Tag: have mercy

Job 19:1-29 – Patience

Read Job 19:1-29

Job has such patience. He is putting up with his very annoying friends, and he is waiting on a very silent God. I’m not sure I could have endured all of this. It’s Job’s turn to speak again. He doesn’t walk away from the attacks but tries to counter once again.

Job feels abandoned. In this speech he calls out relatives, his wife, his friends, his close friends, servants, and young children. He is sitting among three of those “friends,” and from what we’ve seen so far, they have indeed turned against him. Interesting that the three we’ve seen attacking Job are not considered his “close” friends. The sacrifice of time they have made to spend time with Joel is commendable at least. It’s hard to believe Job’s closest friends have long since forgotten him. That is, according to Job’s account of their whereabouts. Continue reading “Job 19:1-29 – Patience”

James 2:1-13 – Prejudice

Read James 2:1-13

What a topic! Who ever said the Bible was not relevant anymore! We do tend to be judgmental over appearances (I don’t think it’s just me). I’ve heard tell of a pastor who, on his first Sunday in his new church, dressed in tattered clothes and entered the building like every other parishioner. You can imagine the anticipation in church that day was palpable as the people waited to hear the new preacher! What a surprise the congregation had when their pastor came from the shadows where he had been asked to wait and walked up to take his place behind the pulpit. He preached a compelling, wordless sermon that day.

James’ Jewish audience must have needed to hear about the dangers of prejudice. It isn’t a bad reminder for any of us. There has to be a healthy way to associate with people who are different from us. It’s easy to look at people and see them through the lens of some stereotype we’ve learned along the way. What helps me when I’m surrounded by people who look different than me (and in Mexico I am surely the minority) is to remember God loves them as much as he loves me.

Continue reading “James 2:1-13 – Prejudice”
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