I like the idea that God speaks to us through our dreams. There have been times that I have felt Gods speaking to me in dreams. It is much harder to hear God in our daily lives when we are caught up in our busy world. When we are quiet and open to him he can speak to us. It's an interesting thought that God is warning us in our dreams. I think I will look at my nightmares a little different now.
Thinking that there are angels in our midst helping us to keep on the right path is a comforting thought. That little voice that speaks to you when you are doing something wrong, maybe it is an angel. Someone is putting those thoughts in our heads, we know when we are sinning and our inner voice tells us not to but our human nature leads us astray. Thankfully we have a forgiving Father who is looking out for us and our best interest.
'Be silent and I will speak', I think that this is very good advice for us all to take. In my quiet moments I can reflect on my life and listen for God's voice and words of wisdom
Wow - I hadn't realized until this chapter that Job does come off a little "holier-than-thou" with all of his protestations of innocence. Seems rather Pharisaic as he talks about all the good he's done and all the laws he's upheld.
ReplyDeleteStill, are we all the same in God's eyes - as Elihu begins and Sue points out? We are loved. We undoubtedly are often blind to our own faults and can judge others harshly.
But...part of me still knows that there are those in our society who have made really stupid life decisions - who regularly hurt those around them - who are focussed only on themselves and what they can get. There is room for mercy, forgiveness, and compassion, and an undertsanding that there are often extenuating circumstances I know nothing about. But....
Are we all the same in God's eyes?
Unequivocally, yes. Life is not fair and we are all treated differently by others. But when it comes to God, no matter the choices we make, he loves us.
ReplyDeleteI firmly believe that we will all be judged, having to face the consequences of our bad choices, and there will be much sadness and regret on this side of heaven.
But once God has taken away all the would not belong there, we will shed no more tears, feel no more pain at the hands of others or ourselves. That's what keeps me and my mom going these days.
People, even former loved ones, will treat us badly. However, God will restore us...in this life and the next.
One of the things I like about this is the Eliha lets Job know that they are both sinners in need of forgiveness. I guess I kind of think sin is the great equalizer....we are all sinners no matter what and Jesus died on the cross for every single one of us. And in a way, that's our common bond.
ReplyDeleteI agree we will all be judged and I also believe in the power of redemption; to forgive our own sins and the sins of others.
So... why do we bother? I'm not trying to sound like a complete wise-acre. I think this strikes at one of the main differences between the ELCA and the UMC (Methodists).
ReplyDeleteIf God is as pleased with my actions (okay..."works") as with the drug-dealing murderous convict - if "sin" is "sin" regardless of degree in God's eyes - and grace covers all through faith and repentance. Why bother? Seems a short leap from this discussion to the free-wheelin' lives of the Calvinists - who figured God's grace had decided it all, so why not live it up now?
I've spent my life living in "Sanctifying Grace" The grace of God that works in us to make us Holy - to make our actions Holy. I have studied doctrines of Christian Perfection. These make sense to me.
I'm honestly struggling a bit today with the lack of focus of any kind on works. Always been a bit of a stumbling block for me in the ELCA.
This is the way I view faith and works. Note: My favorite book of the Bible is James and Luther didn't think it should be included in the canon. If your faith is alive, you will be compelled to do good works, not because you're so good, but because God is. The word compassion occurs in the New Testament a dozen times. When one has compassion, one is always compelled to take action to help the one you have compassion for. I think it's the same way with faith.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people go to church, but exercise most of their faith in themselves, in their ability to make things right. The disciples knew that they were screwed up and that only Jesus could make things right. Christ leaves us his Spirit and she blows through the church, into the world.
Today, we talked about John 21, when Jesus tells the disciples to throw the net on the other side of the boat and they hauled in 153 fish. The one side of the boat is living for ourselves alone. The other side of the boat is living for others, partaking in the feast for the purpose of gaining strength to continue fishing on that side of the boat.
We exist for the sake of the kingdom and for our neighbor's benefit. We should only take what we need (i.e. daily bread), leaving enough for everyone in the world. Being lazy in grace is like feasting off God's bounty and not working to share that bounty with others. Either we're ushering in the kingdom of God or not.
I know I'm hardcore, but that's how I learned this faith.
Job 33 vs 14 For God does speak--now one way, now another-- though man may not perceive it.
ReplyDeleteThe art of listening is a gift not many people seem to have. To actively sit at a table while others give voice to their thoughts and opinions and listen with all your God given senses is a skill that has to be practiced to be mastered. You need to open your eyes, your ears, sense of smell, your mind and your heart to truly hear what is around you. If you open yourself up to the concept that God does speak, maybe not in a way you expect, you will hear Him.
I'm in agreement that God loves all unconditionally. That the trials we face in life aren't necessarily formulated to test us but are part of the human condition. The flesh is weak, for some more so than others. God's grace is a gift that can't be earned. I'm painfully aware of my frailities and defects as my Savior is. He has graced me with a finite period of time to thank Him for this gift. In the end I will stand in judgement before Him for the life I lived, the good,
ReplyDeletebad, and ugly.