Speak, I’m listening

I’ve recently finished the Book of Job as one of my yearly Bible Verse plans. Many years ago, we studied the Book of Job in a college humanities class. I found it interesting that this book was part of a secular class, but I enjoyed the study of it as literature and studied the many different art forms used at different times to share Job’s story. I found it beautifully written, and it was part of a significant final grade-determining exam. I confess, with still a bit of pride, that I aced that exam. The interesting thing, though, is that I was not a born-again believer then. God had chosen to plant seeds in fascinating places. As a reporter for the college paper, I covered Christian programs held on campus. Those articles got more positive responses because I took extra care with them, not even realizing I was doing it at the time. I took classes with a strong Christian lady who was planning on being a missionary and found myself listening to her dreams, her love of Jesus, and her desire for me to join her in life as a believer. Eventually, I accompanied her to some of the events at their denominational student center off-campus. I also took the same classes with a woman from India who seemed to find the Christian faith interesting, but was firmly established in her own faith. She saw I was safe to discuss our mutual friend’s faith, examining it and learning more as time passed. It’s almost funny to realize at that time that I confessed to believe in God. I read my Bible, I read apocalyptic books that kept me up at night, and I had unbelievable nightmares due to those books sometimes. I lived what I considered as good a life as I could so as not to disappoint God or my parents. But I didn’t factor Jesus as the promised Christ into my beliefs. There was only so much commitment I would take on. When I started listening to Job, there were several times I backed it up to listen again. Especially when I got to Chapter 33 and listened to all Elihu had to say to Job. So, because so much of it spoke to me, now an older and hopefully wiser believer some 47 years later, I’m going to spend some more time on it. Prepare for The Book of Job in future posts, my friends. There may be questions and/or statements to consider for next week’s post. If so, the questions will come sometime this week. Here’s a beginning to read on which the questions/statements will be based. Blessings – Vicki ​“But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words. Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks. My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely. The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand. Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay. Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you. Job 33:1-7