2nd December 2025

2nd December 2025


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Job 31) 


Message (Scott Woodburn)


One of the most famous poems in the world is Rudyard Kipling's "If" which begins "If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies" I have no idea if Kipling was inspired by the book of Job but chapter thirty-one is Job's own version of "If"


He said, if I have walked falsely (v5), if my steps have turned from God (v7), if my hands are unclean (v7b), if I have lusted after another woman (v9), if I have treated my servants harshly (v13), if I have kept help back from the poor (v16), if people have died because I did not give them clothes (19), if such a man had no call to bless me (v20), if his body was cold because I didn't give him the fleece of my sheep (v20), if I have hurt the orphan (v21), if I have trusted in riches (v24), if I have rejoiced because of my wealth (v25), if I was tempted to worship the sun or moon (v26), if I was delighted by the ruin of my enemy (v29), if I have failed in hospitality (v31), if I have kept my sins hidden (v33) and if I have abused my land (v38-40) then let me be punished. 


How many "ifs" was that? I count at least seventeen and there are probably more still. It's clear that Job understood the holiness of God. Few of us have such an awareness of human sin that we cry to the Lord in such a manner for vindication. Even so, in the coming chapters Job will be the subject of rebuke. Why? In the midst of Job's protest there was the sure hint of self-righteousness.


He longed to be heard by the Lord God Himself (v35) and if he were able to have a such an audience then Job would approach God like a prince (v37). Before we go any further let us say that the child of God has every right by faith in Christ to approach the throne of grace. The blood of Jesus has cleansed us from all sin and we can draw near to the Lord with all confidence. But Christ focused confidence is very different from man centred self-righteousness. Job's words had come to end (v40) and it seems he had fallen into the trap of sinful arrogance.


Brothers and sisters, do you believe that even if you spent the whole day in repentance that you would be adequately able to account for all your sin? Do you think if you had your own version of Job's "If" that you would be able to address the blackness of your heart? Maybe you but not me. It is good to reflect on God's holiness and it is a gift to be able to repent but let us never believe that the whole story has been told. If the Lord was to mark our transgressions who would stand (Psalm 130)?


I'm so thankful for God's grace and the complete obedience of Jesus. My hands are not clean and if I have sinned one million times I probably know only a fraction of my guilt. What should I do? What should we do? Our sin is great but Christ is greater. "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4v16)  


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q34 What is adoption? Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.
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