Like a Prophet; James

May the mumbling commence!

The past couple of days we have been meditating on persevering.  Who are good examples of persevering?  James tells us to look at the prophets of the Lord and the person of Job.  Read from James chapter five (NIV):

Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. (Verses 10-11)

Take time to think about the prophets.  It was a hard road to be a prophet… it still is.  People ridicule you.  People persecute you.  It is a life of suffering in this world.

And God called many of his prophets to do some hard things to illustrate to God’s people the error of their ways.  Think about some of the things that God asked Jeremiah to do.  God commanded Jeremiah to wear the same pair of underwear for days on end without washing them.  Think of the prophet Hosea.  God commanded him to marry a prostitute and to remain faithful to her even when she was not faithful to him.

Being a prophet of God is not an easy life.  It is fraught with suffering and calls for perseverance.  Yes, the true prophets of the Lord are good examples of patience and perseverance.

Now, let’s turn our thoughts to Job.  Job tried to be faithful in his relationship with the Lord.  When God tested him through the work of Satan, Job remained steadfast in his belief in the Lord’s goodness.  Job lost his children and his wealth.  Job had his own wife turn against him.  And Job crumpled with even his health taken away from him. 

Yet Job still wanted an audience with the Lord.  He still tenaciously clung to his faith in the Lord God. 

Could I do the same?  Could I cling to the goodness of the Lord even in the midst of personal tragedy?  Could I speak hard words for the Lord and do hard things to illustrate the shortcomings of God’s people in their relationship with God?

Let us strive to attain this level of perseverance!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out