Thursday—Job’s Faith and Others

Happy Thursday to you. I hope your week is going well and you have been able to share the love of Jesus with someone. 


As I’ve been reading through Job, it’s apparent that no one expresses pain and the unfairness of this world better than Job. But even so, there is the fact that Job did (and we can) by sheer obedience, lessen the struggle. In this strange book, we find a picture of faith during the worst of times, when God offered no comfort. The fact that Job continues to trust God mattered a great deal to him, (and it matters to us) but it really mattered to God. Job’s faith clearly impressed God. Over and over He refers to Job as “my servant Job” and will only hear Job’s prayer for his friends—not theirs. 


“After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.””

‭‭Job‬ ‭42:7-8‬ ‭NLT‬‬


God knew Job was His—completely. But even so, Job’s fortunes are only restored after he prays for his friends. I love the fact God very plainly points this out to us. When we care about others, God can bless us. When we are focused on ourselves and what we can gain, we are the most miserable of people and why would God choose to bless us in the midst of our selfishness? But when we care for others, pray for others and love on others, God has clear reason to pour out the blessings of heaven. 


“When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!” ‭‭Job‬ ‭42:10‬ ‭NLT


Lord God, thank you for teaching us about faith—good times and bad times faith—the kind of faith that sustains ya when everything else is gone. Help us to have the faith of Job and when bad things happen, use them for good. We pray our thoughts and care will be focused on others, even when things are not good for us. Thank you for such grace and love that you give to us and help us to respond in kind to those around us. Thank you for caring for our friends and families who are suffering and are fighting battles of all kinds. Surround them Father. In the precious Name of Jesus we pray, amen and amen. 


Love you dear one,

Pam

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