January 8, 2024

Job 1:1-5 (HCSB)
Job and His Family
1 There was a man in the country of Uz  named Job.  He was a man of perfect integrity,  who feared God and turned away from evil.  2 He had seven sons and three daughters.  3 His estate included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys,  and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to take turns having banquets at their homes. They would send an invitation to their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 Whenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send for his children and purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for  all of them. For Job thought: Perhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts.  This was Job’s regular practice.

Pastor HD Jones
Wealth and prosperity have always been associated with God’s blessings.  We know that all good gifts come from above and that there is a general rule that when we honor God that He honors us.  Job seems to be that kind of guy.  He lives his life to honor God and even was willing to offer additional sacrifices “in case” his kids had sinned.  Maybe that is why the story of Job bothers us because we all know the rest of the story.  Job is getting ready to endure a tremendous amount of difficulty and you can’t help but to feel sorry for the guy.  Perhaps you have had your own “Job moments” when you felt like you were trying to live your life according to God’s rules but you kept getting knocked down. Well, there is hope even within Job’s difficulties and you will just have to stick with us as we uncover how God is bigger than our circumstances.  Hope everyone has a great week.