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Then Job replied to the LORD: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the LORD had brought on him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring. The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters. The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers. After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. And so Job died, an old man and full of years. (Job 42:1-6, 10-17 The Message)
Friend, here we are, richer than ever! The grace and love of God in our hearts puts us so ahead of so many - rejoice! Read, receive, absorb, and rejoice in the things of God; nobody can take these away from you! I pray this Wednesday is a joyous one for you. By now you have enjoyed a few breaths that mean you are alive; and our breaths remind us of our need to pray. I had the chance to take Nellie with me to visit Bonnie Blaynay in her nursing home in San Antonio yesterday. She is recovering from a stroke and receiving treatment for restoring her back to health. Please pray for her healing; pray for Wil, her husband, and their daughter who is caring for Wil while Bonnie is in treatment. Pray for those on your prayer lists; pray for one another, and pray for yourselves.
The story of Job is enough to bless you in realizing that poor man suffered much! Forty-one chapters worth of suffering and misery; in this 42nd chapter, we find him replying to God, confessing and repenting of his sin, and receiving all things restored to him; his faith, his new family, and new possessions. I chose The Message version because yesterday I got word that Rev. Eugene Peterson, who authored the paraphrase version of the Bible called The Message died. The magazine Christianity Today's obit on him was titled, "Eugene Peterson Has Completed HIs Long Obedience." He was 85 and had entered hospice for complications related to heart failure and dementia. The family released a statement that said, "During previous days, it was apparent that he was navigating the thin and sacred space between earth and heaven... We heard him speaking to people we can only presume were welcoming him into paradise... Among his final words were, 'Let's go.' And this joy: my, oh my; the man remained joyful right up to his blessed end, smiling frequently. In such moments it's best for all mortal flesh to keep silence. But if you have to say something say this: 'Holy, Holy, Holy.'" Wow! What a glorious end here on earth; the same as Job's, without as much suffering. Job came to know God and to make peace with God. And in this act of final obedience, all things were revealed to him by the Lord God. It also led him to prayer, and he prayed for his friends. And this led to him being richly blessed.
Of all the things listed in this passage, I rank the knowledge of God's presence and peace among the highest one can have. It's an eternal thing that cannot be taken away. It was a coming in full circle back to knowing that the God who gives and takes away, gives and gives and gives. This is a priceless treasure.
Of all the things we can seek today, seek to know God more deeply. He will bless your life in unexpected and unexplainable ways!
PRAYER: Eternal Father, all the hymn writers had it right; though different in explanations, Your awesomeness blesses us beyond words. Bless this dear reader in knowing You more deeply today so that their life may be filled with those things that truly matter. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong, strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Make someone richer today by sharing a kind word!
Eradio Valverde
