My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.
Job 23:11-12 NKJV
How can a man be so confident in his way so much that even in his suffering he boldly declared: “When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold” (v10)? As we come to these verses, we see that the source of such hope is not far-fetched. The reality is that “the way” that Job threaded was actually not of his own origin. He was not walking in the ways he defined for himself. Rather, it has always been God’s way; “His steps” and “His way”. Likewise, it was not a matter of not having another option, but he chose this way over other options.
A life that is pleasing to God is one that has forsaken his own desires so that he can follow God’s way. Such life must follow steadfastly in the way and will of the Lord Jesus Christ. “For even to this were you called [it is inseparable from your vocation]. For Christ also suffered for you, leaving you [His personal] example, so that you should follow in His footsteps.” (1 Peter 2:21 AMPC) To follow in Jesus’ footsteps is inseparable from your vocation as a believer.
Meanwhile, we can see how Job described his mode of following – not occasionally, neither is it only when it is comfortable. We must follow with our gaze only on Jesus, not looking to the right nor to the left. We must obey all of His instructions. In fact, it must have the first place in our lives, highly cherished, even more than our necessary food.
Following God’s way means sticking to His steps and not turning aside. Job held fast to God’s way and did not depart from His commandment. Job valued God’s words more than his necessary food.
God’s way may not always be easy, but it’s always worth it. We can trust that His path leads to life and peace. Let’s hold fast to His steps.
