Walking Through Uz with Calvin

Home Blog Timing Lectionary Metaphors Segues

• 27 Dec, 2025 *

It’s a great sermon this morning!

I don’t know what to write. Here is a quote from the sermon that I love:

“Since our condition is thus contemptible and there is nothing in us but confusion, nothing we can use to elevate ourselves, let us know that we bring nothing to God that would make him gracious to us, but at the same time he seeks something in us. He will find nothing and reject us. I have no idea what could induce him to love us.”

Following yesterday, the sermon begins by reminding me of the unevenness of my relationship with God. But new thoughts that Job, via Calvin, is making me have is to focus always on God’s promises.

“…let us ponder the promise he has made us….it is a strange idea that Hod is to renew us after we have turned into dust, let us nonetheless be confident God will restore us after we have been totally annihilated.”

And:

“What, then, are men? A wind, a wisp of smoke! But we are immortal because God has breathed into us an abiding power.”

Yowsers. I haven’t really processed that.

There are two other things that caught my attention this morning.

One, simple advice on prayer. Always speak to God. Don’t simmer on things. Get it out. “Those who do not ever speak continue to offend God…”

Two, and this is actionable, “…there is nothing we are to desire more than being humble. Why? It is the only opening we have for receiving all of God’s gracious blessings.

So, to summarize my take aways from this sermon:

1. I’m immortal and will live in paradise through no achievement of my own. It’s all because of God’s grace. Amazing!
2. Always pray and don’t “meditate within myself”.
3. Top priority: be humble.