MIDWEEK PRAYER

 A word today about JOB.  That's not job as in work - it is Job with a long 'O'.  You may have heard of someone described as having the patience of Job.  Job is a book of the Christian and Hebrew bibles.  He is mentioned in the Quran and is honored by the Arabs and Palestinians as well. The book was written about 600 years before Jesus was born.  It demonstrates how they viewed God at the time. Here's my short version of the story.

Job was a successful, wealthy young man.  Handsome and God-fearing.  He had many friends and just about everything going for him.  

Satan told God that Job only liked Him because he had so many gifts; that he would fall away from God if he lived an ordinary life.  So, God decided to test Job.

Job lost his wealth and his young looks.  His friends assumed he had done something awful and was being punished by God for whatever it was.  They deserted him.  It went on for a long time.  This was Job's test.  

Did Job stick with God?  Is that the way God works?  Do bad things happen to good people?  Are all misfortunes we suffer, a punishment?   If we have many gifts, does that mean we are living a good life? As good as could be?

Yes, Job was truly a good man. He did not blame God for his troubles.  The answer to all the other questions is "No!"  

Say your own prayer - thank God for what you have and ask that you may find the way to His kingdom.

p.s. Job was restored.