My Reedemer lives!

Good Friday morning, my friends.

Have you ever been in a dysfunctional small group or Bible study?  I have been listening to the book of Job on my audio Bible in the car.  He and his friends Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite (I love those names) are just such a group.  Here is Job, suffering through losses and plagues of Biblical proportions (if you will forgive the expression) and his friends come by to "comfort" him.  They jump to the incorrect conclusion that he is to blame for his problems, and proceed to accuse, correct and berate him.  This is their way of supporting him. But don't we do the same thing sometimes?  We see someone with a problem and immediately assume we know how to fix it.  We give them all of our profound wisdom and it doesn't solve the issue.  Then we get frustrated and upset because they won't listen to our wise words.  Maybe we need to do more listening and praying and less talking.  James James 1:19 says "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry".  Even if the person is at fault, we need to correct in love.  Galatians 6:1 says "Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently."

In one of his responses to his friends, Job says these beautiful words:

I know that my redeemer lives, 

   and that in the end he will stand on the earth. 

And after my skin has been destroyed, 

   yet in my flesh I will see God; 

I myself will see him 

   with my own eyes—I, and not another. 

   How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27)

My redeemer lives!  And only He can solve all of our problems.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning? 

And who told the ocean you can only come this far? 

And who showed the moon where to hide till evening? 

Whose words alone can catch a falling star? 

Well I know my Redeemer lives

I know my Redeemer lives

All of creation testifies

This life within me cries

I know my Redeemer lives

The very same God

That spins things in orbit

Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak

And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken

They conquered death to bring me victory

He lives

To take away my shame

And He lives

Forever I'll proclaim

That the payment for my sins

Was the precious life He gave

And now He's alive and

There's an empty

Grave! 

Because He lives I can face tomorrow

I spoke with Him this morning!

The tomb is empty

He Lives! I'm going to tell everybody!!

Nicole C. Mullins

(Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/n/nicole_c_mullins/my_redeemer_lives.html)

Bruce MacPherson  macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.