Day 38 - Save Me

Well looky looky. It's a blog! Hope you've all had a fun day. I've started my driving lessons again and am hopefully fast tracking my way to a license. Then there shall be much rejoicing. If I can find a car that's free and insurance that's free and tax that's free and fuel that's free and an MOT that's free... Onto business then

Today’s readings

Job 40:3-42:17
Matthew 25:14-46
Psalm 18:43-50


We've got to the end of Job! I'll allow everyone a breath to recover :)  So what did we read? Well first of all, Job's response is short and sweet which I think is a nice indicator to how we ought to be when hearing God. Listen, don't drown out God with questions or arguments. God's repsonse is one of illustration again. He makes Job see just how small he is in teh scheme of not just the universe but his own world. Job has been so upset because of what has happened but God is saying that he needs to realise the world isn't built to serve him but to serve God. This is challenging stuff definitely because we like to think that God is going to look out for everyone but that's not what is being said here certainly. Some things are bigger than us and will hurt us. And I think that's important. There is suffering in this world and a lot of it is our fault but we need ot remember that this planet and all of creation is designed to honour God. If we think something should change then we should bring God into the situation and change it.

Job responds and realises that though he had a point in arguing with his detractors, he's nobody to question God's will or actions. What I mean by that is that when bad things happen to good people, we shouldn't blame them but equally we shouldn't try and explain it away. Maybe it was God, maybe it's part of the plan. Or maybe it's a result of people not doing what they should do to help each other. Or maybe it's someone's own fault for being an idiot and poking that lion with a stick. If we're in trouble we can ask for God's help definitely but don't turn your back on the love that is there. Love passes through suffering. Have you ever had a friend that you've wished you could help but not known how to? Didn't mean you weren't loving them or caring for them. Or that your love and comfort was wasted and pointless. Whatever you're going through, remember that you can always depend on God's love and ultimate justice, even if your time on this planet is to show others their need to change

And then God tears into Job's friends pointing out that Job was telling the truth in what he said and they were wrong to criticise him. Job never deserved or brought on his suffering, nor did it come from God's action. That's important too. Suffering happens to everyone regardless of if they deserve it. We say God's just and He is, but that justice is only realised completely when we die. It's up to us as reflection of Him to be living our lives in the same way and encouraging people that make changes to do the same.

So what do we get from Job? There's no explanation from God for why things happen to people. Suffering is still a big question mark. To me, Job's story is that bad and good things happen to everyone no matter how we might judge them as "good" or "bad" but God loves each of us individually and is always there being bigger than any problem.

Into the New Testament we bound and Jesus tells us a parable of the servants with their big sums of cash. Now this isn't a story about fiscal management. I'm pretty sure Jesus wouldn't approve of our current banking strategies at all!  But this is talking about using gifts. Risking things for Jesus. Take it from someone who's lost an awful lot this last year in terms of security. When you start working for God in your everyday life then you get blessed with peace of mind, joy in your heart, a sense of purpose and security and all sorts of other different things. There is a return to the investment!

Next Jesus tells us a little more of what the end of the world will be like but also about how we actually serve God. There's not much new or revolutionary here. Helping God's people is the same as helping God. It's interesting to look at the people talks about though. Sometimes we think that the people who need help are all sitting in Africa but Jesus talks about the homeless and imprisoned. Well they're definitely here in Warrington. I know I could do more to help rather than avoid people I see who need it. And you younguns reading this, stop hating chavs :p God loves them too!

Finally our Psalm finishes and the Psalmist is praising God still for saving him but two things stand out here to me. Verse 46 talks about God as a tower, someone who is big, imposing and always there! The other thing is the message of this Psalm being about being rescued. I think today's readings all slot together quite nicely in solving a bit of the puzzle of what we should be doing. Job shows us that everyone suffers and it's never apparent why. The Psalm tells us that it's God who will rescue us from this suffering. But Matthew tells us that it is us who should be doing the rescuing as part of our service to God. That's a responsiblity that's scary but necessary.

And that's your lot. Yesterday's song is here and today's is especially for Craig. And maybe Rob. This was a bit long today but I'll try to limit it back down in the future. The end of a book tends to warrant a bit more chatting. Exodus here we come! Questions, criticisms and comments welcome as always

Jon