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Better Days Are Coming: Job in the Face of Evil

“The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning…” Job 42:12

Job is a hard book. So many bad things happen to Job and his family senselessly, it’s very hard to read. I don’t believe I have ever written a reflection based on Job.

The book raises the question of theodicy. If God is good, why is there so much evil? Why do so many bad things happen to good people?

The book doesn’t offer us an answer to that. Instead, the book offers Job’s example of faithfulness in the face of evil and tragedy.

Even at his lowest point, Job never gave up on God. Even when his hope was gone, he still placed his trust in God. He never turned his back.

The book invites us to believe better days are still possible and are just ahead of us even if we can’t imagine them ever getting here. Have the courage to believe. Better days are ahead.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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Humility Leads to Growth (Advent 29)

“He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble his way. “ Psalm 25:9

Many of us professing Christian’s think of Jesus primarily or almost exclusively as the risen Christ, but we fail to take note of the process that led to his growth.

The Gospel of Luke explains “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52) Humility was at the center of Jesus’s growth.

First he went out into the wilderness and became a student of John the Baptist even being baptized by him.

After he became well known and widely acclaimed, he continued to recognize his own shortcomings even if no one else did. He declined false praise as he stated, “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. - Mark 10:18

Hebrews describes Jesus’s growth process this way: “In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.” - Hebrews 2:10

Jesus pioneered the type of humble servant leadership that leads to our growth and fulfillment if we are humble enough to follow his example.

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Speak-up for Yourself

“Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" - Mark 10:48

Bartimaeus was calling out to Jesus for help. The text doesn’t give us much insight as to why there were so many people telling Bartimaeus to shut up.

Maybe they were trying to protect Jesus from being over extended. Maybe they found his behavior embarrassing and a poor reflection on their community.

Maybe they thought Bartimaeus was going about it the wrong way. Maybe they thought it was useless for him to call because Jesus wouldn’t bother with him anyway.

Bartimaeus wasn’t seeking anything at anyone else’s expense. So, when it came to his own wellbeing and recovery he made himself a priority. He would not be silenced. He spoke up for himself.

There are times when we have to prioritize ourselves. There are times we must speak-up for ourselves.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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