Day 283..."Job restored...Jeremiah still in judgment...Paul the imitator of Christ"

The Book of Job comes to an end with Job's being humble before God and his life restored. His life becomes twice as blessed as his beginning. He has a new family and wealth restored many times over. His friends ironically are reprimanded and need restoration through an offering. Job lives over 100 years. Were his trials and suffering but a season of his life? If the message of Job is interpreted over an entire life, the majority of his life appears blessed instead of cursed. Jeremiah has not reach a time to consider the restoration of Judah...there is still much judgment in today's reading. Hope and restoration will come later. Paul says many wonderful things about the contrast of spiritual and worldly..."We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things." Paul also warns against being "puffed up." He makes a strong appeal to imitate him and not thousands of other teachers.