Tues.’s Devo - Job

Read: Job 1:1-3:26; 1 Corinthians 14:1-17; Psalm 37:12-29; Proverbs 21:25-26
Job was a real person who is referred to in Ezekiel and James. He is thought to have been a descendant of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. It is unknown who wrote Job and what era he lived in but we do know that he was a nomad who traveled around with his herds of animals. He was the most important man in the east for his wealth, his righteousness and his wisdom.
In Job, we are invited into a heavenly meeting. God has gathered his sons to talk to them and Satan came. Remember that Satan was once Lucifer, one of God’s best. God asked Satan what he had been doing and when Satan said he had been going to and fro through the earth, God asked if he had noticed Job’s unfailing devotion to him. Satan argued that Job was righteous because he was so blessed, so God gave Satan permission to do what ever he wanted to Job as long as he didn’t hurt him. Satan quickly took everything he had. Satan has no mercy. When Job didn’t curse him, Satan said it was because he hadn’t hurt him. So God gave Job permission to attack his body. Satan gave him disgusting looking sores that itched. Job was tormented but refused to curse God. He said that it was not fair to only be faithful to God when he was blessing him. Job refused to curse God but he wasn’t afraid to curse the day he was born.
His three friends came to sympathize with him and through them we learn the way the people of that time viewed God.
In Corinthians, Paul tells us to desire the gift of prophesy because it encourages, strengthens and comforts other people. For those who speak in tongues, they should pray to understand what their language means so they can bring revelation, knowledge or prophecy or a word of instruction. Those are all the benefits of speaking in tongues.
Lord, help us to praise you and bless you even in the hard times. We pray for your gifts so that we can encourage the body and bring revelation and comfort to those we meet.