Bible Studies · Exhortation and Repentance · Home and Family · Christian Life
How is our conduct?
5 min read, approximately
“The fear I anticipated has come upon me; what terrified me has happened to me.” (Job 3:25)
The Word teaches us that Job was a man of integrity, upright, God-fearing, and shunning evil. He was very prosperous; the Word teaches us that the Lord had protected him, his family, and everything he owned. Yet something would not let Job rest!
“His sons would go and hold a feast in each one’s house on his day, and send for their three sisters to eat and drink with them.” (Job 1:4 RVR 2015)
Why did Job not celebrate with them?
Here is the answer:
“When the days of feasting had passed, Job would send for them and purify them. Rising early in the morning, he offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said: ‘Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ This he did continually.” (Job 1:5 RVR 2015)
Job would send for them and sanctify them; this happened every time there was a feast! Does it remind us of something? The familiar saying: ‘I sin, I pray, and we’re even’!
Job offered burnt offerings for his children every morning, but the Word never records a change in his children’s conduct… Something like: ‘And Job’s children repented and began to worship the Lord’.
So, in light of the above, the following question arises:
Could the Lord be weary of… our conduct, our children’s conduct, our conduct as parents, our conduct as spouses?
So, in light of the above, the following question arises:
Could the Lord be weary of…
\1. our conduct?
Lord, just one more, and I will sin no more!…
“Like a dog returning to its vomit is a fool repeating their foolishness.” (Proverbs 26:11)
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. If only you were cold or hot! But because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)
\2. our children’s conduct?
Forgetting Dad’s advice as soon as we turn the corner?…
“Woe to the children who turn away, says the Lord, to take counsel, but not from me; to seek a covering, but not from my Spirit, adding sin to sin!” (Isaiah 30:1)
“My son, do not forget my law, and let your heart keep my commandments; for they will add length of days, years of life, and peace to you. Let mercy and truth never leave you; bind them around your neck and write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and a good reputation in the sight of God and people. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own opinion; fear the Lord and turn away from evil, for this will be medicine to your body and refreshment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:1-8)
\3. our conduct as parents?
Lord, the truth is that we have been so busy that it has been impossible to share the Word in our homes…
“These words that I command you today shall be upon your heart; you shall repeat them to your children and speak of them when you sit in your house, walk along the way, lie down, and rise.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)
“Train a child in the way they should go, and even when old they will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
\4. our conduct as spouses?
That is how he or she was when I met them, so what can I do? It is their problem if they do that… Bah! There is no fixing it now!…
“All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16)
“I will give them one heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, so that they may walk in my ordinances, keep my decrees, and fulfill them…” (Ezekiel 11:19-20a)
“Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a mark upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealousy as unyielding as Sheol. Its embers are embers of fire, a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If someone gave all the wealth of their house for this love, they would surely be scorned.” (Song of Songs 8:6-7)
Our future at stake
We must remember that everything we do or fail to do will have consequences for the future… Let us learn from what happened to Job!
It is not too late yet!
It is time to make a decision! For the instructions have already been given
“and whoever knows the good they ought to do and does not do it, for them it is sin.” (James 4:17)
So if it is us…
“…go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11)
If it is our children, it is our duty to instruct them. If it is us as parents, let us make time for the owner of time, who has abundant wisdom to teach us. And if it is our relationship as a couple, let us make time for dialogue and spiritual growth!
May God continue to bless you
and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!
I invite you to stop by the Songbook