Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-08-05

TO show the prince OF devils the power
of a God given trust. why did Job have
to fail? Why do We? II We could out
keep in mind that all this life is test'
that the real end and aim Of existence
is not for here and nov, hut hereafter,
and that We are working against the real,
best good Of ourselves when We protest
at anything that our Father lets CORE
upon us. there would be more OF Us That
would stand the test. and show satan
what God in a mortal life can do.
Job saw il afterward and repented. He
came TO the point where he could say TO
God: 81 know that Thou canst do every
thing" He had not known that before.
He had never had the opportunity to put
God to the full test and to know Just
what God could do for man. Now he
knew. when he had got down to the very
last point. where everything Was->Sone
from him, and he TO longer desired his
own life. then. having called TO God. he
had learned the meaning OF the words;
MY grace is sufficient for thee, for My
strength is made perfect in weakness
Not until Job was stripped of his all
and had no strength nor courage OF his
own could he know the perfection OF
Gods strength. for Gods perfect strength
comes to lis only when we are entirely
empt:ed of our own. Oh. for the trust
that will rest upon that fully, and let
God have His way. Job came to the
point where he knew that all his boasted
religion OF the past, all his supposed
the ear about Gods power; and now he
saw But now Mine eye seeth thee."
He said. Then came the inevitable con-
Clusion when one sees God face to face:
Wherefore / abhor myself and repent N
dust and ashes JOB now rid Of
self. He had probably had pretty COM
Portable idea Of his own faith and
righteousness in those DAYS WREN bless
ngs flowed around Kim like the air he
breathed. He felt that God was pleased
with him. and naturally took on some
self-righteousness ] suppose God saw
JOB needed to be rid of this before he
could be the perfect man that Satan could
not mock at. and therefore He let him
be put to the test that he might be free
from all dross and be pure gold in the
sight of God. Then when JOB cried out:
Wherefore l abhor myself the evidence
had come that the last bit of dross was
burned from his character, and self could
hinder no more the power of God in JOB.
II IS always the case when one sees God
face to face that he abhors himself and
wants to get rid of il.
The grand climax is that God gave Job
more blessings than he had IN the first
place. IT is only when man gives Up
self entirely. and sees God. and knows
His power that il is safe for him to have
unlimited blessings. and it is only when a
man repents and gives up self that God
can really bless him.
Applied Truth.
great Christian who lay upon a bed
of suffering from which there was no
hope of recovery was asked il he under
stood why God had sent this af1iction
upon him. He replied that he did not. but
that it was enough for him that God saw
a reason for it.
Out of suffering comes the serious
mind: out of salvation the grateful heart:
out of endurance. fortituGe: out of de.iv-
mo fa -ct.
There is no story that illustrates this
topic like the true ore OF the little maid
who was IN such distress of soul oyer
her own sins. and her sad empty life.
that she came to the minister who was
stopping at the inn where size worked.
and asked Inn what to do. He told her
to pray. Lord, show me thyse,f." she
did so and was filled with adherence Of
herself but with JOY over the loving for
giving, powerful SAVIOR whom she had
learned to know.
Hints to the Leader.
Ask ten or a dozen OF your members
to prepare to take up different Lines "
thought from Jobs answers TO his friends.
For instance. one might take the thought.
of Gods greatness. repeating character
istic verse. and a few others who had
been prepared by this one would follow
with more verses about Gods grea tness.
Some OF the younger members might be
interested TO give a chain CT verses touch
ing on the wonders of God in nature. But
the greatest and best chain should be
that on trust" Let your leading helpers
look out that the verses chosen be from
Jobs savings and not from the speeches
of his three friends II is easy TO pick
our a verse in Job and not realize that it
may not be Jobs thought at all Ii You
have time touch a little on the three
friends and their like today. and on the
that came upon them for their
folly. and dogmat:sm and conceit.
Il cannot understand when Ger Times ocean
nv life-hark sailed.
Why storms arose. and why in dim commotion
The way seemed veiiad:
Yet this know. God saw IL best.
Therefore the storm arose:
Ard though cannot the why and whefenoa
Yet Jes IL knc vs..