Charisma Magazine

Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.
—Romans 5:1-2, NLT

"Made right": Do you understand the scope and magnitude of those words?

Then Job spoke again: 'If my misery could be weighed and my troubles be put on the scales, they would outweigh all the sands of the sea. That is why I spoke impulsively.'
—Job 6:1-3, NLT

The Bible reveals with authenticity the true nature of the characters whose lives are described within its pages. It exposes their faults and struggles without apology and without holding back. This is why the story of Job is so fitting—Job himself was a man of authenticity.

God is all-powerful. Who is a teacher like him?
—Job 36:22, NLT

Since the beginning of time, mankind has been asking God questions. Most of them begin with one word: Why?

Then the Lord asked Satan, 'Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth—a man of complete integrity.'
—Job 1:8, NLT

What is it that gets God's attention? Is it charisma, personality or one's abilities? We don't have to dig deep into the book of Job to discover the answer. From the first verse, we find God bragging about His man Job. By the eighth verse He's calling Job the "finest man in all the earth."

There was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless, a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.
—Job 1:1, NLT

What can be learned from a biblical character who lived almost five millennia ago? A lot!

Then Elijah called to the people, 'Come over here!' They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down.
—1 Kings 18:30, NLT

The altar is an important symbol in the kingdom of God. It's mentioned in both the Old Testament and the New Testament—more than 380 times in the entire Bible.

I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God ... is calling us.
—Philippians 3:13-14

God is the God of new beginnings. In Scripture we find the word "beginning" mentioned more than 100 times. The first book of the Bible, Genesis, is known as the "book of beginnings." And the first verse of that book reads, "In the beginning." Think God is trying to tell us something?

I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.
—Genesis 12:3, NLT

What do you do with a family whose genealogy goes back 4,000 years, whose national roots reflect 2,000 years of history? The answer is, study and learn from them.

Should I hide my plan from Abraham? ... I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord.
—Genesis 18:17-19, NLT

How do we keep our families together in a world that's falling apart? It is beneficial to look at the principles found in God's dealings with the Jews—His first covenant family.

But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.
—Joshua 24:15, NLT

Strong families are no accident! They don't just happen. They're the product of patience and hard work.

So God's rest is there for people to enter.
—Hebrews 4:6, NLT

American culture applauds busy people. God doesn't. From the beginning of time, God understood our need for rest and provided an eternal solution—the principle of sabbath.

So God's rest is there for people to enter.
—Hebrews 4:6, NLT

Let's explore a biblical principle God set in motion at the close of creation week—the principle of Sabbath. It's so important that the violation of it in Old Testament times meant certain death.