Home > Reading > The Daily Lectionary – September 4, 2016

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Job 11:1–9, 13–20; Revelation 5:1–14; Matthew 5:1–12

Social media is a two-edged sword. On one hand, the various social media programs are wonderful ways to help us keep in touch with family and friends, share pictures, or keep up with the latest promotions offered by various merchants. But there is a dark side to social media. Misinformation can spread quickly and soon, conjecture based on incomplete observations can be presented as facts. These “facts” then take on a life of their own and soon, one who might be innocent is judged, tried, and convicted in the court of public opinion.

Job could be seen as a case study for being a victim of public opinion. According to what Job’s friends observed, Job is guilty of sin. Job’s suffering is the evidence being presented by three of his friends who have come to “comfort” him and set him straight. But like the trouble with social media, they do not have all the facts and their observations have caused them to misjudge the situation. How easy it is to simply validate the easy explanation. But as we see in the last chapter of Job, God speaks and provides the final word—the truth—and Job is vindicated.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to look for your truth rather than the truth forwarded by the world. Amen.

Today’s devotion was written by Steven King, Pastor of Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lincolnton, NC.

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