291 Sunday, October 18, 2009

291 Job 15 – 17; Matthew 16

“How rarely we weigh our neighbor in the same balance in which we weigh ourselves.”
Thomas à Kempis

The three amigos are really working themselves up into a lather over Job. They are not suffering, so why the big dispute? They have to prove Job wrong because if Job is not suffering because of sin in his life then their view of God is wrong. They are attacking Job out of insecurity about their theology instead of trying to help Job who is about to die. They are only interested in themselves. Let’s make it even more personal. If their formula for having wealth and health (obeying God) is not the way to guarantee a life free of suffering then what is happening to Job could happen to them. Wow! What did Job have to say for himself this time around? Let Job speak for himself.
Job 16:1-4 (NIV)
1 Then Job replied:
2 "I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all!
3 Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing?
4 I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you.

Job is right. We can all speak a different language when we are not suffering. Let us choose our words carefully when confronted by a person who is hurting.

There are two items that I want to take up in Matthew 16. The first has to do with yeast. Jesus is trying to get his disciples to understand that just as it is with a little yeast in the bread dough that makes the whole loaf rise so it is with sin. Here are His words,
Matthew 16:11-12 (NIV)
11 How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The point for us is the same. We must be careful even with a "little" sin for it can destroy us.

The second item is who do you say Jesus is?

Matthew 16:15-16 (NIV)
15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Is that your confession today?

Do you truly believe that Jesus is the Son of the living God? Then go and follow Him!