Job 1: 20 – 22 “Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.”
Dear God,
Praise Your glorious name, for it is a joy to live in the light of Your love.
As I read Job, I understand that when I die, I will know nothing until I am raised and Jesus will be the first glorious face I see. Life upon this sin wracked territory of Satan, is not always easy, and nasty bad things happen to people who love You; as was the case for Job.
It can be a surprise, and hard to take in, that because we love You the All Powerful One, does not necessarily shield us from bad events. I have found, as did Job, that the joy of loving and serving You, never departs in the ‘bad times’; even though naturally we do not enjoy the experience. Though many times I have forgotten my past experiences of Your support and have been overwhelmed in self-pity in my ‘bad times. When I have remembered and sought You in a specific prayer of trust in in the situation, I have been comforted by Your love and concern, and the knowing that Your presence was nearby.
Your reply when confronted by Satan and his accusations, V8 “…..Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil.”
As I read Your word, I can see that Satan has always maintained that Your requirements are unjust and too difficult to abide by. On this occasion he said that Job only lived a righteous life, because You gave him many children, luxury, wealth and prestige, and that You had placed a hedge about him, and if these were stopped and he was left with nothing, Job would curse His God.
As an example and because You knew the heart of Job, You allowed Satan to harass Job, and so in quick succession Job lost all of his many possessions. Still as predicted, Job continued to love You and did not curse You. The life long way of loving and obeying You, did not go from Job in adversity; though he complained bitterly.
Also by prayerful trust in Jesus I can rejoice in every circumstances knowing that this life and all goods are only transitory, for as Job said, death takes them all, (Job 3: 13 – 19).
Thank You my life and the pleasant place in which I live, and for family and friends, and the ability given by You to be thankful to my Mighty Creator and Keeper of all, in the good and bad times.
Amen