A Story of New Beginnings

Daily Old Testament Reading: Job 40-42

Daily Focus Passage: Job 42

The book of Job describes the pain associated with grief, physical ailments, friendships, and families. Job faced an enormous amount of difficulty as we journey through the book. He lost his children and entire estate, his wife asked him to curse God and die, and his four friends failed to support him. As the book closes, we find that the Lord responded to Job’s questions and that Job repents. The moment of repentance brought forth a string of new beginnings because, in repentance, the old becomes new.

THE PRODUCT OF REPENTANCE

Job repented and received a new beginning. Job recognized his selfish condition and understood his inadequacy as he stood in the presence of the Lord. His engagement with God leads him to the place of repentance. The moment of repentance brought a new attitude and perspective in life. Job looked to the Lord and understood that the Lord remained with him no matter the circumstances. Though Job was not perfect, he did remain faithful to the Lord and, as a result, received a blessing from his repentance.

The ultimate blessing in repentance is the gift of eternal life and the promise of eternity with the Lord. Without repentance, we can never receive this blessing or the new life. In repentance, the old self disappears, and we become new because of the work of the Lord in us. When we face trials and struggles, the product of the newness from repentance provides the needed assurance and strength to endure. Are you experiencing the new life from repentance?

THE ACTIVITY OF INTERCESSION

Job interceded for his friends to have a new beginning. Job’s new perspective and desire to obey the Lord brought him to intercede on behalf of his friends, who spoke harshly to him. He sought the Lord that the wrath and punishment they deserved would be removed and withheld. Thus, Job interceded that his friends could experience the new beginning that comes from the grace and mercy of the Lord and is available through repentance.

We have individuals that have hurt us and acted out against us. As followers of Christ, we follow the model of Job and intercede on their behalf. We ask the Lord to bring forgiveness to their hearts and forgive them. We pray for the Lord to move in their lives and bring them to repentance, which leads to new life and the experience of God’s grace and mercy. Who do you need to intercede for today?

THE BLESSING OF RESTORATION

Job experienced the blessing of restoration as a new beginning. The Lord blessed Job by restoring much of his loss. The restoration did not come because of Job’s actions or righteousness, but it came as an extension of God’s goodness to those who have become reconciled to him. The blessing of restoration ultimately becomes known as we recognize that repentance brings reconciliation between us and God. Thus, the paradise lost due to sin becomes restored in the paradise promised in heaven.

When we become reconciled with God, we find hope and assurance that extends from the occurrence of restoration. The restored life is reunited with the Lord through Christ and is a life seeking to live in faithfulness to the Lord. As Job demonstrated, pain and difficulty result from brokenness in this world, but the Lord offers the perfect remedy of reconciliation through repentance and faith in Christ. Do you have a restored life with Christ? Are you living with the certainty of eternal restoration?