There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. Job 1:1

I don’t remember when I first read it but I do remember this verse. I’m always amazed at the description of Job – blameless, upright, fearing God, and shunning evil.
Not too many people in the Bible claim those accolades.

It doesn’t end there. It continues to say Job offered sacrifices for his ten children, in case they sinned and cursed God in their hearts. (Job 1:5)

The Book of Job, most likely, is the first written book of the Bible. It is a time of the Patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a time when wealth is measured in livestock.
Even before the word “Christian” began, Job possessed the character of a true Christian – blameless, upright, fearing God, and shunning evil.

I don’t know how Job did it. I’m only able blameless in Christ. His Blood cleanses me from all unrighteousness and He pours into me His own good nature.

To possess an upright character one must have integrity, which is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. There are really good people of integrity without becoming a Christian. But I find the assistance of the Holy Spirit essential for my moral integrity.

When I was young I thought fearing God had to do with being afraid of Him. That’s far from the truth. It’s a healthy respect for God. My parents, grandparents, and aunt raised me believing in God but I did not always respect Him. Before my salvation, I often blasphemed His name and took it in vain.

It was only after I accepted Jesus as my Savior that I began to shun evil. I wanted it out of my life. I have not always succeeded. As the Apostle Paul says, I want to avoid the very appearance of evil.