Job 37 - Seasons - Nothing We Can Do About Them

Elihu lifts up the majesty and power of God.  And, it is indeed amazing!  He is in control of all the forces of nature. 

The seasons change.  They have changed every year since the beginning. Yet, we hear complaints about every season.  Every season brings challenges.  The spring is too muddy, the summer too hot, the fall is too windy, and winter is just too cold or there is either too much snow or not enough for the snow-mobilers and skiers.

Every region of the world has its specific weather challenges.  We were in South Carolina this summer.  It was too hot. We spent most of the time in the air conditioning watching television. It has been wet and colder here in the Upper Peninsula - not freezing yet, but colder the last few weeks. We've even had a few snowflakes.  And... I have already begun to hear the complaint, "It is too cold up here."  Actually, it's not.  It's about right for this time of year. 

I remember vacationing up here while we were living in various other regions of the earth.  It always amazed me that the conversations always focused on the weather.  Not enough rain!  Too much rain!  Too hot!  Too cold!  Rarely, did I ever hear the weather is just right.  I'm not sure how it happened, but instead of standing in awe of how beautiful the various seasons that God created are, human beings tend to complain them.  There is always something wrong with the weather.  It's like calling an inanimate object stupid when we're angry.  How can the weather be wrong?  It just is.  That's how God created it to be.  God is in charge of it. 

Personally, I kind of like the fact that there is something in this world that we haven't figured out how to manipulate, and that is the weather and the seasons.  I love storms.  I love to sit and watch the lightning and hear the thunder roar.  It reminds me that God is still in charge.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Job 34 - God is Just

God is just!  He is more than just!  Elihu reminds Job that it is not his place to judge whether God is just or not.  Elihu reminds them, "If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust." (vs 14, 15).  

The excuses that people will use for not worshipping the one true God always amaze. On many occasions and in various ways I have heard them accuse God and simply state that they will not worship anyone who is so unjust. They will not worship a God who will not fix everything for the world.  They will not worship a God who insists that He be put before all our other little false gods.  In other words, the excuses that I've heard to include the judgment of God that He is unjust.  These words echo in my ears. "If that is your God, then I want nothing to do with Him."  Well, I am sorry if you don't like the way God rules. I am sorry that you may not like the fact that He allows us to choose how we live in this world, destroying the earth and one another. I am sorry that you don't like the fact that God is GOD!  You don't have to worship Him.  You can choose to stay in bed.  But, it doesn't change the fact that there is only one God and "if it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust."  God is God.  There is nothing you can do about that.  I take that back. You could bow down and worship Him.

Just because we don't understand God's justice, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. It merely means that we don't understand it. God is God. God is just.

See you at Worship!  God's Peace - Pr. J

Job 32 - Comfort Afflicted; Afflict Too Comfortable

We have a new player today:  Elihu.  We've heard nothing about this younger friend, Elihu, until now.  It is his turn to speak, finally! He's been sitting, intently listening.  He refutes the wisdom and usderstanding of the elderly.  It is not mere age that makes one wise.  Rather, understanding comes from God.  He says, "But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand." (vs: 8)

Eliju, as a younger man and apparently less esteemed than his elders, finally gets to speak.  He says, "I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.  I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person. For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. (vs 20-22)

The reality that if Elihu's culture was that young men should keep their lips still so as not to offend by appearing wiser than the elder's.  Elihu refutes this and speaks.  There is a reality in the American Christian culture that also needs to be refuted.  It is a reality which has no scriptural basis.  And.. that is that Christians should accept everyone just as they are.  A Christian should never open their lips in a way that might offend anybody.  We are to just turn the other cheek, while the world destroys itself, while a neighbor attacks a neighbor, while God is being blasphemed.  All this we should do, just because the culture thinks that Christian's would/should never do or say anything to offend anyone.

I want you to think about that.  Did Jesus keep his lips still?  Did he not confront anyone?  My favorite "assertive" word from Jesus was when he was warning his disciples about his impending persecution and crucifixion.  Peter does not want to hear about it and Jesus responds:  “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”  (Matt 16:23)  Can you imagine what the response would be if one of us told someone: "Get behind me Satan!"?  I know how most would react to me.  I would be reminded in not so gentle words that I am no Christian.  A Pastor would not treat people like that! In fact I have been told that on more than one occasion.  What kind of Christian am I that would dare to call someone on their following in the footsteps of the world, rather than Jesus?  But, it has been mainly by people who have never read or actually heard scripture.  Some have been to a few Worship services on very rare occasions, to hear the Word of God.  But, I'm not sure if they were listening.  It is those who have mistaken the false "American Christian Cultural Understanding" (I don't know how better to describe this false understanding) who will challenge you when you stand on the Word of God.  Read your scriptures and you will find that Jesus did, indeed, open his lips to comfort the afflicted as well as to afflict those who were too comfortable in their own ways, in the ways of the world.

To follow in Jesus' footsteps will not be easy.  You will not be loved by everyone.  And... there will be times when you must open your lips and speak the truth, comforting the afflicted and sometimes afflicting the too comfortable with the Word of Truth, who is Jesus Christ.

A few more scripture verses this morning, from Matthew, about the challenge that goes with following Jesus - a reminder that everything Christian does not always feel good. 

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.  What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?  (Matt 16:24-26)

God's Peace - Pr. J