“Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees. But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed.” (Job 4:4-5) Bible Reading: Job 4:1-21
Have you ever been told to “practice what you preach”? Well, that is kind of what Eliphaz was telling Job here. My wife and I were once aboard a bus. A male commuter boarded the bus with insufficient fare. The female driver refused to budge, and the commuter was growing increasingly aggressive. I prepared myself to jump in should the situation get ugly. A young man then made his way forward and calmly paid what was owing before returning to his seat. A single, selfless act of generosity by a complete stranger, peacefully diffused a potentially ugly situation. My wife then made a statement: “That was good opportunity to have brought peace and reconciliation to a troubled situation, Pastor.” There I was – a preacher of peace and reconciliation- ready to resolve a situation with force if necessary. The unspoken sermon preached through that man’s actions was heard a thousand times louder than the hundreds of pulpit sermons I preached over the years! I have never been told: “Practice what you preach”, but that message came through loudly and clearly that morning.
Prayer:
Father, may the things I do, match the words I say;
may I be your true ambassador, day by day.
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