Contemplative Bible Reading

Job 1:4-5 (New Living Translation)

4 Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. 5 When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

Here at the beginning of the (hi)story of Job, we have this practice of Job. He offered sacrifices to God each morning on behalf of his children. I don’t advocate animal sacrifices each morning. That was a different practice in a different place at a different time. I do, however, advocate daily prayers for all.

Note that at this time, the emphasis was on the heart. Job didn’t fear that his children had cursed God or violated God’s will in their actions. Job was concerned about how his children felt in their hearts. The emphasis was on the heart. In the middle of all these physical sacrifices, the emphasis was on the heart.

I am repeating myself here with all these words about the heart. I find that I cannot overemphasize the role of what folks felt in their hearts. The Old Testament goes on and on about physical sacrifices. And the Old Testament goes on and on about how the heart was more important than all these physical sacrifices. The New Testament continues this pattern. It is the heart.

Okay, I do lots of good things. Really, I do. Still, is my heart in the right place? That is important. The outward acts are seen by others. The heart? Only God sees that. Please God, help me in my unbelief.