Rev. Don Campbell
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, JANUARY 7, 2019: AS GOD IS MY WITNESS [Job 14-16]
Job asserts, “Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies of me is on high” (Job 16:19). As Ellicott said, “In no other book of the Bible is there such a picture of faith clinging to the all-just God for justification as in the Book of Job” (Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers).
Unwavering faith in God’s justice may not be very comforting when we know that we are guilty as charged. Paul, after asserting that we are all guilty, said, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:4-7).
We might call God rich mercy and grace “vertical comfort,” reaching down from heaven. However, as the song says, “Flesh and blood needs flesh and blood.” In other words, we also need horizontal or human comfort. God has provided for this horizontal comfort in the church, the body of Christ. Peter said, “If one member suffers, all suffer together” (1 Cor 12:26). He also said, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet 4:8).
It has been said that the church is not God’s showcase from prime specimens, but his hospital for the healing of sin-sick souls.” Healing does not result from constantly diagnosing one another’s sins, but by lifting one another up: “Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed” (Heb 12:12-13).
When we see the assembly as an opportunity to encourage and be encouraged instead of a check-off list of duties to perform, healing takes place: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb 10:24-24).
CONNECTIONS
1. Do we need more “sons of encouragement,” like Barnabas (Acts 4:36) and fewer “sons of thunder” like James and John who would call fire down from heaven to consume those not of us? (Lk 9:49-55; Mk 3:17)
2. James was the first to die for Christ and John became known as the apostle of love. Obviously, Jesus takes us as we are and then molds us into his image if we allow him to do so. What encouragement does this give you?
