"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)
Sunday, June 23, 2024 - Day 175 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Job 1-3 Acts 7:1-19 )
BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. (Job 1:1-3 ESV)
Faithful Job had been blessed by the Lord. Then Satan was unleashed and Job was severely tested. He lost everything--his children, his property and his servants. What was Job’s response to this calamity?
Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:20-22)
Job displayed his distress and anguish, but he also proclaimed his faith in God. He came into the world with nothing, and he knew he would leave with nothing. He would still bless the name of God.
“Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Would that be your response to losing everything? A child of God can sincerely bless the name of the Lord during life’s darkest moments because we know what Jesus accomplished on the cross for us. Because Jesus is the most important part of our lives, we know that we have everything even when we lose it all. I have known Christians on their death beds who confess, “When you have Christ, you have everything.”
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving me peace and comfort no matter what my circumstances may be. Help me to be like Job and bless Your name even when I face life’s darkest hours. Use me to let others know that when you have Christ, you have everything. And as ever, THY WILL BE DONE. Amen.
“See” you at the Communion rail this morning!
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart covering the entire Bible in one year.
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