeness in his thoughts (or as Paul says in 1 Cor. 2:16, “the mind of Christ”), and makes a way for us to follow the example of Job -

"In all this, Job did not sin
by charging God with wrongdoing.”

Job 1:22

Incredible!

The testimony written of Job shows a kind of wisdom that is not common. His response to the four tragedies that crash down upon him is reflected in both what he does, and what he does not do. What he does is simply to turn the flood of personal tragedy into a fountain of public praise. He lifts up the Unchangeable God, as the changeable world crashes in around him. But the record of scripture does not stop there. It clarifies for us that he also does not do something that is often our common response- to blame God. To be sure, we all will come to the place where we must reconcile that an all-knowing God has indeed foreseen and allowed for calamity to come our way. Job clearly identifies this when he says “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away”.

Job recognizes that God has indeed been aware, and perhaps even involved in the events of pain that have just occurred. Yet, he understands that each blessing (that has now fallen to tragedy) was given originally by God (“The LORD gave”). And it is this understanding that has him able to complete the phrase “and the LORD has taken away”.

It is not a trite declaration, and Job is not ringing off a quick “formula” that might convince God to restore Job’s fortunes. Job was able to do this because he recited what he had known from the beginning- that it all belongs to God. And as He chooses to give or take it away, it still remains wholly under God’s ownership. It is from that concise and pure relationship with God (and a clear understanding of His character- how He acts in relationships) that Job declares the truth and then maintains that clarity in his actions in that he “did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing”.

Even more amazing is that the troubles, and Job’s faithfulness, continue as the book moves on. Chapter two explains the intense physical affliction that came upon Job. Observing all of this, his wife articulates the desperation and frustration that often overtakes us- “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

Sitting in our lives, it can be easy to criticize the words of Job’s wife. Yet, in truth, we often find ourselves in agreement with her sentiments. The scenarios may be different in details, but the pathway is all too familiar. Life comes at us. We bear down and work through the difficulty. Our spouses encourage us and we move forward. Then, as things were getting better, our jobs become uncertain as company layoffs are looming at work. Stress is higher each day at the workplace. During this same time, finances are squeezed. Children are becoming adolescents and costs around the home are high. Our elderly parents are in need, and we reach out to help. The close friends we once had have moved on to other cities, chasing the dreams of their lives. Then it happens. “It” could be any number of things. The company we have worked at loyally for so long has to trim costs and we are laid off. Or maybe our youngest child walks away from God and heads into a life a painful rebellion. Or perhaps the words “malignant cancer” comes crashing down on our world.

As our lives unravel into the reality that our hope and plans may never be realized, we sink to a flood of emotions. In those emotions and real life, the certainty we once had about our lives and futures begin to crumble. Loosing that certainty, and our sense of control over our lives, the questions begin to rain down. What is going on? How could this happen? What will we do? Where is God? This is the place we find Job and wife at. She has come to the end. And in her pain, she has concluded that God is to blame. The only thing left is to “curse God and die”.

But Job remains centered in the reality of God’s control over all things.

He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman.
Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Job 2:10

This statement is an echo of his previous declaration in chapter one, where he said, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”

When our lives are going well, it can be easy to ring out “the name of the LORD be praised”. Yet true character is not revealed by our answers in times of preparation. No, true character comes out in the hour of surprise- at the unexpected time when we are tested. Occasionally, we try to lean on the excuse that times of extreme stress cause us to act differently than in normal times. But the truth is that our strength to handle conflict and tension comes out of the well of our character and how deeply we are rooted in the peace of a relationship with our Creator. As we settle into a living knowledge and a present conversation with God, we stop filtering our external talk and begin to live out of the overflow of our relationship with Him. “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”

May your heart become captured again with the love of God, and flourish into a personal conversation where you hear Him and He hears you. And as your heart become filled with Him, out of that well of life, you will declare, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”

Selah!

Kim Anthony Gentes

The scripture references above are Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2007 by Kim Anthony Gentes. Used by permission.

Worship Beyond Circumstances (ThinkJump Episode 13 by Kim Gentes)

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.

"It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.
"You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Matthew 14:22-33

As we survey Scripture, one can see many circumstances provoking and resulting in worship. This is yet another example of a response to an awesome display of God's power. However, it is also a revelatory experience for the disciples.

The depiction of the storm on the lake is a metaphor that has applications to our lives of "unsettled waters". We cannot control many aspects of our world, and therefore the waves will rage about us. In those times, our efforts to make it to the safe shores of life might seem a vain struggle. But it is during the late watch of the night that Jesus comes to us.

His way of approaching our daily struggles often seems unorthodox to us. Christ shows us that we shouldn't wage war on the waves, using the tools of the sea. The fishermen among the disciples must have felt quite at home on the sea, understanding the use of all the equipment necessary for the trek across the body of water. The boats, the sails, the oars- all of them were second nature to many the disciples. Yet none of these worked in accomplishing the simple task of crossing the lake.

Jesus’ approach to conquering the daily storms of life was not to fight against them with the standard tools of our mind, strength and heart (boat, sails and oars of our lives). Instead of trying to use these natural tools to fight our daily struggles, we must recognize that there are supernatural forces arrayed against us. The wind, waves and waters are the forces that push against our journey to God. Jesus shows us that we must not try to avoid the elements of struggle, or to fight them in futility in our own strength. Instead he shows us that we must walk straight into the storm, with our gaze fixed on Jesus alone.

Taking our eyes off Jesus allows the struggles to consume us and swallow up what progress we make in our walk with Christ. He does want us to join him. But he knows our weaknesses. He will always be with us. He won't leave us behind when he sees us struggling to work out our faith or having a hard time comprehending his greatness. Instead he climbs in the boat with us. And in the presence of the Living God, the storms of the world are calmed. It is in the presence of God that the Prince of Peace is revealed to those who are watching for him. For whenever we come in contact with Jesus, just being with him is a revelatory experience.

The experience of being in God's physical presence, and the revelation of his reality defying the "natural" reality of our world, redefined the theology of the disciples in the boat with him. Jesus did not quote them an Old Testament text or proclaim his messianic title. But with his actions and presence exposing his God-hood, they both understood He was God and treated Him as God. No other reply would have been more appropriate than doing as they did. By worshiping him they showed that they truly understood who he was. The act of worship is the one completely God-ward act we are afforded as created beings. It clarifies and re-defines who we are and re-iterates who He is.

To worship God is not only why we exist, but it is how we exist. It defines who we are and what we do.

So let's be open to His ways, ready for His call, faithful in the walk, alert to His revelation, and ready to bow in worship to Jesus alone!

Selah!

Kim Anthony Gentes

The above scripture is Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.

Wind Waves and Worship (ThinkJump Episode 12 by Kim Gentes)