The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveler. ” The story of Job is a remarkable one. It tells of a man who had great wealth, a great family, and great health—and then everything was taken from him. His children died, his affluence was lost, and his health completely deteriorated. But rather than cursing God for the misfortunes that befell him, Job responded to his trials with this: "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed by the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21)
It is no surprise, then, that the very first verse of the book of Job informs us that "Job was a man who was perfect and upright, and one that reverenced God" (Job 1:1). Indeed, the Lord Himself informed Satan that "there is none like Job in the whole earth, for he is a perfect and an upright man, and he reverences me, and turns away from all evil" (Job 1:8).
Perhaps one of the things which makes Job so remarkable—beyond his seemingly unshakable faith amid incomprehensible trials—was how he treated other people. The verse for today tells us that Job would never allow a stranger (e.g., someone passing through, or someone who had fallen on hard times) to spend the night on the streets. Rather, he would insist that the person spend the night in his home—where he could enjoy a hot meal and a roof over his head.
Of course, we live in a time when (for safety reasons) we can't just take in every homeless person or stranger that we meet. Nevertheless, the message of Job still has application in our lives. If we see others who have needs, do we do what we can to help meet those needs, alleviate their suffering, or comfort the comfortless?
In the Book of James, we read: "My Christian friends, what good does it do if you say you have faith but do not do things that prove you have faith?... What if someone does not have clothes or food? And one of you says to him, 'Goodbye, keep yourself warm and eat well.' But if you do not give him what he needs, how does that help him?" (James 2:14-16) There are many ways in which we can do as Job did (to alleviate the suffering of others), but it is unquestionably our duty to do something, to do what we can.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ” In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the Israelites at a time of great despair. They were exiled, living in Babylon, far from their homeland. Jeremiah's words were meant to offer hope and assurance during this period of upheaval. His message was not just for their immediate comfort but also to give them a perspective of a hopeful future planned by God.
This passage in Jeremiah speaks directly to the heart of encouragement, especially in the face of uncertainty and difficulty. It's a reminder that even when our current circumstances seem bleak or disheartening, there is a broader plan for good, for hope, and for a future. This can be particularly resonant for us when we face our own periods of doubt or when our path seems unclear. It's a call to trust in a greater plan that we might not fully understand yet.
