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Today's Bible Verse:

"On the left hard when He is working, I do not behold Him; He turns to the right hand, but I do not see Him. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold." (Job 23:9-10 ESV)


 

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Fool's Gold

When my brothers and I were young, we avidly collected chunks of mica and pyrite. Because the minerals sparkled and were beautiful, we assumed they were valuable. Pyrite is known as "fool’s gold", because its metallic shimmer and gold colour resembles true gold. It was an exciting treasure hunt for children to find these minerals and show them off, but we soon found out they weren’t worth any money!

There are some wonderful lines in Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice about fool's gold and the warning written on a tomb. (Act 2, Scene 7) "All that glisters is not gold -- Often have you heard that told. Many a man his life hath sold But my outside to behold. Gilded tombs do worms enfold".

In these troubling times of the pandemic, many are seriously concerned about unstable international markets, dropping oil prices, shuttered small businesses, and sudden unemployment. Our government is scrambling to find ways to halt the freefall of the economy, and give subsidies for financial relief of those experiencing hard times. It may be hard to see the hand of God in times of hardship and worry.

"On the left hard when He is working, I do not behold Him; He turns to the right hand, but I do not see Him. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold." (Job 23:9-10 ESV). Job had suffered hardships as none of us will ever experience; loss of wealth, his children, his health. Even when it seemed God had forgotten him, Job was a true child of God, still longing for His presence, and confident that He was still in charge. He had not forgotten Job, and wasn’t out to punish him. The terrible trials had an end date, and God would bring good out of them all. God still valued Job, for why else would he be put through fire, like gold, if he wasn’t so loved and precious to Him?

Shirley Moulton

Announcement:

Please, please, please -- It is Spring, we all want to be outside. Don't give in to the temptation. Remember, you are not only protecting yourself, but you are protecting the vulnerable around you. Follow your government's suggestions, stay inside! For when you do, you are following Jesus' command to do until others as you would have them do unto you...

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