What a mess. My heart breaks by what I see on social media these days…people judge others’ heart motives and force their personal “if-then” ideas. They echo themes of the book of Job, such painful destruction on top of his grief, financial loss, and chronic illness. Job’s “friends” accuse him throughout the book:
I know why you’re suffering, thinking I know the mind of God, so if you do certain things, then God will take it away (Job 5:19-27).
If you pray right and try harder, then God will give you favor and blessings (Job 8:5-7).
Since it looks to me that you don’t have that favor or blessing, there’s something wrong with your faith; then, this is a judgment you’ve earned from God.
Jesus had the harshest words of “woe to you” for those religious leaders who didn’t trust Him but trusted their works-righteousness of “doing” and “earning”…and then burdened heaps of guilt and shame on others. Their “if-then” statements put “self” over our eternal Lord of all. Trying to “be God” with others.
Judgmental legalism is still happening…and it’s scary-serious sin. And my suffering sisters in Christ are desperately struggling in its wake.
If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed (Gal. 1:9 ESV).
If I’m in Christ, then…
Beloved in Christ, we already have God’s acceptance, favor, delight, and blessings! No matter how much we’re suffering. I’m so sorry if false gospels have hurt you, for they seem to be a subtle, deceitful epidemic.
Let’s both continually replace the “if-then” with God’s gospel truth!
None is righteous, no, not one (Rom. 3:9 ESV).
Our works, our “polluted garments” (Is. 64:6), could never be “good enough” to enter heaven and live in our Lord’s holy, holy, holy presence, for He requires totally 100% perfect sinless flawless righteousness, always.
Not possible for anyone.
Except ONE!
Praise to our Lord! Our Father sees Jesus’ perfectly obedient life and sinless righteousness in us, for He also graciously gave us our faith in Christ. He now declares we are righteous, in Christ (Gal. 3)!
Jesus, thy blood and righteousness
my beauty are, my glorious dress;
‘midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
with joy shall I lift up my head.
(“The Lord our Righteousness,” Ludwig, N. & von Zinzendorf, G., 1739)
If I’m relying on my righteous works, I have forgotten the truth of the gospel!
Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood (Rom. 3:24-25 NLT).
Bold shall I stand in thy great day;
for who aught to my charge shall lay?
fully absolved through these I am
from sin and fear, from guilt and shame.
He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness (Is. 61:10 ESV).
Behold, you are beautiful!…You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you (Song of Sol. 4:1, 7 ESV).
The mess of “if-then” thoughts turns into joy in the truth of the gospel!
Beloved, if we are in Christ, this all means our Lord will then sustain our faith as He grows and takes us to our promised, sure end: glorification (Rom. 8:29-30)! Jesus is alive! And He’s interceding for us by His Spirit (Rom. 8:26-27, 34), the “guarantee of our inheritance” (Eph. 1:14 ESV)!
We’re unified with Christ…now and forever!
When from the dust of death I rise
to claim my mansion in the skies,
ev’n then this shall be all my plea,
Jesus hath lived, hath died, for me.
We have hope, in Christ alone! The gospel is true! It is indeed…
The power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16 ESV)!
Jesus, be endless praise to thee,
whose boundless mercy hath for me –
for me a full atonement made,
an everlasting ransom paid.
If the lies of false gospels are tempting us, then…we need the truth of the gospel to make it through our suffering
Let’s cling to His gift of remarkable gospel truths when Satan’s lies try to turn us away. Just as he tried with Job. Or through our social media feeds. Or from religious leaders we hear or read.
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see, for our Father up above is looking down in LOVE…
When Jesus Christ returns to judge sin, we who are His will have already fought “the good fight of the faith” (1 Tim. 6:12 ESV)…
through this very suffering that God is using to strengthen the faith that He’s graciously gifted to us…
Those who already have His favor and blessing!
Those dressed in our Redeemer’s righteousness alone!
We may feel weak in our enemy’s condemning legalistic attacks as we suffer, but let’s change our minds to fit what our Lord tells us, repenting and believing the gospel daily. Like Job, we can sing this!
Material adapted from Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering, Lauri A. Hogle, © 2022
Singing the gospel into our Job-like suffering
This is why I weekly share songs that sing the truth of the gospel, echoing God’s true Word. My suffering sisters in Christ need them as much as I do. Especially in the realm of Christian music. Many songs on the radio now subtly echo the “if-then” lies…my heart needs to sing His truth daily instead.
I’m creating gospel-saturated playlists for the spiritual war…and He is preventing a crisis of faith as I sing! And…I no longer can scroll my social media feed that’s subtly filled with judging, works-righteousness, false gospel lies of our enemy!
Glory to God alone for our sure hope in Christ alone!
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Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character in our Suffering
2 Comments
Barbara Young · February 11, 2025 at 7:48 am
Thank you Lauri, I found your letter this morning in my promotions section not primary section.
I will study it later today. My friends daughter Kaylee started her new job at Jack in the box. She looks cute in her uniform. She’s an A student. Her schedule is on military time. We both learned something new. I will drive her and pick her up.
Lauri Hogle · February 11, 2025 at 8:28 am
That’s weird! Glad you found it and I’m praying that God’s Word brings you great joy today, especially as you share His love with her. 🙏🏼✝️❤️