Daily Devotion, December 18, 2019

Devotion:

Read Job 42:1-5.

One week from today is Christmas Day. That sentence might bring many emotions! Reading from the Book of Job probably isn’t high on your Christmas To-Do List! But within the Book of Job is the gift of the golden thread of hope, light, power and transcendence. This golden thread of God’s presence with us is woven throughout scripture.

Job is a person of great faith. Until the time of Job the basic belief was that spiritual piety would produce prosperity and a life full of sin would produce suffering. God was perceived to be distant. Job was faithful in every way and yet he still suffered. His friends offered misguided advice about God.

Job suffered with the loss of his wealth, his family and his own health. Job remained faithful. Job called out to God. And God answered. Job 38-41 records some of the most beautiful, powerful and descriptive words about God. Again this is the golden thread of hope, light, power and transcendence.

Job 42 is Job’s confession out of his encounter with the Living God. In verse 5, Job speaks to God. “My ears have heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job’s experience of the presence of the Living God put everything in perspective and far outweighed anything his friends had told him. It was all Job needed.

 

This word, this bright golden thread continues into the New Testament gospel scriptures. Matthew 5:23 says…”And they shall call his name Immanuel which means ‘God is with us.’” John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

GOD IS WITH US! God is with us in our suffering, giving us hope, light, power and presence. We can experience God too, just like Job, not because we can reach God, but because God reaches unto us!

Personal Worship Option:

GOD IS WITH US! “Just Like Job” is an inspiring poem written by Maya Angelou. The fourth stanza says, “You said You’d be my protection, My only and glorious Saviour, My beautiful Rose of Sharon, And I’m stepping out on Your word. Joy, joy, Your word. Joy, joy,The wonderful word of the Son of God.” That’s HOPE! Amen!