Devotion 438

“The Test of Faith”

Reference: Job Chapter 2

For Abraham it was Mount Moriah.

For Christ it was Mount Calvary.

For Daniel it was in a den of lions.

For Job it was an Ash heap.

Every child that comes to God must be tested and trialed.


Let’s read:

Job 2:1-3 “Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. [2] And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. [3] And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.”

The Lord takes pride in the faith of His children. Faith pleases the Lord, and very much so.

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

The Lord uses the faith of His children as a word of testimony against Satan.

We continue our reading:

Job 2:4-8 “And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. [5] But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. [6] And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. [7] So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. [8] And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.”

Job sat on the ash heap. Satan can attack the believer in a million ways but one thing  he cannot take away is their faith.

Believer, have faith in God. That’s what Satan hates. The believer’s faith cuts Satan to the core.

Faith overcomes Satan. It must be faith resting in the Word.

Revelation 12:10-11 “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. [11] And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

We overcome Satan by faith (the word of our testimony) in the blood of the Lamb (the finished work of Jesus Christ).

We continue our reading:

Job 2:9 “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.”

Unbelief looks to circumstances. Faith looks exclusively to the One in charge of the circumstances. Faith welcomes every circumstance because faith knows Who is in charge of the circumstances.

Knowing Him is the key.

We conclude our reading:

Job 2:10-13 “But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. [11] Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. [12] And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. [13] So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.”

The son must be tested or he remains a servant.

Galatians 4:1-2 “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; [2] But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.”

Job is enrolled in the Father’s school of faith.

Welcome every test of your faith. Place faith exclusively in God’s Word.

It was God’s thought before it became His Word. God cannot change His Word. God has to keep His Word. That’s what makes Him God. His Word is perfect. Faith rest on the solemn perfect Word of God.

Faith rest on the Word that God through Christ has torn down the veil of death, the veil of the grave, the veil of sickness, the veil of fear, the veil of sin, and the veil of unbelief.

Believe and confess Christ the Word as we’ve revealed Him from the First Adam. Faith must always be tested to see if it’s resting on the Word, in Christ!