Who Do You Say? Reading With the People of God #19নমুনা

Jesus Our Ultimate Comforter

Whenever I read the Book of Job I am reminded of the saying, “With friends like these who needs enemies?” Job even refers to his friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar as miserable comforters (Job 16:2 NIV). One by one, Job’s friends try to make good on their intention to show compassion to Job and to comfort him, but they fail. In chapters four and five Eliphaz claims that no innocent man dies before his time (Job 4:7-8 Names of God Bible) implying that whatever people receive in life is a direct result of their behavior. After seeing Job’s suffering he is certain that Job must have done something to deserve such harsh treatment from God and encourages Job to repent of whatever sin caused this divine anger. In chapters six and seven Job defends himself mightily against Eliphaz’s comments and advice.

Although he was assigned both a tremendous burden, almost unbearable pain and unanswered questions, Job found comfort not in the words of his friends but that he had a clear conscience from faithfully keeping the Words of the Holy One (Job 6:10 ESV). And because of his faithfulness to God, Job not only became one of the most famous names in history and helped millions by his own example, he also pointed to the ultimate comforter Jesus Christ who is the only one who kept the law of God perfectly and who suffered in ways that we would never experience so that we can experience the comfort of a savior and friend who will never leave us or forsake us. Jesus experienced the deepest darkness possible – innocently suffering the wrath of God so that even at our lowest, our darkest, our weakest, and our saddest we could experience the forgiving, caring, tender love of his friendship. And that's the greatest comfort of all!!

All We Need is Love – God’s Love

The Apostle John is often referred to as the “apostle of love.” Out of 221 instances of the word “love” in the New Testament, 42 (or nearly 20 percent) occur in John’s brief epistles. And in the fourth chapter (specifically vv. 7-21) the word love or some form of it occurs no fewer than twenty-seven times giving it perhaps the fullest treatment of any chapter in the entire Bible.

Even though the first six verses don’t have the word “love” they contribute to the theme by reminding us that we are not only to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15 NIV) but also that love must be grounded in truth as taught by God’s Spirit. In vv. 1-6 John challenges us to test everything we hear against the truth we find in God’s Word and rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit for direction. As we do this, we will begin to discover the enemies’ deceptions and not allow them to take root in our lives (Max Lucado, 1, 2, & 3 John; Jude)

In verses 7-21, John uses repetition to overwhelm us with the love of God for us and He does so in order to stir up our love for the Lord in response. But “no one has ever seen God” (1 John 4:12, 20 ESV). How, then can we show our love for God in response to his great love for us? John’s answer to this dilemma is powerful: “If we love one another…His love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:12 ESV). The way we show our love for God is by our sacrificial love for one another. No one who has been to the cross and seen God’s immeasurable and unmerited love displayed there can go back to a life of selfishness. There really is supernatural power in love. If you have any doubts, just look to the cross!! It’s there that we will come to see and know for ourselves the wonderful truth, “God is love.” (ESV)

Primer contributed by Norm Hudspeth, Ministering Elder of Cornerstone Community Church of Chowchilla