12-4-2018

Good Morning All,

                      Job 1:10; “Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.”

      It is sort of like the backyard fence.  You put it up and then you let the children play.  As long as they are within the fenced in area they are safe.  However, if they are ever outside of the fenced in area, then danger lurks.  Stay inside the fence and you are safe; outside the fence and problems will arise.

    Our verse is part of the conversation between Satan and God as they discussed Job.  Satan claimed that the reason Job was faithful was because God had put a fence around him and only good things had happened to Job.  He was the wealthiest man in the region.  He had a large family; life was good.  So Satan claimed that the only reason that Job was faithful was because God protected him from the pain of the world. 

    So God, in essence, let Satan into the fenced in area to test Job.  Job eventually stood the test, as great as it was.  Yet, he was still inside the fenced in area.  He was still protected by God.  God was allowing Satan the freedom that he had but it was never out of God’s control.  Even though there were times when Job probably wasn’t real sure; he was always under God’s loving arm and protective eye.

   We are as well.  God’s grace is poured out upon us and we are protected from all that the devil will throw at us.  He can never separate us from God’s love.  God’s grace is always there for us.  The only time it is gone is when we leave the fenced in area, when we walk away from God.  Then we have made the choice to do battle with the devil all on our own.  We will fight and we will lose.  The devil is far too powerful for us to win against.  He will torment and lead us into all sorts of pain, emotional, physical and spiritual.  Out there, we have no chance but if we stay in God’s hedges, the fenced in area, we will always be safe.

    God sent Jesus to die for us in order that the devil may not harm us but the devil still prowls around looking for new victims.  But God’s mercy is in full effect for us.  He seeks us our and places us back into the safe area.  He keeps placing us under his loving arms and care and no matter how many times we run; He will always bring us back.  Yet if we keep running, eventually the devil may trap us. 

    So we can live contented; we can live safe within the hedge that God provides. We can remain safe in his loving arm.  We can remain safe under his watchful eye.  It is here we can live the life he has for us to enjoy.

Gracious Father, in you we have our salvation.  You keep us protected from all the devil wants to throw at us.  Keep us safe.  Bring back those who have run away and fear to return.  Bring them safely home; end their torment and their fear.  Give to them the peace that only you can give.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret