January 31st

Job 40:6-42:17

God continued His barrage of questions, describing His power and majesty. Job responded appropriately, as he said, “I know that You can do anything, and no one can stop You. I was talking about things that I did not understand, things too wonderful for me. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance” (42:2, 3, 6). In the New American Standard Bible, Job says, “I retract and repent.”

We see again the proper response to God’s sovereignty and wisdom compared to our frailty and ignorance. Job humbled himself before the Lord when his three friends came to him in arrogance. As a result, the Lord accepted Job, while He judged his friends in their pride.

Continuing in the theme of humility, here is another way to weaken the effects of pride in our lives — retract and repent, as Job did. We must retract our arrogance, our supposed earthly wisdom and feeble efforts to make our own way, and we must repent of our attempts to assume God’s throne and glory.

Both retraction and repentance are essential elements of salvation, for we must admit that we cannot save ourselves. Without retracting our pride and repenting of our sins, we put ourselves in God’s place. What an offensive act, assuming for ourselves what is rightfully God’s.

Why would we not practice retraction and repentance the rest of our lives? It is another step in cultivating humility before the Lord. Notice that God responded to Job’s humility. “God restored the fortunes of Job and blessed the second half of his life more than the first.” May we ever retract before the sovereignty and glory of God and repent of trying to assume that which was never ours. For as we humble ourselves, as did Job, God will in time exalt us.

Daily Reflection

Summarize what it means to retract yourself. What would be the opposite thing to do?

What exactly does it mean to repent? What all does that entail?

When was the last time you retracted yourself and repented of your sins? These two elements should be a common practice in your spiritual growth.

Take time today to retract any prideful thoughts, prideful words, prideful actions, in which you have overstepped your bounds and tried to assume for yourself God’s glory and position. Be ever vigilant not to allow anything in your life to bloat your ego or harden your heart. Retract and repent!

BiAY.org | Day 31 — 334 Days to Go