Job 1: 4-5; A record of the common practices of Job, a good man who feared God and stayed away from evil.
“4 Every year when Job’s sons had birthdays, they invited their brothers and sisters to their homes for a celebration. On these occasions they would eat and drink with great merriment. 5 When these birthday parties ended—and sometimes they lasted several days—Job would summon his children to him and sanctify them, getting up early in the morning and offering a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and turned away from God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.”
It is not known for sure, but Job probably lived during the days of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) before God gave his Law or appointed priests to be religious leaders. During Job’s day, the father was the family’s religious leader. Because there were no priests to instruct him in God’s laws, Job acted as the priest and offered sacrifices to God to ask for forgiveness for sins he and his family had committed. Job did this out of conviction and love for God, not just because it was his role as head of the house.
Do we carry out our spiritual duties because they are expected, or spontaneously from the heart of devotion?
