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I think the exchange between Eliphaz and Job does an excellent job of presenting the difference between religion centered people and Christ centered people. Eliphaz is focused on religion: Job must make himself presentable to God before God will intercede in his life. Job is an example of a Christ centered person (I realize the anachronism): Job goes to God in the midst of his suffering and asks God for comfort. Unfortunately the only comfort Job can think of is his death.

We have friends around us everyday who are suffering with the trials of life. These friends do not need religion, they need Christ. We absolutely should not be going to our friends during their suffering and telling them that they need to clean themselves up so that they can have a relationship with Christ. We need to be showing our friends that they need a relationship with Christ so that Christ can clean them up.

I am the first example of Christ that some people will see. If I, as a Christian, take on the name of Christ then to the best of my ability I need to exemplify the attitudes that Jesus had toward people. Jesus loved people. He wanted to heal them, and be with them, and take care of them. Sometimes he was not able to do this because of the unbelief of the people; I can’t imagine how much this must have pained Jesus.

I need to love people. I need to work to heal and bring blessing so that the people I encounter might see their first glimpse of Jesus in me. Once they see Christ, then they can begin to form a relationship with him. Do not be religious, to the best of your ability be Christ.

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