ICS Daily Devotions
Your Name Is Known in Heaven
Luke 15:10 (NKJV) Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Job 1:8 (NKJV) Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
Like how people are usually self-conscious about how they look when they attend an important meeting, many of us are concerned about the state of our lives, our lifestyle and our worthiness when we come before God. We may feel uncomfortable or even a sense of unworthiness before Him.
Therefore, we need to establish how God looks at us in order to help us with our fight of faith in the midst of our sufferings and resist the work of the devil! Scripture reveals that we are made known to the angelic host the moment we are saved, just like Job is known in heaven for his integrity. The whole angelic host rejoices over you in heaven when you receive Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Your name is known in heaven!
Philippians 3:9 (NKJV) And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith
Nobody can make themselves right before God using the law because of the weakness of the flesh. Our self-righteousness is like filthy rags before God. The sin of man has to be paid by blood to appease God’s wrath towards sin, just like Job who offered the shed blood of animals to cover the sins of his children. Although it wasn’t able to completely remove it and he had to offer it continuously, this worshipful act pleased God. Abel offered up animal sacrifices that pleased God whereas Cain offered up the work of his hands which God rejected. Therefore, we should never come before God based on our self-righteousness and good works but through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Job didn’t know how God looked at him but we do. We have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and God sees us as blameless, holy and righteous in Christ. We are accepted in the beloved—that is how God looks at us now regardless of our feelings about ourselves. This foundation will help us to be fully-secured, grounded, stable and firm as a believer. We have the boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus Christ, by a new and living way, which He consecrated for us through the veil, that is His flesh.
Therefore, let us approach the throne of God with boldness based on this truth knowing that our heavenly father will accept us based on Christ’s achievement, and be able to find rest in Christ.
Sermon Series: Job & I
