The word blameless has become such an anomaly today that we rarely hear it used. Well, at least not in the arenas of business, sports, or politics. You hear the words shrewd and skillful being spoken, but definitely not blameless. So when this word recently popped up during a casual conversation, it stirred my interest. Two questions came to mind: What does it mean? And blameless by whose standards?

Job is one man whom God said was blameless (Job 1:1). Does that mean he was sinless? Does it mean that people could find no fault in him?

One Bible teacher describes Job this way: “In outward manifestation, [Job] was perfect and upright, a description which indicates moral blamelessness rather than sinless perfection.” He may not have done everything right, but when it came to his desire to do right and to be found pleasing in God’s sight, Job was blameless.

This positive view of his character was based on his relationship with God, for “He feared God and stayed away from evil” (Job 1:1). This was the foundation on which his strong and consistent morality grew.

Even in adversity, Job stayed firm in his views. Within a single day, he faced a tidal wave of tragedy—one bad report after another. First, he lost all his wealth. Second, he lost all his children. The extent of his loss? Total! Yet he continued to fear God and shun evil. He refused to “sin by blaming God” (Job 1:22).

Job responded to adversity with adoration and to woe with worship. Unlike the way many people would respond, he didn’t give in to bitterness. He refused to blame God for wrongdoing. As a result, he goes down in history as one of the most blameless and godly men who ever lived. Job shows us that it’s possible to lead a blameless life.

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 1:12-26