25th December 2025

25th December 2025


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Job 42v7-9) 


Message (Scott Woodburn) 


Job's friends hadn't spoken correctly about God (v7) and as a result the Lord's anger burned against Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite. Let me be clear - I don't think any of these men were wicked. They often spoke excellently about the Lord and I'm as convinced as I can be that they were men who loved God. Nevertheless, their refusal to shift from their position didn't help Job and it angered the Lord. Their contention was that Job's suffering was a result of secret sin and because God only punished the wicked, Job wasn't as righteous as he let on. 


But just as Job needed to return to the Lord, so too did his three friends. The Lord commanded them to take seven bulls and seven rams to Job and offer a sacrifice to the Lord (v8). Job would then pray for his friends and the Lord would not treat Eliphaz, Bildad or Zophar as they deserved to be treated (v8b). The men listened, acted and the Lord accepted Job's prayer (v9).


Brothers and sisters, today is Christmas and I trust that you will have a blessed day. Yet, I know that a day such as this can often be troubled. We might spend the day remembering our loved ones no longer with us, we might be in the middle of a family war or ill health might cause us just to long for the day to be over. No matter how this day finds you I want you to consider for a moment the grace of God. 


Did any of us deserve the birth of Jesus Christ? Do any of us deserve salvation? Thankfully, by the grace of God, we are not treated as we deserve. All of our careless words and sinful nonsense can be forgiven by the God of grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. I'm exceptionally thankful for God's grace this Christmas. I deserve His wrath but He instead meets me with forgiveness in Christ.


May you have as good a Christmas as possible. A child has been born and a son given, born to die for Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar and you. Be quick to forgive today, don't hold your cousin's stupid words against him and if there is an opportunity for you to meet someone with grace then take it. "When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." (Galatians 4v4-5).


Thanks be to God. Happy Christmas.
 
Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q54 What is required in the third commandment? The third commandment requireth the holy and reverent use of God’s names, titles, attributes, ordinances, word, and works.