Bible Reading: Job 41 & 42; Acts 16:21-40
“And the LORD turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before” Job 42:10 (KJV).
The story of Job has so many lessons for us. One of them is that some of the challenges we face here are as a result of decisions taken in the spirit realm. So it will be wrong or insensitive to judge people or situations just by what we see with our physical eyes. Looking only from the sense realm will lead to mistakes. Job’s friends did same and almost drew the wrath of God.
But God gave us a wisdom to follow when in such circumstance. He asked Job to pray for his ignorant friends and bless them. When he did, God turned his own situation around restoring his fortunes. In fact God “blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. ..” Job 42:12a.
Abraham Interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah. He negotiated for the souls of the righteous in that doomed city. He asked God, “… wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” Genesis 18:23 (KJV). Abraham negotiated with God for the preservation of souls! No wonder God blessed him and kept him till a good old age, an old man, full of years (Genesis 25:8).
Paul said in Ephesians 6:8, “…that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the LORD, whether he be bond or free.” Job prayed that his friends will not experience what he was going through and God turned his situation around. All those who go after souls for the Kingdom of God sow a seed of joy in heaven as heaven rejoices at the saving of a soul (Luke 15:7). Therefore, joy will accompany all soul winners.
Remember, in the kingdom, whatever you sow is what you will reap. Like Job, sow blessings and prayer into people’s lives even if it appears they do not deserve it. God sowed His only Son, Jesus Christ, and today, He has so many sons after the likeness of Jesus.
Bro. Onyema Aghanenu