Today’s Reading, Job 40-42
Focal Scripture: Job 42:12a “So the Lord blessed the last part of Job’s life more than the first.
When you experience suffering it often feels like it will never end. You have self doubt, question God, and get frustrated with friends and family. In addition to these feelings you become very hard on yourself and may even question your existence. These feelings, even though they are not true can rule your life. While you are in the midst of your suffering all you want is some glimmer of hope.
In today’s reading we get that hope from the story of Job. After Job suffered extreme loss and experienced physical discomfort, he gets blessed by the Lord. The Bible tells us that Job was blessed more in the last part of his life than the first. He was finically, emotionally, and physically better off than he ever could have imagined.
So what does it his mean for us in our context? It means that the Lord sees us and will honor our suffering in our lives. However, it doesn’t mean that we will become rich like Job. What it does mean, is that the Lord will take care of his people. As believers we know that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us in our lives. We also know that he will meet our needs. Remember, we are told in Matthew he knows every need we have and will take care of us better than the birds of the sky.
Our ultimate promise comes from knowing that one day we will be in the presence of the Lord. Be encouraged today that the Lord will bless us in the end more than our current circumstances. Be aware that this blessing may not happen until we see Jesus in heaven. We serve the Lord whether things go well for us or not in our lives. We serve the Lord because not doing so violates our concise and our calling.
Biblical faithfulness is our desire and our calling. Rewards and blessings are just a perk of following Jesus. I pray that your life is built upon the promises of the Lord and not your own wants. Stand firm knowing he is with you and has your future in mind.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Genesis 12-15
