Job 40:1-42:17; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; Psalm 45:1-17; Proverbs 22:14
Job’s story ends abruptly and he receives double for all that he lost. What a quick end to a prolonged adventure. But, before we get excited about the fact that it ends well, there is a truth that I believe God wants us to understand.
The Lord declared that Job had been right and his friends were wrong. Moreover, God said that He would honor Job’s prayers on behalf of his friends. God was really asking a lot of Job. At Job’s weakest point, his friends came to push him further down. It was completely unfair and unjust; and, they were wrong. Now, God is asking Job to pray for the very people who added to his pain.
Because Job was a righteous man, he submitted to God’s will and set a standard for what we would later learn in the New Testament. Job prayed for them and his forgiving heart unlocked a truth for us. Forgiveness is always in order. If our hearts are polluted with unforgiveness, we can never walk in the fullness of God’s plan for our lives. If you are holding onto an offense, even if you were wronged, let it go so God can fulfill His plan for your life.
Tomorrow’s Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:1-3:22; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Psalm 46:1-11; Proverbs 22:15