Day 253, September 10, 2021
Scriptures: Job 36-37, Psalms 29, Romans 5 “Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.” (Job 36:21) “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3–5) Elihu, speaking on God’s behalf, rebukes Job yet again, saying, “You prefer evil to affliction.” Those words offer a stinging rebuke of our own pride and preferences. If I am honest with myself, it seems that I too prefer evil as opposed to affliction. Given the choice I choose pleasure to pain. Most of us do. The book of Romans offers a different take on the matter of choosing evil and choosing Christ. We are invited to persevere and hold out on our hope in Christ. This calls for patience or more aptly -longsuffering. Our example is Christ. He suffered and died for us. His grace has made us new. We are forgiven and loved by God. This stands in the way of our old way of living our lives. Unlike Elihu’s assessment of Job, Paul looks to the Christians, he invites them to persevere, and choose Christ and the afflictions of this conviction. Because of this conviction they are now opposed to self-pursuit and sin. Easier said than done. But all the same… Turn from evil, walk with Christ. Jordan
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AuthorJordan Ickes, Minister of Etna Green Church of Christ. Archives
December 2022
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