A Living Redeemer

We must be ready to spread hope.

Look at the following verses. Hope is powerful, this is why I spoke on it early this year. I try to hold out hope for people because I also believe Jesus can change people, circumstances, organizations, communities and all things.

Job 17:15 NIV

where then is my hope— who can see any hope for me?

1 Peter 3:15 NIV

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Let us be gentle and respectful to all.

This is what Job is asking his friends for.

Right living, righteousness, is worth it.

Job 17.9 states this. Job’s pain is because he knows that he has been doing things right and has not sinned. We know this to be true as we read the story. This is why in Job 13.23 Job states this:

Job 13:23 NIV

How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin.

Job knows no one is sinless.

Job is not claiming to be perfect, he is stating I have done things right before God’s eyes, as far as he knows it and therefore if there is sin that must be dealt with he will do so.

Words can heal or destroy.

For many of us the words of others play on repeat. Typically these words are not encouraging in nature.

Job desires a redeemer—an advocate to plea his case.

Job 19.25-27 are beautfiul words that we understand in a way that Job did not. He wants someone to help plea his case before God himself. He wanted someone like the book of Ruth would show to redeem him because this was his only hope.

Jesus redeems.

Jesus does what no one else could do.

Jesus advocates we belong to Him.

This is different than waht Job was asking. Jesus does not say something like, “look at how good they are”. He says, “they are ours and look what I did for them”.

We must keep our eyes on Jesus—The Living Redeemer.

So many times I get sidetracked in life.