Job 29:1-6 – “And Job again took up his discourse and said, ² “Oh that I were as in months gone by, as in the days when God watched over me; ³ When His lamp shone over my head, and by His light I walked through darkness; ⁴ as I was in the prime of my days, when the friendship of God was over my tent; ⁵ When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me; ⁶ When my steps were bathed in butter,
And the rock poured out for me streams of oil!”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was deeply challenged in my spirit.  Reading the story of Job, something in Job 29:4 caught my attention.   Job spoke of a time before his dilemma and trial.  He longed for the time, “When the friendship of God was over my tent.”  Friendship with God had been his covering! WOW!

In Job 31, he positions his mind in accordance with covenant.  He uses the “if” “then” to illustrate his commitment.  Thirteen times he said, if” I have done this, “then” let this curse or judgment come upon me.  That is either incredible deception or confidence in his condition and position.

Then the apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians, describes our relationship with Jesus and with each other.  Paul’s plea is for total surrender and recognition of the Body of Christ so that we can become who God has purposed us to be.

In 1 Corinthians 5, he addresses excessive tolerance and shows how immorality should affect believers.  It should grieve us just as loss in death does because it is a kind of death.   In 1 Corinthians 6, he unfolds the painful reality that immorality and unrighteousness can never enter the kingdom. He gives a partial list in verses 9-10.   In verse 20, he brings it home – Jesus died to free us, how dare we trample His blood under our feet by living in sin.

Job longed for God’s friendship and companionship.  Paul longed for purity of heart. God longs for our fellowship, which can only be experienced in total surrender and out of pure hearts.

God, I pray, You will cause us to mourn sin and repent!